The Herald-News from Passaic, New Jersey • B2

LIFE Wednesday, September 25, 2013 B2 HERALD NEWS Apple Farms, orchards for picking your own apples has tested it here. "It's a great apple," Cowgill said. "But it doesn't benefit our New Jersey growers because we're not allowed to grow it." Not yet. If SweeTango continues to sell well, there might be opportunities to expand into the Garden State, Next Big Thing President Tim Byrne said. In 2012, preliminary statistics show that 35 million pounds of Garden State-grown apples fetched $28.5 million, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service's New Jersey office.

That's up from 2008, when 43 million pounds of New Jersey-produced apples were sold for $14.8 million. Year after year, more apples are going to the fresh market, said New Jersey Farm Bureau's executive director, Peter Furey, rather than into processed products like pre-packaged apple slices and juices. SweeTango apples are expensive for a local variety, Fairway's Romano admitted, at $2.99 a pound (as opposed to $2 a pound that many apples fetch). For SweeTango breeder David Bedford, a research scientist at the University of Minnesota who tastes 500 to 600 apples a day between mid-August and the end of October, there's no reason why apples shouldn't be the cream of the crop: "You don't even have to unwrap this thing," he said. "It's a perfect little package of goodness." Email: dazionorthjersey.com Continued from B1 in Whole Foods, ShopRite, Wal-mart, Stop Shop, Fairway Market and Kings Food Market locations in New Jersey.

"Once you bite into a SweeTan-go, you would never go to a Red Delicious," said Peter Romano, Fairway Market's produce director. The apple's short season plays a role in its popularity, according to Bill Yanko, Whole Foods associate produce coordinator for the Northeast region; it's only available mid-September through mid-November. It's unclear whether SweeTan-go is the newest variety on the market, since growers are always trying new varieties, according to the U.S. Apple Association. But it's definitely making waves in the apple community.

"I have never seen anything like this," said Lee Peters, vice president of sales and marketing for Fowler Farms in Wolcott, N.Y., which distributes SweeTango Minneiska apples on the East Coast. "And there are a lot of good apples out there." Although SweeTango isn't grown commercially in New Jersey the variety is licensed to Next Big Thing growers, a cooperative with more than 40 growers in five states, including New York Win Cowgill, a regional fruit agent and professor at Rutgers University, While New Jerseyans can't pick SweeTango apples in the Garden State, local farms and orchards offer plenty of varieties for pick-your-own outings through the end of October. Bergen County Demarest Farms: 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale; 201 -666-0472 or demarestfarms.com. 1 0 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

weekends. Types of apples: 14 varieties, including Gala, Honeycrisp, Liberty, Golden Delicious, Rome and Red Delicious. Also: wagon ride, com maze, farm animals, fresh apple cider and retail farm market daily. Morris County Alstede Farms: 84 Route 51 3 (Old Route 24; 1 Chesterfield Drive for GPS), Chester; 908-879-71 89 or alstedefarms.com. 9 a.m.

to 7 p.m. daily. Types of apples: 30 varieties, including Gala, Honeycrisp, Mcintosh and Winesap. Also: pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn maze and harvest moon hayrides. Hillview Farms: 223 Meyersville Road, Gillette; 908-647-0957.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Types of apples: 20 varieties, including Cortland, Empire, Fuji and Honeycrisp. Also: tractor rides and pumpkin picking on weekends.

Riamede Farm: 122 Oakdale Road, Chester; 908-879-5353 or riamede.com. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Types of apples: 35 varieties, including Ginger Gold, Gala and Mcintosh.

Also: hayrides on weekends. Stony Hill Gardens: 8 Route 24 (Route 513), Chester; 908-879-2696 or stonyhillgardens.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Types of apples: 1 9 varieties, including Red Delicious, Fuji and Suncrisp. Also: pumpkin picking and hayrides starting at the end of September. Sun High Orchard: 19 Canfield Randolph; 973-584-4734 or sunhigh.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Up to 1 0 varieties, including Molly Delicious, Winesap, Idared and Empire. Also: animal feeding, hayrides later in the year, pumpkin picking, petting zoo, pony rides. Wightman's Farms: 1111 Mount Kemble Ave. (Route 202), Harding Township; 973-425-9819 or wightmansfarms.com. 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. weekends. Types of apples: Varieties include Gala, Mcintosh, Greening and Fuji. Also: corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin slingshot and corn pit. Sussex County Beemerville Orchards: 73 Lusscroft Road, Sussex; 973-875-1 029.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Types of apples: At least 1 0 varieties, including Cortland, Empire, Gala, Jonathan and Mcintosh. Road, Pomona (1 01 0 Route 45 for GPS); 845-354-0369 ortheorchardsofconcklin.com.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends only. Children's activities noon to 5 p.m. weekends.

