We had a busy week this week, with three medical appointments, one in Tucson, two in Sierra Vista; we took our Suzuki XL-7 to BrakeMaster to get the brakes in shape for a coming month-long trip to California and Nevada;
[Here's the Suzuki up on the lift]
and we wrote, published and distributed the August issue of Saguaro Signs, the SKP Chapter 21 newsletter.
[This is the layout center for Saguaro Signs]
So Saturday was our go-to day, and we loaded up Big Red, Suzy's mobility scooter, and went to Willcox, AZ, to visit Apple Annie's Orchard.
Willcox, once known as the Cattle Capital of the Nation (I don't explain 'em, I just report 'em), and the home of B Western movie singing cowboy Rex Allen, sits at an elevation of 4,167 feet, about 300 feet higher than Benson. It is considered high desert, and the temperature today was in the high 90's.
North of town a few miles is an amazingly productive agricultural area, growing apples, peaches, corn, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, beans, pumpkins and melons. We were interested to see what we could find for the coming week's menu. The popular place to go is Apple Annie's Orchard. John and Annie Holcomb started selling apples from their carport 25 years ago. Today, Apple Annie's operates from two farming locations and offers eight varieties of apples and several peaches for self-picking (current peach price $1.49 per pound), or you can buy pre-picked peaches for $1.79 a pound. There are also U-Pick tomatoes, eggplant, and other vegetables.
[Crest Haven peaches, a freeestone variety]
[Asian Pears, a crisp fresh treat]
[A family of pickers looking for only the best.]
We wanted to visit Apple Annie's on a weekend day, because they open their Burger Barn only on weekends.
For $9.99 they offer "The Works," including a 1/3 pound burger, beans, chips and soda PLUS a slice of one of their delicious pies with homemade ice cream.
[The slice of cheese added a few cents to the price.]
WOW! The burger was delicious. But we had chosen to take our lunch into the peach orchard where the flies were a menace. It was a shame, but we bolted our burgers and climbed out of the trees as fast as we could!
Apple Annie's has a bakery and fudge kitchen that we visited, but did not buy anything. We figured their fudge wasn't any better than what we can buy at the Old Time Candy Shoppe here in Benson, and we do like to buy locally.
[This mural is painted on the side of the bakery / fudge kitchen.]
They also have "Apple Annie's Attic," a gift shop on the second floor of their bakery. Suzy didn't try that, but I moseyed up, and came down pretty fast, wallet still safely in my pocket. I did get some pictures of the orchards from the upper deck.
What we did buy was Kettle Korn, a treat we have come to like. After a free sample, there was no question about it!
We followed the signs a few miles further to Apple Annie's Produce and Pumpkins, where a wider variety of produce was offered for sale. The sales area is in an open shed, with water misting down over the open sides to keep the temperature a little more comfortable.
[Keep your camera covered going through the mist!]
[These summer squash looked interesting!]
We bought one of their seedless watermelons and a half dozen ears of sweet corn.
["U-Pickers" looking for vine-fresh tomatoes.]
[A kid in a red shirt is always a prime target for a photographer!]
On the way back to Willcox, we stopped at Coronado Vinyards for a wine tasting. What a beautiful setting, a beautiful building.
What a lousy entrance! The entry included a step that Big Red couldn't make, and there was no ramp for accommodation. I found the one person working in the facility and asked about handicapped accessibility. She offered to open the emergency exit. We used that, still going over a small rise. Once into the tasting area, we waited quite a while for the young lady to ring up purchases in the gift shop, sweep up a broken glass in the tasting area, offer crackers to other tasters, and finally bring us a tasting list. We sampled the Chardonnay (quite good, but $12 a bottle) and waited ... and waited ... and waited some more. The young lady finally came back to the tasting room as we exited.
On our way home, we got some pictures of the local area.
And there are lots more pictures of this day in our web album 2010 Apple Annie's Day. We were tired after a grand day in ... Our Life on Wheels!
What fine looking fruits and vegetables at Apple Annie's. I think I would have come home with tons of those good looking edibles.
ReplyDeleteYou all had a grand day!! Thanks for sharing it with us. Now I only wish we had a place to buy fruits and vegetables that good looking.
Take care!
Mike & Gerri (happytrails)
What a busy week you had. The Escapees newsletter looks like it might have taken a lot of time to layout. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the tour of Apple Annie's Orchard. What a great excursion. It's always good to buy produce instead of trinkets that you have to store.
I looked at your web album and liked all your photos, but especially the last one that was shown in black and white. It reminded me of a scene from John Steinbeck's books.
Jerry, you're killing me with that pie ala mode pic!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't you wonder why there are still so many businesses that aren't handicap accessible? Go figure. Even so, I enjoyed your tour of the farm and everything that went along with the trip.
You are both looking great, so it looks like you'll be ready to roll out of Benson in no time.
You have so many great pictures in today's post! Those yellow (pattypan) squash are my favorite. I love buying fresh produce this time of year and we might as well take advantage while it's available.
ReplyDeleteYeah...wine tastings can be a big let down...and I would know..I have learned NOT to taste them...just drink them..
ReplyDeleteThe apple pie and ice cream was definitely the highlight pic for me! That sure looked good!
ReplyDeleteApple Annie's looked like a great place to visit and I can tell you and Suzy had a good day there.
Nice job on the park newsletter too!
Apple Annie's looks like a great place!
ReplyDelete