By Jessica Fisher

If Johnny Appleseed's plan was to get the nation hooked on apples, he would have been pleased to see the joy on kids' faces across the Genesee Valley region as they board wagons, climb trees, and sip cider well into Fall. According to the New York State Apple Association, based just outside Rochester in Fishers, area families enjoy more than 20 different varieties of the fruit. That's the most diverse in the country! The most popular varieties are McIntosh with 19 percent of the state's total production and Empire with 11 percent of the state's total haul. Other major varieties include the Red Delicious, Rome, Cortland and Ida red.
            "The kids don't seem to care too much which apple is ripe for the picking," says Leigh Hamilton of Brown's Berry Patch in Waterport, Orleans County, where the apple picking is plentiful. "They just have a wonderful time experiencing the fun of running through the orchards and all of the activities that come with apple picking," adds Hamilton.
     And speaking of activities, while your little ones work on "keeping the doctor away" with the bite into a ripe Red Delicious, here are some other ways to enjoy a basket or a bushel. It's fun for the whole family.
    
Go Apple Picking
To find the orchard closest to home, check the GVP Fall Fun Guide in this issue, or visit Usually there is the option to pick the apples yourselves or buy them at the farm stand. For several years, our family has enjoyed visiting local apple farms where we can pick our own.  We make a day of it, taking a picnic and supplementing our feast with fresh apples, the following websites: www.pickyourown.org, www.applejournal.com, and www.allaboutapples.com.  Make sure to call ahead and see what the picking conditions are.  Most orchards' seasons begin in August and run through October or November. of course! The setting is beautiful, the fresh air and exercise invigorating, and the apples taste great.
   
Cook Up Some Applesauce
Homemade applesauce is amazingly easy to prepare and tastes so much better than the store-bought variety. Make sure to have the kids help. Peel, core and slice apples. Place in a large stockpot or Crock Pot™ with enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Cook on low until apples begin to soften. Mash with a potato masher or wooden spoon until desired consistency: chunky, smooth, or somewhere in between. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon if desired. This freezes very well so you can enjoy your harvest throughout the winter. Prepare as directed, place in freezer-safe containers, cool to room temperature, and freeze.
   
Have an Apple Taste Test
Buy at least three different varieties, labeling the bags so that you remember their names. Slice the apples and place on separate plates, marking them A,B,C, etc. Give apple dip for your testers and have everybody dig in. Give each person a chance to choose his or her favorite. Laugh it up by writing down specific comments and trying to be creative in your feedback. Light, and crisp with a buttery finish!

Make an Apple Print
Cut two apples in half, one horizontally, so that the star shaped seed pocket is exposed; the other lengthwise so that the cut side resembles an apple shape. Provide the kids with smocks, large pieces of poster paper, and some washable paint. Take turns dipping the apples' cut sides in paint and "stamping" a variety of apples on the papers. These make beautiful wall hangings, wrapping paper, or placemats.

Read Stories About Apples
Start adding to your children's book collection with some written especially about apples. They're great to bring out as the first apples are ripe. Some great stories include Apples by Gail Gibbons, Apple Picking Time by Michele Slawson, and How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro and Guilio Maestro. Peruse your library's catalog and you'll find some favorites of your own.   
        
If all else fails, and you can't decide what to do with your recent batch from one of our areas great orchards, don't forget for Halloween or other fall parties, you can always go back to the old fashioned fun of "Bobbing for Apples."
            "Nothing compares to biting into a fresh picked apple from the tree," adds Hamilton.
   
Jessica Fisher is a wife, mother of five, and freelance writer, making her home in Kansas. During apple season she can be found climbing trees for the best fruits.