Despite some significant winter deer damage at a few orchards - and more hail damage than usual in parts of the state - experts expect an excellent apple crop in Maine this year, with good size and color.
University of Maine tree fruit specialist Rene Moran says most people who pick their own apples will not see much hail damage. Moran says most apple farms in Maine get a significant portion of their incomes from pick-your-own and retail farm stand sales. "But we still have a fair number of larger orchards that have most of their income coming from wholesale," she says, "so it's very mixed."
Moran says pick-your-own has started in southern Maine with summer varieties. She says activity picks up after Labor Day, when the main crop harvest begins the second week in September in southern Maine and continues in more northern areas into October.