10/18/2026
🍎🎃 FARM UPDATE FROM THE KNOLL! 🎃🍎
There's still plenty happening around here, and we have LOTS to talk about! So grab a glass of c***r and settle in for a little update from the farm! 🍎
🎃 PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS & MORE PUMPKINS!
We still have LOTS of pumpkins waiting to be picked in the patch! But we've also moved our LOADED wagons closer to the building, with pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors!
Whether you're decorating your porch, carving a jack-o'-lantern, or baking a homemade pumpkin pie, chances are we've got a pumpkin for you! 🎃
🍎 APPLES — WE ARE NOT DONE PICKING!!! 🍎
That's right! We're STILL picking, but some of OUR FAVORITES are already on the shelves!
Don't let the label "baking apple" fool you! Some are just as DELICIOUS for snacking! Come taste for yourself. You might find a new favorite!
And since everyone in our family has an opinion about apples (imagine that! 😂), here's a little about each variety and who loves what!
🍎 CORTLAND
Oh, the FLAVOR!!! Did we mention the FLAVOR?!
Cortland is EXCELLENT for applesauce and apple butter, but don't overlook it for eating! It's a softer apple, but what it lacks in crunch, it makes up for in wonderful flavor.
This is Aunt Janet's FAVORITE eating apple! In fact, we always have to make sure we save some for her! ❤️
🍎 JONATHAN
Small apple, BIG personality!
Jonathan packs a punch of flavor! It's fantastic for baking, adds a little zing to a salad, and makes a wonderful snacking apple.
This one is Karen's favorite for both baking and eating. And Amanda? She LOVES using Jonathans to make Great-Grandma Nellie's apple cake!
Yes, they're a little smaller, which means a little more peeling, but trust us... that flavor is worth the extra work!
🍎 NORTHERN SPY
Now THIS apple has some family history!
Northern Spy was Great-Grandma Nellie's favorite pie apple, then Grandmother Kathryn's, and now Kati carries on the tradition!
It's an old-fashioned heritage apple that's been around for generations. Think of it as the Granny Smith BEFORE Granny Smith became the apple everyone knew!
If you're making a pie, this is definitely one you'll want to try! 🥧
🍎 IDA RED
Now, we'll admit, Ida Red isn't our family's first pick for baking. BUT that doesn't mean it isn't a fantastic baking apple!
It's mildly tart, full of flavor, and makes a great snacking apple. Amanda enjoys eating these, and we have plenty of family members and customers who LOVE them for both eating and baking.
And if you're making apple dumplings? Ida Red is a go-to! Its size and the way it bakes down make it a great choice!
🍎 GOLDEN DELICIOUS
Oh, poor Golden Delicious! This apple gets such a bad rap, and we think it deserves a little defending! 😂
Let's clear a few things up...
💛 It's YELLOW, not green!
💛 It's SWEET, not tart!
💛 And when it's fresh, it's CRISP, not soft!
Forget what you remember about those Golden Delicious apples from the grocery store years ago. A fresh-picked Golden Delicious is a whole different experience!
This is Jim and Amanda's ALL-TIME FAVORITE eating apple! It's wonderfully sweet with just a little hint of tartness. It's also fantastic for adding natural sweetness to your baked goods.
Unfortunately, we're getting pretty low on these, which is a bummer! We usually have enough left over to have our apple butter made for the following year. Not sure that's going to happen this time!
🍎 BUT WAIT... THERE'S MORE!!! 🍎
We STILL have apples hanging on the trees, waiting for their turn!
Here's what's left to pick:
🍎 Winesap
🍎 Aztec Fuji
🍎 EverCrisp
🍎 Ludacrisp
🍎 GoldRush
🍎 Pink Lady
🍎 Baldwin
🍎 Arkansas Black
We know, we know! We've had LOTS of questions about these varieties, and we're just as anxious as you are!
But Mother Nature is in charge of the ripening schedule, and unfortunately, she doesn't take requests! 😂
We're patiently waiting for these beauties to be ready.
BUT... here's a little secret... 🤫
A few of these varieties MIGHT just be making their way onto our shelves THIS WEEK!
Keep an eye on our page because we'll let you know as soon as they're ready!
🎃👻 AND ONE MORE THING...
We've got a little something brewing for HALLOWEEN! 👻🎃
We're not quite ready to spill the beans(or the apple seeds! 🍎😂), but we're working on something fun!
STAY TUNED THIS WEEK!!!
As always, THANK YOU for being part of our Black's Shady Knoll Orchard family! We love sharing the harvest, the family stories, and a little bit of our crazy orchard life with all of you! ❤️🍎
See you on the Knoll! 🍎🎃
