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September 14, 2017

$12M CT apple market could have record-breaking season

PHOTO | Steve Jensen, CT Dept. of Agriculture Won Hee Lee arranges apples for sale at the Drazen Orchards farm stand in Cheshire.
PHOTO | Steve Jensen, CT Dept. of Agriculture Cheshire grower Eli Drazen picking Fuji apples

Connecticut’s apple harvesters are anticipating a nice rebound after last year’s disappointing growing and picking season.

In fact, this year’s harvest could be record breaking, growers and authorities say.

Last year’s drought and spring frost hurt apple growers, but this year is proving far better, with all apple varieties available, said Brian Kelliher, who runs Easy Pickin’s Orchards in Enfield and is president of the Connecticut Apple Marketing Board.

“We had good pollinating weather and ample rains early on, and the cool nights and sunny days recently are making for great color, quality and flavor,” Kelliher said.

Annually, Connecticut apple growers produce about $12 million worth of apples -- about half a million bushels, said Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky. Apple picking also is a tourist activity, he said.

Cheshire grower Eli Drazen said his crop was down about 40-percent last year, as much of his orchard went into dormancy. The Drazen family has been growing fruit here since 1951. Drazen was anxious this spring, but found the orchards in full bloom and harvests plentiful.

“We knew that this year was going to be a real limb-buster,” he said.

The CT Apple Marketing Board’s (CAMB) website, www.ctapples.org, offers information on the state’s growers and apple varieties.

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