Apple Season · September 17, 2026

Macoun and Empire Are Ready

Two of the most anticipated fall apples are on at Fisher's Fruit Farm near Rochester this week. Macoun is deep, fragrant, and won't last long — Empire is filling in fast alongside it. Here's what's ripe in the orchard right now.

Check Current Conditions → About Our Apples

Fisher's Farm Blog

Macoun and Empire Are Ready

What's Ripe This Week at the Orchard

Rochester-area apple fans: this is the week you've been waiting for. Macoun is in — dark red, intensely aromatic, and as good fresh off the tree as it gets. Empire is right there with it, filling out the rows with its familiar sweet-tart crunch. Gala continues to pick well, and Honeycrisp, while past its absolute peak, still has good fruit if you know where to look. Pick-your-own prices are $14 per 8-quart bag or $40 per bushel. Before you make the drive to Brockport, check current picking conditions for the latest on what's open and available — that page is updated as conditions change throughout the week.

Macoun: A Short Window, Worth Every Trip

Macoun doesn't stick around. Most years it's on for two to three weeks — and when it goes, it's gone until next fall. What makes it special is hard to replicate: a deep, wine-tinged sweetness, a snap when you bite in, and a fragrance that fills a bag. It's one of the most loved varieties we grow at Fisher's Fruit, and Monroe County visitors plan visits specifically around it. It's great for eating out of hand, pairs beautifully with sharp cheddar, and holds up nicely in simple baked desserts. For a full look at Macoun's flavor, texture, and uses, see our Macoun guide. For the complete variety lineup at the farm, visit /apples.

Empire: New York's Own, in Full Stride

Empire is a cross of McIntosh and Red Delicious, developed right here in New York — it's been a fall staple at orchards across Western NY for decades, and for good reason. It's firmer and more versatile than Macoun, holds well after picking, and has a balanced sweet-tart flavor that works as well in a pie as it does straight from the bag. Empire tends to have a longer window than Macoun, which makes the two a natural pair for this week: pick a bag of each and you've got fresh eating and baking covered for the week. Read more about Empire in our Empire apple guide, or see all the varieties we grow at /apples.

A Note on Weather, Timing, and Picking Conditions

Ripening doesn't follow a fixed schedule — cool nights, warm days, and rainfall all affect when each variety peaks and how fast the window closes. What's listed here reflects the orchard as of September 17, 2026. Always check /current-picking-conditions before heading out to confirm current availability. Fisher's Fruit Farm is at 467 Euler Rd in Brockport, Monroe County, about 25 minutes west of Rochester. We've farmed this land since 1973 using organic practices with no systemic pesticides. For full pricing, see /pricing. For everything happening on the farm this season, browse the farm blog.

Macoun and Empire — Come Pick This Week

Both are on at Fisher's Fruit Farm in Brockport, near Rochester. Macoun moves fast — check current conditions before heading out to confirm what's open.

Check Current Conditions → About Our Apples