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Greetings to all, finally the weather looks wonderful for the markets this weekend, it is about time! Last Sunday was brutal, anything not picked got ruined due to the frigid temperatures. Luckily for us, Steve got most of our apples picked and put into cold storage.  So with everything picked, we are starting to wind it down with just a few weeks left at the markets, so get them while you can! Jonathans and Red Regent are gone for the season. We still have plenty of sweet ones and some tart ones to satisfy your various tastes.
 
Here’s what we’ll have at the markets this week:
 
Winesap - an old fashioned favorite from back east, typically grown in Pennsylvania and NY. Winesap are large, crisp, red and pretty tart, though very juicy at the same time.
 
Jonagold - they will take the place of Honeycrisp not only from a look-a-like cosmetically, but also from a sweet and crisp flavor perspective…..with one exception, they are much juicier than Honeycrisp. Not sure there is another variety that produces as much juice though Red Regent maybe a close second.
 
Granny Smith - a relatively tart variety, ours are not nearly as tart as what you will find in the store, we keep ours on the tree longer and thus they will be a little sweeter and many will have a red blush to them. Still quite tart but with more flavor than store Granny’s, just not as tart as you might expect from traditional Granny’s.  Granny’s scream pies and are good keepers!
 
Pink Lady - another one for you lovers of tart….though Pink Lady do have that sweet/tart balance, they are more weighted toward tart. They are large, very crisp, oblong in shape and red over green in color with red on the side where the sun hits them. Developed in New Zealand, they have become quite popular in the US.
 
Cameo - another one of my favorites, very, very sweet, crisp and juicy, a great late season sweet variety. Discovered as a limb sport in a red delicious orchard in Washington state, it is fairly oblong in shape with red striping and mottled colors.
 
Fuji - another quite sweet variety, not the prettiest apples with a red overtone on green and yellow underneath, but nice and tasty….and sweet, popular all over the world!
 
Though a number of our varieties are not the prettiest cosmetically, who cares what they look like as long as they taste good says that ancient philosopher….Walt!
 
For our markets, see the website for locations and times: www.masonvilleorchard.com. At this point of the season, all of the weekday markets are closed and Loveland has closed on Sundays….but all of the others are still going strong. 
 
The U-Pick is closed for the season, thank you to all who came out and supported it.
 
Hope to see you at the markets. 
Walt

Masonville Orchards
970-231-6399
walt@masonvilleorchard.com
www.masonvilleorchard.com

Thanks to everyone who has come out to the markets the last two weeks, the weather has not been overly friendly to us….doesn’t look great again this weekend but I think that is what I get for complaining about how hot it was thru most of September. Wow, do things change quickly in Colorado?!? With the rain and snow this week, we haven’t really got a lot done, though we managed to pick enough fruit for the weekend markets. Next week’s weather looks much better and we can get back to a normal routine.  We did manage to pick some nice varieties though not a lot of them. We should have more after this week so if we run out, be patient, there is more to come. For those who like tart, we have a few to pick from, but plenty of sweet ones too, something for everyone!
 
Here’s what we’ll have at the markets this week:
 
Winesap - an old fashioned favorite from back east, typically grown in Pennsylvania and NY. Winesap are large, crisp, red and pretty tart, though very juicy at the same time.
 
Jonagold - they will take the place of Honeycrisp not only from a look-a-like cosmetically, but also from a sweet and crisp flavor perspective…..with one exception, they are much juicier than Honeycrisp. Not sure there is another variety that produces as much juice, though Red Regent maybe a close second.
 
Jonathan - one of the most requested apples, an old time favorite….some say they are sweet, some say they are tart, that is just the differences in taste of different people, I tend to think they are tart….they are good.  We grow 2 strains, the Ruby Red Jonathan which is redder than the standard ones and a little sweeter and the standard or Old Fashioned Jonathan, which tend to be larger, less color and a little more tart, they are the standard for pie making, sauce or just to eat.
 
Red Regent - these are a real dark red apple, probably as dark as the Ruby Red Jonathans but a completely different flavor profile, very sweet and super juicy. If you have ever tasted an old fashioned red delicious, that was truly delicious, you will recognize the flavor…it is a Univ. of Minnesota cross of a Duchess and old fashioned Red Delicious….people get turned off by the newer varieties of Red Delicious, these are NOT those, you will not be disappointed.
 
