**See our Harvest Calendar for dates that each item is expected to harvest and should be available.**

Scroll down for Sweet Corn and Pumpkin information.

Bell Peppers

The yellow, Flamingo, peppers are the sweetest. They have a waxy skin and will turn from ivory-yellow to orange-red. Green bell peppers eventually turncolor to orange/red, and the flavor will mellow. Select for firm peppers with smooth, shiny skin.

Black-eye Peas

For snapped peas (like green beans), choose pds that are tender and thin. For shelling, select pods that are plump, with tender, green pods. For dried peas, select plump pods that have dried to a light brown.

Broccoli

Select tightly formed, deep-green heads. Avoid heads that have yellowed. Cut heads off plants with a knife, leaving 4-5 inches of stem on the heads. Fresh picked broccoli is amazingly sweet, and the stalks are tender.

Chili Peppers

Pick the larger, mature chilies as they will be easier to peel. For ease in peeling, roast chilies over a gas flame or on a BBQ grill until the skins have blistered. Put them in a Ziploc bag and cool: peel and use immediately or freeze for later use. red chili peppers are mature green chilies.

Cucumbers

We grow both pickling and slicing cucumbers. For pickling, select cucumbers 2″-6″ long, depending on the type of pickle you are making. Slicing cucumbers can be up to 8″ long. Avoid cucumbers that are yellowed or too large.

Eggplant

Select eggplants that are a glossy, deep color, heavy for their size and have unwrinkled skin.

Green Beans

Select beans that are bright green and tender. Snap a trial bean to make sure it is tender. Avoid tough, leathery and withered beans. Green beans are delicious raw!

Jalapeno Peppers

Select peppers about 2″ long. To avoid being burned while working with jalapeno peppers, wear rubber gloves.

Melons

Our melons are available already picked only. Cantaloupe will ripen in 1-2 days off the vine; honeydews need to sit at least 1 week at room temperature to develop full sugar. They will have a sweet smell bad a slightly sticky feel to the skin when fully ripe and ready to eat.

Okra

Wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt to pick okra! Select pods that are tender, 2″-5″ long. Avoid long, fat pods unless you are using them for decorations; they will be tough and woody. Tender pods, 2″-4″, are delicious raw!

Peas

Select plump, full, bright green pods. Break open a pod and taste the peas; if they are over-ripe they will be dry and bitter. Sugar snap peas have edible pods. Select pods that are about 2″ long. They will be fairly flat, with peas about the size of BBs. Avoid pods that are hard, dull or shriveled.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are an important part of fall here at Apple Annie’s!   Forty-acres of pumpkins are planted each summer, and by late September the fields are a spectacular sight!  There are pumpkins ranging from the Jack-Be-Littles, which fit in the palm of your hand, to pumpkins that will tip the scale at over 100 pounds!  Of course, there are plenty of assorted sizes in between, as well as pumpkins with stripes, warts and various colors.  Every pumpkin picker is certain for find the perfect pumpkin!

Summer Squash

We grow several varieties of summer squash in different shapes, colors and sizes. In general, select squash with a gloss to the skin and bright coloration. Zucchini and crookneck squash should be no longer than8″; over sized zucchini can be used for stuffing. The round, scalloped varieties should be no more than 4-5″ in diameter. Squash can be served in many ways, from salads to sides and main dishes, and even dessert, a trull versatile vegetable!

Sweet Corn

Apple Annie’s grows the most scrumptious sweet corn any where!  We  grow supersweet bi-color varieties, specially selected for their exceptional sweetness and flavor.   Sweet corn is planted every 3-5 days from early April until mid-July, to ensure that we have plenty of this mouth-watering treat available from early July through September.  To make sure that our corn is picked at its peak, our experienced corn pickers select the ripest ears and bring them in to the produce stand; the fields are not open for you-pick.

Tomatoes

Vine-ripened, field grown tomatoes are delicious. Select firm tomatoes with at least a tint of orange. They will finish ripening and color up in a few days at room temperature. Tomatoes that are dark orange-red in the field are delicious, but will need to be transported gently and enjoyed soon. For best flavor, store tomatoes at room temperature.

Winter Squash

Winter squash are harvested after the vines have died back. Cut them off the vines, leaving a 2″ stem. These hard-shelled squash can be stored for several months in a cool, dry room. Winter squash is delicious cut in half and baked with butter and brown sugar, or baked and mashed with butter and brown sugar. Substitute cooked, mashed winter squash in pumpkin pie recipes!