As the morning starts to get chillier and the leaves are starting to don their vibrant autumn colours, there’s a tradition in my family that calls for help from the whole family: apple picking. While this may not be my favourite fruit, it certainly is a great blend of outdoor activity, family bonding and chance to taste the harvest of the year.
While a lot of apple trees can be found in backyards, farms on the outskirts of the city have orchards that make apple picking easy. It can be very affordable to pick apples (and other fruits) on these establishments. For my family, our aunt and uncles have a larger backyard with multiple apple trees that bear fruit each year. Apples are great snack by themselves and can be used in a variety of different baking recipes. Here’s why it can be a great weekend activity for you and your loved ones.
Connecting with nature: as the weather starts to cool, there can be fewer opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The fall still provides an acceptable time to be outdoors. Given how short the autumn is in Canada, I try to take every opportunity to be outdoors on the weekends.- Family bonding: apple picking is a great bonding activity for family and friends alike. When I was younger, I always relished the time to contribute to the fruit picking. When I couldn’t reach the higher branches as a kid, I would bring Tupperware or boxes for the family to hold the harvested fruits. If you have children or have younger siblings, this is a great way to keep them engaged for hours.
- Supporting local agriculture: if you don’t have an apple tree in your yard, visiting a farm means that you’re supporting local farmers and family-owned businesses. For a small fee, many farmers allow you to bring a bucket and harvest as many as would fit in the bucket. While visiting British Columbia last year, I had the chance to pick apples at a local orchard and it was an incredible experience to see the row on row of apples ready for harvesting.
Learning new recipes: I always believed apples to be a baking ingredient; however, ever since we had our harvest, I’ve learned that there are a number of savoury dishes that use apples as well. Thinly shaved or shredded apple can be used for slaw or salads. It adds a hint of sweetness to many dishes like meatballs or soup. It can be used in breakfast oatmeal and even made into sauce if you’re adventurous enough. I had a lot of fun learning new recipes and can’t wait to share with you more of these this fall.- Affordable activity for the family: It never ceases to amaze me how much inflation has hit developed countries, globally. A lot of typical family activities are becoming expensive. A Friday night movie for example is no longer affordable for many Canadians. Dining out bills have been creeping up every year it seems. But picking apples can be a very affordable activity. Some other fruits that are in season currently include raspberries, blueberries, and grapes. Many farms on the outskirts of cities provide multiple fruit-picking options for visitors for an affordable price.
