By MATT LINDSEY

Apple growers from across St. Lawrence County are reporting a surprisingly good harvest this year with apples being ready about a week or two later than usual.

Mother Nature treated growers to a large crop last year and often the following year isn’t as fruitful.

But growers in Massena, Parishville, Rensselaer Falls and Lisbon are saying their numbers did not drop off much at all this year.

Honeycrisp apples, known for being sweet and tart, continue to be the most popular choice for most apple pickers.

Good Pollination Weather

“We have a pretty good crop this year…the apples came in a couple weeks later because winter lasted longer this year,” said Nancy Badlam of Kaneb Orchards in Massena.

Apple picking usually begins near the end of July at the Kaneb Orchards, 182 Highland Rd., which is home to around 600 producing trees and more planted for the future.

Last year was considered a bumper crop, which is an unusually large harvest. So for the Kaneb Orchards, they are pleased with this years yield.

“They were a little sour in the beginning. The ice stayed on the trees causing the trees to bloom later,” Badlam said.

“It is a really good year for us…a little later than normal but it seems to be a good crop,” said Gary Snell Jr., of Parishville Center Apple Orchard, 702 State Highway 72.

“We had good pollination weather for the bees with temperatures in the 70s. We do not bring bees in…everything is all-natural,” Snell said.

Steve Fobare, who operates Fobare’s Fruits, 180 Johnson Rd., Rensselaer Falls, agreed the season is a bit later. “Crops are about 7 to 10 days behind due to a lack of sunshine this year,” he said.

“Things are just getting going for us…and it looks like it will be an average year,” said

An average year can be seen as a success, as often times when trees produce a lot apples like they did last year, the following year can be a bad one, according to growers.

Merkley’s U-Pick Apples, Dollar Road in Lisbon, is also having a good year, according to family member Sara Merkley.

“Last year was a little but better. This year we had a lot of rain and not a lot of sun which affected the crop,” she said.

Honeycrisp, Macs Popular

The most popular apples at Kaneb Orchards include Cortland, Lobos and Macintosh. Becoming more popular is cider, which is now offered for the first time as hard cider for adults.

Kaneb Orchards is a No-U-Pick orchard. A crew picks apples and sorts them for customer convenience at their fruit stand, Badlam said.

“The trees are too big and very tall…it is too dangerous for the public to pick,” Badlam said.

Their cider is produced on site and can be purchased at the Cider Mill near the fruit stand.

Snell planted his first apple tree nine years ago and is beginning to see the fruits of his labor. He cares for just under 400 trees on his property.

Snell offers eight varieties of apples including Honeycrisp, Cortland, Gala and Liberty that can be purchased at a roadside stand seven days a week or customers can use u-pick bags Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The Honeycrisp apples came in especially well this year,” he said.

Snell has a picnic area for families to enjoy as well as a trout-feeding pond for children. He has hosted several school tours and groups can schedule s visit by calling 212-7057.

Fobare’s has around 6,000 trees and offers about 25 to 30 varieties of apples. He says the most popular apples he sells are Macintosh and Honeycrisp.

Fobare, a dairy farmer for 20 years before getting into the construction and asphalt business, operates his business with his wife Gayle.

The couple spent years planting and growing an orchard and vineyard at their home with the help of family and friends.

Fobare’s Fruits also offers jams, cheese, ice cream, a corn maze and a large playground area that features a kangaroo jumping pillow, bounce houses and a jungle gym.

They are open Monday through Friday fro 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www/fobaresfruits.com, call 344-1207 or “like” them on Facebook.

Merkley’s has been in business around 15 years and sells Macintosh, Empire, Cortland as well as lesser-known varieties like Northern Lights and Nova.

“Our Macintosh and Cortland apples are hands down our most popular,” Merkley said.

Macintosh apples were not ready when Merkley was interviewed, but she said there are updates in their Facebook page and customers can call them to find out availability.

They are open Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are located on Dollar Road which is off of Route 68 near Flackville.

To contact Merkley’s, call 344-8880 or 528-0934.

Some other orchards in St. Lawrence County include:

• Canton Apples, corner of County Route 25 and Barnes Road, 212-0950, offering u-pick apples.

• Brookdale Apple Orchard, 1997 County Route 49, Winthrop, 389-5840 offering a roadside stand and u-pick apples.

• Goodwin’s Orchard, 37 Needham Rd., off NYS Hwy. 11B, West Stockholm, 265-6161 offering picked and u-pick.

• J&W Orchard, 737 County Route 38, Norfolk, 384-2080.