Usually Staymans first show up around October 15th from Virginia growers. These came into produce market picked early and they had suffered from drought most of the summer. Hopefully other growers have a better crop.
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We have two local “fruit stand” type specialty places and both usually offer Stayman apples in the fall. One sources them from North Carolina so that might be problematic this year. The other from Orrs in West Virginia, which are usually larger and a bit better tasting. From looking at their website they may be growing the Snapp sport, but I digress. Both usually start having them around the middle of October as well, often with some green visible as in your photos. We usually wait until a later shipment comes in in ~November and buy a bushel or two then.
I’m just happy that my own home grown Stayman apples are as good or better than any we’ve ever purchased. Hopefully they’ll produce more than 1/3rd bushel next year…
I am at the State Fair of VA today. Just talked to a guy from one of the apple areas. He said growers were picking early in advance of storm.
I wait until November as well to get ones to store for winter.
Planted my own trees this year so looking forward to getting my own tree ripe ones.
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They were picked way early. I see larger production orchards picking everything before it’s ripe so the get the biggest harvest and best shelf life. They can get away with in on high sugar apples like gala, golden d, and fuji. I find drought years ideal for growing Stayman. Too many splits on wet years.