Behind the Scenes: How Apple Hill Growers Prepare for Peak Season

Spring is a season of renewal, and for an Apple Hill Grower, it’s also a time of hard work and preparation. While visitors flock to the orchards in the fall for apple picking, cider sipping, and scenic autumn views, the magic of harvest season begins long before that. So, what happens behind the scenes in the orchards? Let’s take a look at how local farmers gear up for their busiest time of year.

1. Pruning for a Stronger Harvest

Spring is pruning season. Farmers carefully trim trees to remove dead or overgrown branches, which helps improve air circulation and encourages better fruit production.

Why Pruning is Important:

• Increases sunlight exposure, leading to sweeter apples
• Prevents overcrowding, allowing each apple to grow larger
• Reduces the risk of disease and pests

Proper pruning ensures that when harvest season arrives, the apples are vibrant, juicy, and ready for picking!

 2. The Blooming Stage: Apple Blossoms Take Over the Orchards

April marks the peak of apple blossoms, covering the orchards in breathtaking white and pink flowers. While these blossoms make for stunning photos, they serve a much greater purpose—the start of the apple-growing process.

Farmers’ Spring Tasks:

• Pollination Support: Bees play a crucial role in pollinating apple blossoms, so many farmers work with local beekeepers to ensure a healthy bee population in their orchards.
• Weather Monitoring: Late frosts can damage blossoms, so farmers take extra care to protect them, sometimes using wind machines or sprinklers to regulate temperatures.
• Soil Preparation: Healthy apples start with healthy soil. Farmers test and enrich their soil with nutrients to give the trees the best possible growing conditions.

3. Preparing for Visitors: Farmstands, Markets, and Event Planning

Though fall is the busiest time, many Apple Hill Growers stay open year-round or begin preparing their ranches in spring.

Spring Farm Preparation Includes:

• Restocking shelves with fresh products like jams, honey, and baked goods
• Planning events like U-pick berry days, wine tastings, and farm tours
• Updating picnic areas, trails, and seating for visitors

Farmers know that the Apple Hill Growers provide more than just an agricultural hub—we give an experience. That’s why we take great care in creating a welcoming environment for guests of all ages.

4. Early Crops and Seasonal Produce

While apples won’t be ready until the fall, many Apple Hill Growers grow additional crops in spring. Visitors can find fresh produce at farmstands, including:

• Strawberries
• Lettuce and greens
• Lavender
• Asparagus
• Fresh herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary

Spring is also when wineries begin bottling their latest wines, making it a perfect time for a tasting tour of the Apple Hill Grower’s vineyards.

5. Looking Ahead to Fall: The Road to Harvest Season

While the orchards are just beginning to bloom in spring, farmers already have their sights set on autumn. The work they put in now—pruning, pollination, soil care, and pest management—lays the foundation for the vibrant experience that visitors love in September through December. So, the next time you visit an Apple Hill Grower farm in the fall, enjoying fresh apple cider, warm pies, and crisp orchard air, remember that it all started months earlier in the quiet, hardworking days of spring.

Plan a Spring Visit to See the Process in Action!

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Camino, CA for a behind-the-scenes look at farming in action. Whether you’re tasting fresh-picked produce, or touring wineries, you’ll get a whole new appreciation for the year-round effort that makes the fall season so spectacular.

Be sure to check here (https://applehill.com/events/ ) to begin planning your visit.