Due to a late freeze after Mother’s Day, over 50 percent of the crops were “wiped out,” she said.
“We got about half a crop from the freeze,” Mark Reaver, owner of Reaver Farms Orchard in South Charleston said. “Mostly, the early season apples made it. A lot of the later season apples didn’t.”
This year was not the first year the owners were affected by a freeze. Stevens said there was a freeze in 2007 that “took everything” in the whole state.
To meet customers’ needs, both owners said they are planning to buy apples from orchards in northern Ohio. Reaver said he might source some apples from New York.
“I have to ship apples from somewhere to keep people happy,” Reaver said. “Hopefully I will have enough cider apples from the earlier season apples.”
He said that the early season apples are usually a little tarter and do not make as good of a cider, but “the longer they sit, they sweeter they get (resulting in a good cider).”
Reaver’s storefront, located at 1851 Summerford Road, sells apples, cider, honey, pumpkins and other fruits and vegetables. The storefront is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
He added that his crop of peaches were also affected by the freeze, but they did not get hit as hard as the apples.
Stevens Bakery & Orchard, located at 7344 Thackery Road, sells apples, honey, an assortment of jams and jellies, pure maple syrup and several different types of homemade pies. Their apple shed is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Stevens Bakery & Orchard also has u-pick apples available by appointment only.
Appointments for the first u-picks scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13 were filled within one day of announcing the dates on Facebook. Stevens said they are expecting to have other u-picks, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of apples, people will have to call ahead to make an appointment after dates are posted on Facebook.
Apple pickers will not be given a wagon ride to the orchard, due to social distancing guidelines, she added.
Stevens Bakery & Orchard are expecting their sales to be down 50 percent due to the limited u-pick, Stevens said.
“This year there will be no recovering,” Stevens said. “We will buy apples to sell that are pre-picked, but the u-pick and the wagon rides are our biggest draw and attraction.”
“We kind of got a double whammy this year,” Stevens added.
Reaver said he does not think the pandemic has affected his business as much as the freeze.
“We’re out in the middle of no where and there’s not very many people in the shop at the same time, so I do not blame COVID-19 for nothing,” Reaver said.
He added that his sales may have a slight decrease this year because some customers are scared to come to the storefront.
Both owners said they are offering call ahead ordering and curbside pickup.
“We’re definitely looking forward to seeing some familiar faces,” Stevens said.
For more information about the orchards, search for them on Facebook.
About the Author
