When autumn comes to Central New York, nothing beats picking your own apples at a local orchard. Well, maybe picking can’t compare with biting into the shiny flesh of an apple that’s the size of a softball and more juicy than a watermelon.
We experienced the pleasure of our region’s apple harvest during a recent visit to Owen Orchards, located in the rolling hills of Weedsport (about 30 minutes outside Syracuse). This 45-acre orchard is relatively small, but their apples are some of the best we’ve tasted.
Amid the pungent smell of ripe Golden Delicious, Empire and Cortland apples, we spoke with orchard caretaker Gordon Tripp. Tripp, 56, spoke enthusiastically about apple farming and his commitment to keeping the tradition alive. The orchard was started by Tripp’s grandfather (Charles Owen) in the mid-1930s and run by the family until the 1970s when the land was leased. Tripp decided to re-take control only after his son came to him and said he wanted to learn how to grow apples. That was 1985. Since then Gordon and his wife Carol, as well as his son David and his wife Beth have operated Owen Orchards.