Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1525817
2. What types of apples do you grow? We grow a variety of apples to appeal to different tastes and preferences. Honeycrisp and Gala apples are by far the most popular, but we also grow: • Lodi: Tart; green; tender; fair for eating; harvested in July; excellent for pie and sauce; not recommended for baking • Paula Red: Tangy; red/green; tender; good for eating; August-September; excellent for pie and sauce; not recommended for baking • Ginger Gold: Sweet/tart; green/ yellow with blush; crisp; excellent for eating; August-September; good for pie, sauce, and baking • Sansa: Sweet; bright red/orange; firm; excellent for eating; August; good for pie; not recommended for sauce or baking • Gala: Sweet; red/orange/yellow stripes; crisp; excellent for eating; August-November; not recommended for sauce; excellent for pie and baking • Golden Supreme: Sweet; yellow; crisp, excellent for eating; September; good for pie and sauce; excellent for baking • McIntosh: Tangy; red and green; tender; excellent for eating; September-January; good for pie, sauce, and baking • Honeycrisp: Sweet/tart; mottled red over yellow; crisp; excellent for eating; September-December; good for pie; fair for sauce; not recommended for baking • Cortland: Tart; red and green; tender; excellent for eating; September-October; excellent for pie, sauce, and baking • Johnathan: Spicy/tangy; • mostly red over green or yellow; less firm; excellent for eating; • September-December; good for sauce; excellent for pie and baking • Red Delicious: Sweet; striped to solid red; crisp; excellent for eating; September-May; fair for pie; not recommended for sauce; good for baking 7 QUESTIONS WITH A N A P P L E O R C H A R D O W N E R Alexis Burnham tells all about the season's favorite fruit. A symbol of health, wealth, prosperity, peace, and many other positive things, apples are at the core of mythical, cultural, and religious beliefs. From Adam and Eve to Johnny Appleseed, apples have made their mark in history and continue to nourish the lives and legacies of people from all backgrounds today. Take, for instance, Alexis Burnham. Operator of Burnham Orchards, apples are shaping her family's future. Read on to learn about her experience maintaining the apple orchard and what goes into growing and producing the crown jewel of the season's harvest. 1. Can you tell us the story behind your apple orchard? Our farm has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s. William and Eleanor Tillinghast received 160 acres of land in the Firelands of Ohio as compensation for their homestead in Connecticut, which was burned during the Revolutionary War. It wasn't until 1826 that their son, O.C. Tillinghast, traveled to Ohio to clear the land for farming and built the house that still stands on our property today. In the early 1900s, Joseph Burnham II married Margaret Tillinghast, and they took ownership of the farm together. Their son, Oliver, planted the first commercial orchard with 14 acres of apples and six acres of peaches. Our farm's modern transformation began around 40 years ago when Joseph Burnham III took control over full-time operations. Under his leadership, the focus shifted more toward fruit production. Our farm expanded significantly, now encompassing over 35 acres of peaches, 200 acres of apples, and 600 acres of land. Known for innovation, we were among the first to introduce the Fuji apple to Ohio. Today, we continue our 200-year-old tradition of providing high-quality fruits, ensuring each piece of produce is grown with care to deliver the best flavors. 6 COMING HOME MAGAZINE