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Our App les
Jersey Mac
Ripens early to mid August. Red and green skin, white flesh, this apple is tart, crisp when first picked and is good for eating and cooking. Makes excellent applesauce because of the tart flavour. Should be handled with a maximum shelf life of two to three weeks in the refridgerator.
Paula Red
Ripens mid to late August. With every week of later ripening the shelf life of an apple is extended. Red/green skin, white flesh, sweet/tart flavour, this apple resembles the later Cortland variety in shape and flavour. Great for fresh eating and cooking. Should also be refridgerated.
Jona Mac
A cross between a Jonathon and McIntosh apple, this variety ripens about 1 week prior to main season McIntosh. Retains crispness longer than McIntosh, taste is similar, size is somewhat smaller. Excellent eating and cooking.
McIntosh
The good old fashion Mac! A wonderful versatile apple. It's great for baking, sauce, and of course eating. Do make sure you keep this in the refrigerator as it will go soft if not kept cool. Ready around September 15.
Royal Gala
Cross between Golden Delicous and Cox Orange Pippin, this apple ripens just prior to McIntosh, around mid September - a very sweet early variety of apple. There are many varieties of Royal Gala, which range from solid red/yellow skin, to striped red/yellow skin, with light yellow flesh. A juicy sweet eating apple.
Honey Crisp
An explosively crisp new variety that ripens around September 15th. Great eating and cooking. Keeps well into the winter
Snow
A heritage variety that ripens around September 21. Great eating and cooking, similar to McIntosh.
Toman Sweet
Another heritage variety that we have brought back. Great for baked apples. A sweet crisp apple that ripens around Sept 21.
Cortland
Purple/red and green skin, very white flesh, this apple does not turn brown when cut. This makes it an excellent apple for salads. This apple is an excellent eating and cooking apple. Sweet/tart in flavour. Ripens mid to late September.
Empire
A cross between Red Delicious and Mcintosh apples, this is a very crisp dark red fleshed apple. Retains crispness for a long time, this is a good keeper. Flavour is tarter than delicous, but sweeter than mcintosh. Ripens late September
Red Delicious
The Red Delicious is one of the sweeter apples out there. It will keep very well in a chilled area. It should last over a month if kept cold. They are one of the most popular apples across North America. However, they are use primarily for eating. In a typical year, they are ready around October 5 or so.
Golden Delicious
A sweet eating and cooking apple, this variety can range in colour from green/yellow to very bright yellow with orange blush depending on the soil it is grown in. Shape of a red delicous, but has a different textured flesh.
Ida Red
Orange/red and green skin, yellow flesh, this is a very crisp apple, great for long term storage. Excellent eating and cooking apple. Ripens mid October.
Northern Spy
Need description
Mutsu
Large green/yellow apple. Very sweet, crisp, great for long term storage as well. Ripens mid October. Excellent eating and cooking.
Russett
Russetted golden yellow colour skin, yellow flesh - this is a heritage variety. It has been a favourite apple used for long term storage by grandparents and great grandparents. Usually small in size, very firm when first picked, skin shrivels if kept at room temperature too long, but this does not seem to cause rapid deterioration.
TASTE THE DIFFERENCE LOCAL PRODUCE MAKES
At Birtch Farms we strive to grow a wide variety of apples, allowing for a long “pick your own” season. Our experience in the growing of quality fruit exceeds 35 years. We stay current on the latest products and methods of growing apples through workshops with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and University research. Beginning early spring, we give our trees the nutrition and protection that they need to grow quality fruit for our customers.
Harvest and Pick your own season begins early to mid August, and continues until mid to late October.
The weather may create a bit of variation to the harvest dates listed. In addition to the well known popular varieties, we grow heritage varieties such as Northern Spy, Tollman Sweet and Snow Apples. We have planted new varieties such as Honey Crisp, Gingergold, and Braeburn, which are beginning to be available in limited supply. We continue to research new varieties, and as we remove old unproductive trees, we will replace with new varieties and trees that provide easy picking.
Our chart will give you some basic ideas for time of harvest and usage.
| Apple Varieties | Harvest Date (MM/DD) | Eating | Baking | Salads | Sauce |
| Jersey Mac | 08/15 |  |
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| Paula Red | 08/20 | |
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| Gingergold | 08/20 | |
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| Jona Mac | 09/05 | |
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| McIntosh | 09/15 | |
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| Royal Gala | 09/15 | |
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| Honey Crisp | 09/15 | |
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| Snow | 09/21 | |
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| Tolman Sweet | 09/21 | |
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| Cortland | 09/25 | |
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| Empire | 09/25 | |
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| Red Delicious | 10/05 | |
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| Golden Delicious | 10/10 | |
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| Ida Red | 10/10 | |
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| Northern Spy | 10/15 | |
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| Mutsu | 10/15 | |
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Pick Your Own Apples"
This fall, make it a family outing! Enjoy the fresh air and fresh produce picked straight form the tree and the field.
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