Pink Lady - another one for you lovers of tart….though pink lady do have that sweet/tart balance, they are more weighted toward tart. They are large, very crisp, oblong in shape and red over green in color with red on the side where the sun hits them. Developed in New Zealand, they have become quite popular in the US.
 
Cameo - another one of my favorites, very, very sweet, crisp and juicy, a great late season sweet variety. Discovered as a limb sport in a red delicious orchard in Washington state, it is fairly oblong in shape with red striping and mottled colors.
 
For our markets, see the website for locations and times: www.masonvilleorchard.com. At this point of the season, all of the weekday markets are closed and Loveland has closed on Sundays….but all of the others are still going strong. 
 
The U-Pick is closed for the season, thank you to all who came out and supported it.
 
Hope to see you at the markets. 
Walt
Masonville Orchards
970-231-6399
www.masonvilleorchard.com

​Howdy everyone, it actually feels like fall, pretty amazing after all of the heat we have had the last few weeks…..and this weekend looks to be like March…..cold, rainy and not much fun, except for maybe making an apple pie, apple sauce or baked apples….nice cold weather dishes.  For those who want to bake, sauce or juice with Jonathan, this is the weekend to get them.  Coming soon….Cameo, Winesap and Pink Lady. 
 
Here’s what we’ll have at the markets this week:
 
Honeycrisp - no further explanation needed….sweet/tart and crisp. The last of the Honeycrisp will go to the markets this weekend.
 
Jonagold - they will take the place of Honeycrisp not only from a look-a-like cosmetically, but also from a sweet and crisp flavor perspective…..with one exception, they are much juicier than Honeycrisp. Not sure there is another variety that produces as much juice, though Red Regent maybe a close second.
 
Jonathan - one of the most requested apples, an old time favorite….some say they are sweet, some say they are tart, that is just the differences in taste of different people, I tend to think they are tart….they are good.  We grow 2 strains, the Ruby Red Jonathan which is redder than the standard ones and a little sweeter and the standard or Old Fashioned Jonathan, which tend to be larger, less color and a little more tart, they are the standard for pie making, sauce or just to eat.
 
Red Regent - these are a real dark red apple, probably as dark as the Ruby Red Jonathans but a completely different flavor profile, very sweet and super juicy. If you have ever tasted an old fashioned red delicious, that was truly delicious, you will recognize the flavor…it is a Univ. of Minnesota cross of a Duchess and old fashioned Red Delicious….people get turned off by the newer varieties of Red Delicious, these are NOT those, you will not be disappointed.
 
For our markets, see the website for locations and times: www.masonvilleorchard.com.
 
The U-Pick is closed for the season, thank you to all who came out and supported it.
 
Hope to see you at the markets. 
Walt

Greetings everyone, woo hoo, got to love when apples are everywhere, or so it seems. 
 
Here’s what we’ll have at the markets this week:
 
Sansa - the Akane/Gala cross that is more sweet than tart, some of the red color of the Akane with some of the sweet flesh of the Gala….always a favorite, also a Japanese variety.
 
Honeycrisp - no further explanation needed….sweet/tart and crisp.
 
September Wonder - another variety that falls into the sweet/tart category, though more sweet than tart, lineage goes back to Fuji. Not a particularly pretty apple, but big on taste.
 
Jonathan - one of the most requested apples, an old time favorite….some say they are sweet, some say they are tart, that is just the differences in taste of different people, I tend to think they are tart….they are good.  We grow 2 strains, the Ruby Red Jonathan which is redder than the standard ones and a little sweeter and the standard or Old Fashioned Jonathan, which tend to be larger, less color and a little more tart, they are the standard for pie making, sauce or just to eat.
 
Red Regent - these are a real dark red apple, probably as dark as the Ruby Red Jonathans but a completely different flavor profile, very sweet and super juicy. If you have ever tasted an old fashioned red delicious, that was truly delicious, you will recognize the flavor…it is a Univ. of Minnesota cross of a Duchess and old fashioned Red Delicious….people get turned off by the newer varieties of Red Delicious, these are NOT those, you will not be disappointed.
 
For our markets, see the website for locations and times www.masonvilleorchard.com.
 
