After a tough season marked by drought and wildfires, apple orchards across the Northeast are reporting a strong harvest this fall. Families can look forward to a variety of apples and a longer picking season.

Orchards across the Northeast are experiencing a successful apple harvest, a notable improvement after last year's difficulties caused by drought. Farmers report that the previous poor season led to fruit trees storing energy, resulting in a more robust crop this year.

A long, cold winter contributed to the favorable conditions, allowing trees to remain dormant until the optimal time for blooming. The variety of apple types, each ripening at different times, is helping to sustain the season, with growers across the region seeing similar positive results.

Northeast apple harvest bounces back after drought

It's a busy time at orchards as families head out to mark the start of apple picking season and this year farmers say the harvest carries extra meaning, especially after the rough season they faced last year in New Jersey. The season wasn't as great. The crop wasn't as great as we wanted, but you know, after having a not so good year with fruit trees, typically the year following, those trees have all that pent up energy in them and they're ready to produce a great crop. That turnaround is thanks in part to a long cold winter. They don't need to stay dormant until just the right time. You really want them to stay dormant as long as possible. So you know, in years past, when you get those couple random warm days in March, it wakes everything up a little bit too early. So the longer they stay dormant, it pushes the bloom back a little bit. We missed those cold nights in early spring and this year it lined up pretty good and variety is what keeps apple season going strong with different types of apples ripening at different times. Orchards are able to stretch and the cold and delicious. Are ready to go. They're perfect right now. If we were to, you know, go over to the pink ladies, they're bright green. They're not ready. They're super tart. They don't have much flavor, so they'll be ready in about two or three weeks. Growers across the Northeast are seeing similar success, setting up a strong season for Apple lovers across the region. Everyone had pretty much the same winter we had, so everyone is sitting in the same spot. Some people as far as specific varieties are a little bit further behind than other ones, but everyone's, you know, has a great crop for Accuweather. I'm Ali Reed.

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