KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – It may be a little bit early to think about the apple picking, but many producers are looking to tempt people with some new choices.
One grower plans to plant three different varieties, starting this spring.
At Hillside Apple Orchard, owner Bill Roethle grows about 30 different apple varieties on 40 acres near Casco. He tells FOX they’re making room to plant at least 100 new Ambrosia apple trees.
“I put in my order three years ago, for my trees, and they’re finally coming this spring. I think that one’s going to be a good one.”
In addition, Roethle plans to plant a new strain of Pink Lady Apples, but he says getting the Premier Honeycrisp Apple is a game-changer.
“Which is an early season, supposed to ripen two to three weeks earlier than regular honeycrisp. So we should be looking at, to have those ripen around Labor Day.”
And that’s when Hillside Orchard is busiest.
“When we open in the late August, or early September, first of September, when we open, the first thing, the phone starts ringing, every other phone call is, do you have any honeycrisp yet?”
But scientists say it takes years of testing before a new strain sees the store shelves.
“Development and weeding out problems that come up for growers out in the field, or in storage, or those kinds of things. Shipping. They have to be able to ship well,” said Dan Kielar, Horticultural Technician, Peninsular Agricultural Research Station.
In the meantime, Rothle says Hillside Apple Orchard is getting ready for the season.
“Any of these varieties that ripen earlier, we are definitely interested in. The question is can they take hold with the consumer, and if the consumers grab onto them, and like them.”
Growers say it typically takes at least five years before picking can really start with new apple trees.
And it takes about 10 years for trees to fully mature.
