Thank you to Stemilt for sponsoring my travel!
Last month I traveled to Wenatchee, Washington to learn about how apples are grown, harvested, and shipped around the world by Stemilt, a family-owned fruit company that’s been in business since 1964. Some of the highlights:
- Picking (and eating) Honeycrisp apples right off the tree. ALL the apples are picked by hand.
- Watching apples being washed, rinsed, stickered, and packaged in the processing plant. We learned that some apples actually taste better after a few months in storage–I always figured they were best right off the tree, but that’s not the case with all varieties.
- Learning about new apple varieties in stores now (like my latest obsession SweeTango–it’s only on shelves August-November so get it now!) and varieties that are coming soon.
This is my second year working for Stemilt as a member of their Kitchen Council, creating recipes and how-tos for their blog The Stem.
| You might also like: Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce |
Here are some of my favorite apple posts I’ve done for Stemilt:
How to Freeze Apples
Did you know that you can freeze apples? If you’re picking apples this fall–or just stocking up on your favorite varieties at the store–squirrel some away in the freezer for future apple pies and homemade applesauce. Get the step-by-step directions here.
Apple Nachos
This recipe couldn’t be simpler but it always knocks my kids’ socks off. You can customize it with your family’s favorite toppings. Get the how-to here.
Homemade Creamy Apple Vinaigrette
Homemade Creamy Apple VinaigretteI love fruit-based salad dressings so much that I decided to create an apple-based version. It’s tasty, easy (the whole thing is mixed up in the blender), and the little flecks of red and pink throughout from the apple skins are so pretty. Get the recipe.
3 Ways to Pack Apples in Lunch Boxes
In this post, I share the formula I use for packing lunches as well as three ways I pack apples in lunch boxes so they don’t look browned by lunchtime. Read the post.
Open-Faced Apple Sandwiches
If you need some new ideas for snacks, here are three that feature apples, like these Open-Faced Apple Sandwiches. Get your kids involved in helping make them! Get the snack ideas.
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Serena says
Wait what? I don’t have to use that ‘Fruit Fresh’ stuff my mom always used when freezing apples? Now I know! We went apple picking last week and the farm here grows a variety called Liberty. Tart and yummy!
Sally says
Serena–ha! I think my mom has some of that too. Nope, you can use lemon juice. 🙂
Joy Stockett says
Morning,
I was wondering if I could get your permission to use the top picture of the apples/picking for a school project? I am making a virtual tour of Wenatchee for a web class for graduate school. I am from Wenatchee and thought a trip to Wenatchee would be perfect! Let me know, as I didn’t see any notes regarding the photo credit. I can credit your site.
Sally says
Hi Joy–just sent you an email!