Types of apples: 10 varieties, including Mcintosh, Red Delicious, Macoun, Golden Delicious and Rome. Also: bakery, apple cider and apple cider doughnuts. Orange County, N.Y. Apple Ridge Orchards: 101 Jessup Road, Warwick; 845-987-771 7 or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

weekends. Types of apples: 15 varieties, including Honeycrisp, Cortland, Gala and Fuji. Other activities: pumpkin picking, hay rides, petting zoo, live observation beehive, apple cider and doughnuts and country store. Applewood Orchards: 82 Four Corners Road, Warwick; 845-986-1684 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

daily. Types of apples: nine varieties, including Rome, Red Delicious and Macoun. Other activities: puppet shows, wagon rides and doughnut factory on weekends. Lawrence Farms Orchards: 39 Colandrea Road, Newburgh; 845-562-4268 or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

daily. Types of apples: 30 varieties, including Mcintosh, Jonamac, Honeycrisp, Gala, Northern Spy and Fuji. Also: pick your own fruits and vegetables, animal farm and kids play village. Masker Orchards: 45 Ball Road, Warwick; 845-986-1 058 or maskers.com. 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. daily. Types of apples: 12 varieties, including Cortland, Macoun, Prime Red, Sparta, Mcintosh and Smoothie. Also: live music, pony rides, wagon hides, haunted house, maze and face painting on weekends. Overlook Farm Market: 541 7 Route 9W, Newburgh; 845-562-5780 or 8 a.m.

to 6 p.m. daily. Types of apples: 48 varieties, including Honeycrisp and Macintosh. Also: farmers' market, deli, picnic areas, swings and treehouse for kids and pumpkin picking. Sleepy Hills Orchard: 1328 Route 284, Johnson; 845-726-3797 orsleepyhillsorchard.com.

1 0 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Types of apples: 10 varieties, including Mcintosh, Cortland, Empire, Jonagold, Winesap, Red Delicious and Yellow Delicious. Soons Orchards: 23 Soons Circle, New Hampton; 845-374-5471 or soonsorchards.com.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Types of apples: 52 varieties, including Gala, Jonagold and Macoun. Also: hayrides, pumpkin picking and occasional wine tasting starting in October.

Pochuck Valley Farms: 962 Route 51 7, Glen-wood; 973-764-4732 or pochuckvalleyfarms.com. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Types of apples: 30 varieties, including Mac Golden, Jonathan, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Rhode Island Green and Cortland, as well as pears.

Also: wagon rides to orchard on weekends, vegetable picking and pumpkin picking. Windy Brow Farms: Route 519 (359 Ridge Road), Fredon Township; 973-579-9657. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Types of apples: At least 32 varieties, including Greening, Gala, Cortland and Mcintosh. Also: wagon rides to orchard on weekends, petting zoo and apple cider doughnuts. Warren County Mackey's Orchard: 284 County Route 519, Belvidere; 908-475-1 507 or 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekends.

Types of apples: Varieties include Mcintosh, Idared, Cortland, Winesap and Golden Delicious. Also: hayrides, bakery, apple cider and ice cream barn. Race Farm: 87 Belcher Road, Blairstown; 908-362-8151 or racefarmllc.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

daily. Types of apples: 1 0 varieties, including Mcintosh, Idared, Empire, Gala, Yellow Delicious and Fuji. Also: vegetable fruit farms, pumpkin picking, hayrides. Stoneyfield Orchards: 5 Orchard Belvidere; 908-475-5209. 2 to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. Types of apples: 40 varieties, including Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Mcintosh and McCoon. Also: fresh apple cider.

Rockland County, N.Y. Dr. Davies Farm: Route 304 Farm Stand, Congers; 845-268-7020 or drdaviesfarm.com. 1 0 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

daily. Types of apples: 1 5 varieties, including Cortland, Spartan, Empire, Rome, Winesap and Crispin. Also: hayrides, pumpkin picking, farm stands, tomatoes and sweet corn. The Orchards of Concklin: 2 S. Mountain BRIDGE for BEGINNERS Classes Starting Thursday, October 10th 10am-1 Supervised Play Sessions Novice and Intermediate Games Open Stratified Duplicate Games Every Day Glen Rock Bridge Center 230 W.

Passaic Street Maywood, NJ 07607 201-368-8133 Join the Glen Rock Bridge Family (W) JOIN US FOR AN EVENING WITHTHOM FILICIA On September 26th from 6-8pm at our Maywood storehouse, meet Thorn, hear him speak and he will sign copies of his new book American Beauty. Kroutej IHH ULflH ENTER FROM mm IKHWRVH- MAYWOOD llllygjM Am I iDUANBl IreadeI ESSEX ST. NV HOME 1 DEPOT Essex St ilSjSSIit Exit EXIT63 F-nl EXIT 64A.