U-Pick this Saturday!
Saturday will be the last day of the U-pick and I am sure we will be crazy busy, but should be fun….the list of varieties is too long to put in the email but I think there will be around 20 different ones, not a ton of any variety, but a ton of varieties….in the event we get picked out early, will have Jonathan, Red Regent, September Wonder and maybe a few Jonagold that we bring from the other orchards that will be for sale, just like one of our Farmer’s Markets. The hours for the U-pick will be 9-4, best picking options will be in the morning.  Location is 42135 Cty. Rd. 43, Ault, CO.
 
Hope to see you at the markets. 

Walt
Masonville Orchards
970-231-6399
walt@masonvilleorchard.com
www.masonvilleorchard.com

Apple season is in full swing and it is a good thing!!
 
This week at the markets covers everyone, those who like sweet and those who are a little TART!
 
Here is what will be at the markets:
 
Sansa - the Akane/Gala cross that is more sweet than tart, some of the red color of the Akane with some of the sweet flesh of the Gala….always a favorite, also a Japanese variety.
 
Honeycrisp - no further explanation needed….sweet/tart and crisp.
 
September Wonder - another variety that falls into the sweet/tart category, though more sweet than tart, lineage goes back to Fuji. Not a particularly pretty apple, but big on taste.
 
Jonathan - one of the most requested apples, an old time favorite….some say they are sweet, some say they are tart, that is just the differences in taste of different people, I tend to think they are tart….they are good.  We grow 2 strains, the Ruby Red Jonathan which is redder than the standard ones and a little sweeter and the standard or old fashioned Jonathan, which tend to be larger, less color and a little more tart, they are the standard for pie making, sauce or just to eat.
 
Italian Plums - these are large black-purple plums that some call prune plums, quite a bit sweeter than the Early Italian Plums we had a month ago, the last our plums for the season. 
 
For our markets, see the website for locations and times www.masonvilleorchard.com.
 
NO U-Pick this weekend!!!
The response to the U-pick has been wonderful….too wonderful in fact, all that is ripe has been picked so the U-pick will NOT be open this weekend. We need to give what is left a chance to ripen and will open for 1 last day Saturday, September 29.  Thank you to all who have come there and made that happen.
 
Hope to see you at the markets. 
Walt
Masonville Orchards
970-231-6399
www.masonvilleorchard.com
​

Due to the amazing attendance at the U-Pick this month we will be closed this weekend, Sept 22 & 23rd, to allow the remaining apples to ripen....and will reopen for 1 day on Saturday, Sept 29 to finish ALL remaining apples.

Greetings to all…..a very busy time = short newsletter!
 
This week at the markets is for SWEET lovers….everything is sweet, tarts will need to wait a week until the Jonathans start….with some exceptions…sweet/tart is on the menu.
 
Here is what will be at the markets:
 
Sansa - the Akane/Gala cross that is more sweet than tart, some of the red color of the Akane with some of the sweet flesh of the Gala….always a favorite, also a Japanese variety.
 
Honeycrisp - no further explanation needed….sweet/tart and crisp.
 
September Wonder - another variety that falls into the sweet/tart category, though more sweet than tart, lineage goes back to Fuji. Not a particularly pretty apple, but big on taste.
 
Red Prince - a whopper of an apple, very large, red, sweet and particularly juicy….very juicy, did I say the best one for juicing….and sweet.
 
Golden Supreme - they are gold/green and supreme as in taste, very sweet with a honey type flavor….also have a little blush on them….always very popular and we don’t have many.
 
For our markets, see the website for locations and times www.masonvilleorchard.com.
 
At the U-pick…..all kinds of stuff….Cinnamon Spice, Honeycrisp, Ozark Gold, Christolyn Jonathan, Cortland, Liberty, McIntosh , Autumn Crisp and Frostbite. The U-pick location is 42135 Co Rd 43, Ault, CO….also have fruit salsa’s, and our entire line of Jams, Jelly & Preserves…..we also carry Rocky Mountain Salsa and Papa Joe’s honey at the U-pick store…..and don’t forget press your own cider, just bring some containers. 
 
Hope to see you at the markets or the U-pick. 

Walt
Masonville Orchards
970-231-6399
walt@masonvilleorchard.com
www.masonvilleorchard.com

​Greetings everyone!

Got some feedback from one of our customers on the newsletter and have incorporated it into this week, so it should be shorter and easier to read. Thank you Mary. Here is what is at the markets:
 
Royal G - which stands for Royal Gala, not your average Gala….a little redder and more robust flavor, and sweet…..like candy….the sweetest variety of the week. They make the absolute sweetest sauce ever!
 
