Apple damage delays plans for a hard cider operation

By TERENCE L. DAY

For the Capital Press

GARFIELD, Wash. -- Bishops' U-pick and U-squeeze apple orchard opened for business this year despite heavy damage from abrupt, killing temperatures that abbreviated last year's harvest.

Harvest was progressing nicely in the nine-acre orchard last year when temperatures plummeted to 10 degrees Fahrenheit on the morning of Oct. 10, 2009, and to 6 degrees the next morning.

The Bishops' newsletter to customers as far away as Seattle and Montana and their website reported the loss of some trees and damage to many others. They have no Redfree or Gravenstein apples, or Bartlett or D'Anjou pears this season, but have their other apple varieties. That includes Williams Pride, Summer Red, McIntosh, Cortland, Liberty, Empire, Spartan, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Rome Beauty.

Owner Stephen Bishop said most apples are smaller than normal this year, as a result of a shortened, cool growing season and tree damage from last year's freeze, and the cider apple crop will be light.

Harvest should continue through October.

Orchard damage is also delaying the Bishops' plans to launch a commercial hard cider operation. They have purchased equipment that will press 350 gallons an hour and planted English cider type varieties for the operation. They paid cash for the equipment and nursery stock.

"We save up and never borrow money," Bishop said. His family has owned and operated the U-pick orchard for 28 years.

The orchard is open only on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:15 p.m. until sundown, and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cider customers have to bring their own containers.