EFFORT, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — If you're ready to add a little crunch and taste of fall to your weekend plans, look no further.
28/22's Sydney Kostus has more on how apple picking season is back at one local orchard in the Poconos.
The grinding sound of machinery echoes on the grounds of Heckman Orchards in Effort on Thursday. The loud sound is all worth it to make fresh and crisp apple cider.
“Today we’re going to do roughly around a thousand gallons of cider,” explained Mark Heckman, co-owner of Heckman Orchards.
The family-owned farm has been making its famous cider for more than 60 years, using a traditional rack and cloth system.
“To me, I still think it’s a little more labor-intensive than some of the newer systems, but I still think it makes the best cider,” said Heckman.
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Aside from the freshness, Heckman says their secret is variety.
“Right now, we have 10 different varieties of apples that we blend into the cider, so we’re balancing a tarter, acidic apple with a sweeter apple,” explained Heckman.
All the apples come directly from their orchard, where, beginning Friday, people can get in the fall spirit and pick their own off the trees.
“Some people have never seen this before, so it’s a great time for us to talk to those families, educate them a little bit about what goes into growing apples and pumpkins here,” said Amber Borger, assistant store manager at Heckman Orchards.
Growing up on the farm, Borger says they’ve seen all types of weather leading up to pick-your-own apple season.
Although we’ve had a dry past few months, it hasn’t impacted the apples too much and actually benefited another crop.
“Pumpkins, on the other hand, have really appreciated some of the dry weather; they’re not quite so slimy and the fields aren’t quite a mess,” explained Borger.
Both pick-your-own apples and pumpkins will run this weekend, Friday, October 3, to Sunday, October 5, and next Friday, October 10, through Monday, October 13.
The pick-your-own days will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Heckman Orchards in Effort.
