Only a Few Weekends of Apple Picking Left

What's Ripe This Week

Rochester-area apple fans, here's the late-October update: the final wave of the season is in full swing at Fisher's Fruit in Brockport. Pink Lady — the last variety to ripen each year — is at peak right now, with its firm texture and complex sweet-tart flavor. Granny Smith is excellent, delivering that bright tartness that holds up beautifully in a bag for a week. Fuji remains dense and sweet, and Braeburn is still offering a good spice-forward bite that stores well at home.

Bags are $14 for an 8-quart and $40 for a bushel. Before driving out, check current picking conditions — that's the most accurate real-time picture of what's available when you arrive.

Why Late October Is Worth the Trip

There's something quieter and unhurried about the last weekends of apple season. The orchard crowds are smaller, the air is genuinely crisp, and the late-keeping apples at Fisher's Fruit are at the peak of their flavor — these varieties were designed to ripen slowly, and October is exactly when they deliver. A bag of Granny Smith or Pink Lady picked now will keep for weeks in a cool basement or a month or more in the refrigerator. It's also one of the best times to stock up on storage apples before the season is gone. Fisher's Fruit has been growing apples in Monroe County since 1973, using organic practices and no systemic pesticides.

A Note on Timing

Late October in Western NY can shift fast — a hard frost, a stretch of rain, or a warm week can move the finish line in either direction. What's described here reflects conditions around October 22nd. The actual state when you arrive may differ. Always check current picking conditions before you head out from Rochester or anywhere across Monroe County. Fisher's Fruit is at 467 Euler Rd in Brockport, about 25 minutes west of Rochester off Route 31.

Next Up: Christmas Trees

Apple season wraps up at the end of October. After that, the farm transitions to Christmas trees — a completely different visit, but a great reason to come back in November and December. If you've been putting off the apple run, this is the week to go. Check the farm blog and current picking conditions for any last-minute updates as the season closes out.