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PEACH
SEASON HOURS:
Fridays & Saturdays:
9 am till 5pm
Sundays: 12 noon till 5pm
CONTINUED FROM HOME PAGE...
Though many days we will have ground picking,
bring a “designated picker” if
you can’t climb. Because of high demand
and a limited supply of our own pickers, we
can’t always guarantee already-picked
cherries for sale when you first arrive. Our
specialty is PICK-YOUR-OWN-FUN for the whole
family, so, if possible, bring pickers with
you if you don’t want to do your own
picking!
On Saturday, July 22, we’ll start our
PEACH SEASON. You can pick your own peaches—right
behind the packhouse—or buy them already
picked. From July 22 until Labor Day, we’ll
be open three days a week only: Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday. Labor Day launches our fall APPLE
SEASON, when we’ll be open Monday through
Saturday.
As always, we look forward to seeing you at
Levering Orchard! We appreciate you. Come dressed
to pick and enjoy your visit!
PEACHES,
APPLES, CHERRIES AND MORE
In addition to peaches, you'll find a number
of varieties of summer apples for sale, both
cooking and eating apples. Lodi, a world-class
cooking apple, should be available at least
until the end of July, and throughout late
July and most of August we'll have Jersey Macs
(a wonderful semi-tart apple), Paula Reds (ditto)
and Tydeman's Reds, which many people consider
to be in a class by itself. By August 12 we
expect our Gala apples to be ready to pick.
This beautiful, sweet apple variety gains popularity
nationwide every year.
Our quantities are limited until our young
trees grow larger, but we do have some nectarines
for sale on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We should be picking our nectarines by July
29. We'll also have several varieties of pears
available on a limited basis, beginning August
20. As always, it's best that customers call
the packhouse when it's open at 276.755.3593
to gain up-to-date information. Conditions
can change due to weather and other factors,
and fruit can sell out. Also, for a daily or
near-daily updated message about fruit availability,
call the hotline at 276.755.4837.
FALL
APPLES
Levering Orchard
was founded by Frank's grandfather in 1908 as an apple orchard,
and though today we grow a wide range of fruit, we continue to honor
Ralph Levering's original vision by producing many varieties of
fall apples. By Labor Day, we're picking and selling old standards
like Red and Golden Delicious, as well as Spartan, a Macintosh-cross
variety that wins new fans every year for it's not-too-sweet, not-too-tart
balance and juicy crispness. By the end of September we're into
our Jonagold season (a cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious),
and the first week of October marks the beginning of Mutsu season.
MUTSU
SEASON? WHAT'S A "MUTSU?"
"Mutsu"
is the Japanese word for an apple variety-originating in Japan-that
just might be the greatest apple variety in the world. A lot of
our veteran customers think so. And while we aren't going to take
sides in this debate, the fact is the Mutsu apple grows spectacularly
large, is a beautiful green-gold, has a scrumptious, dense crispness
and well-balanced flavor, and will store for months in a cool place
after you take it home. It's just a sensational apple! Most supermarkets
don't carry it because supermarkets don't want to sell an apple
this big-it isn't convenient. But we're not a supermarket-we're
an orchard selling truly fresh fruit (by contrast, theirs is usually
shipped long distances and stored for long periods). And as an added
bonus, we sell our fruit at much cheaper prices.
So check out
our Mutsus. We'll have them for sale at least until Thanksgiving.
They're what an apple should be.
STAYMEN-WINESAPS,
GRANNYS, FUJIS, YORKS, ROMES
October and
November are also the season for many classic varieties. Our Staymen-Winesaps
are ripe during this period, and many people believe that this semi-tart
apple is king of the hill. Others say that the Granny Smith-a favorite
at our house, for sure-is impossible to beat. If you like something
sweeter, our Fujis fill the bill (and the tummy). Yorks and Romes
continue to set the standard for fall cooking apples.
Beginning
on Labor Day, our Apple Season hours are:
Monday - Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on Sundays
Call 276.755.3593 during business hours for varieties available
In the meantime,
we hope to see you at Levering Orchard from now until Christmas,
hungry for fresh peaches, apples, and other fruits. We'll do our
best to satisfy your appetite and provide you with a fresher, more
healthful, more adventurous alternative to supermarket fruit! As
family farmers, we appreciate your interest, your business, and
your friendship. We look forward to seeing you - not only in cyberspace
but -- in the Blue Ridge Mountain space!
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