Nothing says fall like crisp, juicy apples. Fresh pressed cider, apple pie, apple cider doughnuts, caramel apples… the list goes on! So what can you do to take advantage of apple season and all the delightful goodies it brings?

Apples are in season from August to November, so it’s the perfect time to plan an outing to your local apple orchard and go picking! You-pick orchards are a fun trip for the whole family. Here are a few tips to remember as you pick your apples:

Choose firm apples without any bruises.

The best apples are crisp and firm. If you choose an apple with bruising, it will spoil faster, and it’s true that one bad apple can ruin the bunch because it will also cause the other apples to spoil faster! Place your apples carefully in your bag to avoid bruising.

Ask the farmer which varieties are ripe.

Apples come in a range of colors, including green, yellow, orange, and red. The colors indicate the variety rather than ripeness, so check with the farmer to see which varieties are ripe and what they look like.

Pick from the outside of the tree first.

The apples on the outside of the tree will be ripe first, since apples ripen from the outside of the tree to the center. Give the apple a little twist, and if the stem easily comes off the tree, then the apple is ripe enough for picking!

Store your apples in a cool place.

A cool basement or the fruit drawer in your refrigerator is a good place to keep your fresh apples, but remember not to store them near potatoes. As they age, potatoes release a type of gas that makes apples spoil faster.

Happy apple picking!