Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Joel Blake picks an apple at A-Peeling Acres Orchard on Sunday. A-Peeling Acres Orchard is located just south of New Ulm on 20902 Pine Apple Lane.

NEW ULM — After a delayed start due to last fall’s

drought, the apple harvest has caught up and is going well

now, says A-Peeling Acres Orchard owner Sue Blake.

“We have really great apples this year, just not as

many,” Blake said. “Apples started about a week late, but

now everything seems to have caught up. The crop is about

two-thirds of last year.”

The orchard at 20902 Pine Apple Lane, off Shag Road,

just south of New Ulm, has many types of apples available

including honey crisp, honey gold, chestnut crab, Mcintosh,

Harralson, freedom and regent.

Normally, apples are ready for harvest in September

and October. If you want to stretch the fall harvest, store

apples in a cool, dark place.

Apples offer many health benefits, especially if you eat

the skin. They are rich in fiber and antioxidants. Eating

them lowers the risk of many chronic conditions including

type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Apples

can promote weight loss, improve gut, lung strength, brain

health, immunity and help reduce asthma and inflammation.

Apples are often used in recipes like pies, cookies,

muffins, jam, salads, oatmeal and smoothies. They make a

great snack or wedged and smeared with nut butter. They

can make applesauce, apple pie, apple turnovers and apple

tarts.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).