Apples, Apples, Apples

Pine Tree Orchard takes growing apples very seriously. We are committed to growing high quality fruit in an environmentally sustainable method. We are Food Alliance Midwest Certified and part of the Minnesota Grown Program.

Currently we grow around 25 varieties of apples with our harvest beginning in early August. We will have all the apples picked by the end of October, but continue to sell apples into February. Click here for a list of apple varieties and harvest times.

Apple storage is important

Apples respire oxygen just like we do when we breathe. To keep your apples their freshest, you need to refrigerate them to slow the breathing of the apples down. Leaving them in the poly bag you bought them in is a great way to do this.The ventilation holes allow air in while keeping other food odors away from the apples. In addition, put a damp paper towel in the bag to keep the humidity level high. Apples love humidity, it keeps them from drying out. Figure on keeping your apples at 33 to 38 degrees with humidity ranging between 80 and 90 percent.

Apple Cider

Bill Jacobson's special blending of sweet and tart juices, no sugar added, makes Pine Tree Orchard's cider special. Squeezed fresh and pasteurized it's available in a 16 oz, half gallon and full gallon containers.

Apple Math

Over the years we've collected a great deal of practical information about the apple which may prove helpful to you when you begin to use the apples you've purchased at Pine Tree Orchard.

Three medium sized apples equals one pound.
One pound peeled and sliced apples equals two and 3/4 cups.
One peck of apples equals 10-12 pounds or 35-40 medium sized apples.
One bushel of apples can weigh from 42 to 48 pounds.
One bushel of apples will make 15-20 quarts of applesauce.
Half a peck yields five pints of applesauce.
Two pounds equals three cups of sauce.
Each apple variety varies in weight.