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Published: November 25th 2008
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I have never gone apple-picking before. So when my friend, Sarah, invited us to go with her family to a
pick-your-own-apple farm, I instantly agreed. Perfect timing! My sister is in town!
Destination:
Jonamac Orchard in a little village called
Malta Taking off from around
Rosemont, it took just 30 minutes when we started to feel distant from civilization. We passed by
Roselle, then started seeing nothing but vast, dry corn fields -- dry because it's almost the end of summer, just a heartbeat away from fall.
Apple cafeteria
Amidst scurrying kids (and their parents), we found our way to the cafeteria. There were more than a dozen types of apples on display! But of course, we went there to pick the apples ourselves from the trees, so we paid $9 for an empty bag that we ourselves will have to fill. Yey!!!
In the cafeteria, we bought a caramel apple taffy and some apple dumpling. I was tempted to get myself a bottle of apple butter but I decided against it because I do not exactly know what to do with it. I've seen Sandra Lee use it in Semi-Homemade at the Food Network.
Oh well, maybe next time.
There were so many types of squash and pumpkins on display as well. The cafeteria was filled with orange and black decorations, in the spirit of Halloween. I had my eye on the butternut squash which I saw Giada de Laurentiis use for pasta. But I was hesitant. I yet have to muster the courage to use a vegetable I have never dealt with before.
Time to pick apples
After we had lunch (hotdogs and burgers, apple taffy for dessert), we walked straight to the apple trees. The first few rows of trees did not have much fruit, actually, and we were asked to pick apples from the row of trees marked with a blue ribbon.
When we finally found a bountiful row of trees, we took apples and pictures 😊
The apples were not as pretty as I used to see them in the grocery store. They're not shiny! Then I had an "Ahah!" moment. Ahhh, the magic of wax! Ofcourse! Before apples or tomatoes (or maybe any fruit?) get to the supermarkets, they are cleaned and waxed to look perfect. Or is there any other reason
aside from aesthetics?
I picked a small but ripe apple and rubbed it on my sleeve. I took a big bite. Crunch! Ahhh,
sarap!
Apples and pumpkins a-wasting
What bothered me a little was the thought that these people play with their food. Play, in a sense that they throw them away... for fun! They had this big pumpkin launcher that slings a pumpkin to its demise. People line up for the apple launcher. They even pay 5 bucks for 3 apples to throw into a target a few feet away.
Different strokes for different folks, they say. I come from a third world country, that could be why I have respect for food and produce. Still, I can't shake off the fact that these "extra" fruits and vegetables could feed a village in a poor country!
Fun in the farm
The kids have a lot of fun things to do in the farm. Old-fashioned water pumps were setup for kids to play with and race with their rubber duckies. A petting zoo was filled with giggling children (though the smell is really awful -- if you get my drift).
😱
A live band played country music for their audience who sat on haystacks.
Time to leave for the city
I finally decided to buy the butternut squash. It was only $1. I have no idea if I got myself a deal or not. I have never bothered checking it out on my regular trips to the grocery store. I wonder for how long this butternut squash will have to wait on my counter, though.
Then it's time to leave the city with our bags full of non-shiny apples. It's time to leave because tiny insects start to bite us allover!!!
We reached a railroad crossing and stopped. I am used to taking the train everyday so I thought this train would take a second to pass by us. But noh! It took two long minutes for all 50+ cargo rail cars!
As we drove home, cornfield after cornfield, farmland after farmland, my sister and sarah's kiddo dozed off to dreamland. Sarah and I felt happy with the experience and chatted our way home.
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irishbluemargarita
non-member comment
fun
Had a lot of fun with apple picking and pumpkin posing *..* Just minus the bugs biting...