Local apples will be ready early this year

DEERFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The apple crop is ready for harvest earlier than usual.

Ben Clark, the co-owner of Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield , told 22News that the apples are arriving 7 to 10 days earlier this year.

Clark told 22News that the mild winter and warm spring are the reason crops are ready early.

Clarkdale has 20 apple orchards, which grow 50 different kinds of apples. The Clarks have been picking apples for three weeks now, and you can start picking apples there during the second week of September. That's about a week to ten days earlier this year.

“It seems like everything is a little early. Mums are coming out early, pumpkins, pretty much across the board,” Clark said.“Things will be ready a little sooner than usual and that also the seasons will be over sooner.”

But he added that this will not mean they will be running out anytime soon. “We'll have plenty of apples and peaches for a while.”

Clark says the season will end in late October instead of mid November this year.

This year's apples may be extra delicious; Clark told 22News they have a great crop this season because the sugar is higher.