The apple harvest

The apple harvest in September is the most important time of the year for us. The month that we all look forward to in the Val di Non when we finally harvest the fruits of our year’s labour!

We wake up early, get out of bed, put on our boots and head out into the fields. Tractors at the ready, crates arranged along the rows of trees to being the day.

Did you know that each and every Melinda apple is harvested by hand? Everyone has their own job on these frenetic days. Some pick the low-hanging fruit, some the higher ones on ladders or carts, some take them to the store and others sort them with a gauge, usually it is my mum who does that. Women have a better eye for some things!

The best moment is when it’s break time in the field: a precious shared moment, when grandma really comes into her own. She opens up her basket and offers us all sorts of delicacies, including her famous apple strudel. We sit down on wooden boxes, enjoying the sweet treats she has provided and talk about everything and nothing. So peaceful!

Do you want to come harvesting with me and my family? Why not adopt an apple tree here in Val di Non, roll up your sleeves and spend a day in the fields with us!