HoneyCrisp - need I say anything else? The standard for crisp, juicy apples….enough said.
 
Sansa - an Akane & Gala cross hybridized in Japan, great flavor and sweet, not as strong an aroma or flavor as Akane, not as sweet as Gala, but pretty outstanding variety.
 
In a little lull until the next big group ripen, so only 3 varieties at the markets this week. Should start Jonathan’s, Red Prince and a few others next week.
 
At the U-pick….(42135 Weld Co Road 43, Ault, CO)
 
Christolyn Jonathan - a smaller, redder and somewhat sweeter Jonathan, these aren’t the big tart Jonathan’s, those still have a way to go yet, but these are really tasty, good for fresh eating and or cider. They are little small for processing, so if processing is your game, the standard Jonathan’s will be coming soon.
 
Crimson Crisp - a very, very bright red, crisp and sweet variety, was developed to compete with HoneyCrisp but never really took off because they are somewhat hard to grow….outstanding sweet and crisp variety.
 
Autumn Crisp - another very bright red, crisp and sweet variety, also developed to compete with Honeycrisp and are being planted commercially more and more….will start seeing them in stores in the next couple of years…..get them here 1st!!  Another sweet & crisp variety.
 
HoneyGold - a larger gold apple, comes out of the same breeding program as Honeycrisp, has a honey-like flavor and also very sweet. The variety has never really taken off commercially probably because they bruise fairly easily and thus hard to transport….but you don’t care about that, you just want to eat them!!
 
Those are the ones I anticipate for the U-pick but until I sugar test and flavor taste (the best part!!) on Friday, we never really know….and another one that I haven’t mentioned may also be picked, just depends on what we see, test and taste on Friday. Thanks again for all of your support, hope to see you at one of the markets or the u-pick. Walt-Masonville Orchards 970-231-6399
 
PS: The U-pick is open Sat & Sun from 9-4. See the website www.masonvilleorchard.com for all market locations, days and times. 

We've revived some great photos from fans of the orchard. Thanks for sharing! 

Greetings Everyone; the apples are coming fast and furious now, amazing how everything is ripening 2-3 weeks ahead of “normal,” really haven’t seen anything like it….from my conversations with other growers, we are all experiencing the same thing. Wonder if that has some bigger meaning, like we are in for a big winter, which we haven’t had for a few years….who knows.  This week we are going to focus on Sansa, a really sweet and crisp variety that is a cross of Akane & Gala….will have a few at all of the markets, but just a few so get them while you can! Everyone really seems to like Akane, the parent of Sansa and a really fragrant apple, this will be the last week of those at the markets. Gala will make their 1st appearance of the year. I know you can get Galas at the grocery store, but fresh off the tree Galas are really like candy, sooo very sweet and juicy. Various markets will have Mollies, a beautiful sweet variety that many of you picked at the U-pick last week - we have a few left and will be at the markets. The same goes for Kindercrisp, a really small, intensely sweet variety that if they weren’t so small, would be this huge commercial success and would supplant Honeycrisp as the favorite apple…but they don’t size so commercially were a flop, but we love them anyway!! Have a few Italian Plums left which will go to some lucky market and a few Mt Royal Plums will be at markets as well. Mt Royal are almost blue in color, kinda look like Italians, but have a very different flavor profile…..very sweet. So it looks like about everything this week is focused on sweet, which it pretty much is, other than Akane. Don’t fret you “tarts,” your favorite “Jonathans” are coming soon!!
 
At the U-pick this week, we are picking Bella, which are about as close to Mollies as you can get…a larger bright red variety that is sweet and crunchy. Also picking a few Pink Sparkle, a pink flesh variety that is true to most red or pink flesh varieties, it is pretty tart and zippy , will want to get there early for those, not a lot of them and will go quickly! Will also be picking Frostbite, a real small (similar to Kindercrisp) bright red variety that is pretty sweet and is the breeding stock for one of our later ones that is very popular….Keepsake.  And finally, Haralson, a larger, softer texture, tart variety that is great for baking, pies or sauce.
 
Hope to see you at the markets or the U-pick.

Walt
Masonville Orchards
970-231-6399
walt@masonvilleorchard.com
www.masonvilleorchard.com