Fresh, No Spray Bulk Apples from Mueske Family Orchard - farm & garden - by owner - sale - craigslist (2024)

Eating, Baking, Cooking, Cider, and Drying Apples for Sale. This year, we at Mueske Family Orchard in Saint Charles, MN have an over-abundance of apples that would be perfect for fresh eating, baking, cooking, cider, or dehydration. Because of this, we are looking to sell as many as possible. The apples have not had insecticides, fungicides, or thinners applied to them. However, because they are no spray, they are not perfect; they could have some minimal bug damage, as well as apple scab and fly-spot. Prices and varieties are listed below. Customers can pick up their apple orders from the Farmer’s Market held on Saturdays in Rochester, MN or at our orchard in Saint Charles, MN. A minimum order of one bushel is required. The ability of our orchard to provide these orders is, of course, dependent on the weather (hail, wind, drought, ect.), apple diseases, and insect damage. Nonetheless, we have had significant success fulfilling orders in previous years and will keep you updated on the status of your order. Payment, in cash, is not due until pick-up at the Farmer’s Market or at our orchard.

Varieties available include:

State Fair, $35.00 per bushel (a bushel is 36-40 lbs.)
William’s Pride, $35.00 per bushel (a bushel is 36-40 lbs.)
Liberty, $35.00 per bushel (a bushel is 36-40 lbs.).
Red Regent, $35.00 per bushel (a bushel is 36-40 lbs.).
Cortland, $35.00 per bushel (a bushel is 36-40 lbs.).
Fireside, $45.00 per bushel (a bushel is 36-40 lbs).
Enterprise, $35.00 per bushel (a bushel is 36-40 lbs).
Keepsake, $35.00 per bushel (a bushel is 25-40 lbs).

Please message us if you are interested.

Descriptions of apples can be found below:

State Fair (picture 1): The State Fair, an apple released in 1978 as a cross between Mantet and Oriole, is one of the best early season eating apples grown in the upper midwest. Its semi-acidic to sweet taste, attractive hot-red to lime-green appearance, and juicy yet soft texture, make it an apple that individuals from miles around flock to attain. Try it on a turkey sandwhich where it adds a distinctive, appealing zing! Ripening around the third to fourth week in August, it is an excellent seller, but, like most early season apples, has a limited storage life (in storage, it only lasts about a month before softening). Also very good for sauces, as it cooks up quite nice. Ripens August 15th-20th.

William’s Pride (picture 2): Developed in 1988 by Purdue/Rutgers/Illinois universities, the Williams' Pride is yet another apple in a series of disease resistant apples that have been released in the last twenty or thirty years. The William's Pride is an early season apple, ripening in mid-August, which holds an unusually good flavor for a summer apple. Crisp and mildly acidic, it is wonderful for fresh eating, pies, and cider. Like all early season apples though, the Williams' Pride is not a keeper: a month is the longest one can expect to keep it. As so, this is a treat which must be consumed or used quickly. Ripens August 15th-25th.

Liberty (picture 3): Introduced in 1978 as a complex cross between Macoun, Rome Beauty, Jersey Black, McIntosh, and Wealthy, the Liberty is often noted as the best disease resistant apple variety available. The Liberty's flesh is crisp, juicy, and flavorful. Tart, sprightly, and sub-acidic with a wine-like aroma, it is an all purpose apple excellent for making deserts and superbly well suited for cider. It is especially good for drying where it produces thick, flavorful, appealing looking apple chips. Liberty keeps until late December, and its taste only improves with storage. Ripens around Sept. 30th-Oct. 5th.

Red Regent (picture 4): Bred at the University of Minnesota School of Horticulture as a cross between Daniels Red duch*ess and Red Delicious, the Red Regent is a large, solid, bulbous apple with lots of juice and a good deal of taste. Spritely and subacidic, its flavor is mildy fruity, and the apple retains its shape when cooked, which it is particularly well-suited for. It is also good for fresh eating and, cosmetics-wise, come in two strains: solid red and streaked. The Red Regent ripens in early October and keeps until February in the proper conditions (34-38 degrees F.). A good apple if you're looking for something that will last a while during the pandemic. Ripens Oct. 5th-10th

Cortland (picture 5): Cortland is a cross between two old favorites: McIntosh and Ben Davis. Cortland's slow oxidation rate and white, crisp, tender flesh make it a particularly good apple for salads: its slices are slow to brown and, therefore, appear fresh-cut even when having set out for over an hour. Besides salads, its soft texture also make it excellent for sauce, where it is unsurpassed. Many also find it good for fresh-eating. Cortland is fine-grained, extremely juicy, mildly tart, tangy, holds just a hint of acidity, and has a delicious, champagne sort of flavor. It ripens from mid to late September, but only keeps about two to three months. Ripens around Sept. 30th.

Fireside (picture 6): Old-fashioned dessert apple. Also, excellent fresh-eating. Tastes sweet, a slight hint of pears. Big, firm, long-keeping, chunky to chew, complex, flavorful, and brilliantly named. Lasts four to six months in storage (a good apple if you're looking for something that will last during the pandemic). Ripens around Oct. 10th.

Enterprise (picture 7): Produced by Purdue University (Illinois) and released in 1994, the Enterprise is another new apple in a batch of disease resistent apples to be released in the last thirty years. Tough and chewy, the Enterprise is very crisp, juicy, and flavorful. Holding a spicy, sprightly, tart taste, it is a wonderful treat for fresh eating. Besides a great eating apple, its full flavor, juiciness, and long storage life also make it a particularly good choice for cooking purposes. The Enterprise ripens in early to late October and can keep until May in cold storage (34 degrees F.). This makes it especially good as an apple that can last during the pandemic. Ripens around Oct. 10th.

Keepsake (picture 8): Although almost unknown outside of Minnesota and rarely grown by commercial growers, the Keepsake, with its hard, crisp flesh and juicy, sweet, nutty, flowery taste, proves a wonderful apple for both eating and baking. A cross between a Malinda and Northern Spy, and parent of the Honey Crisp, the Keepsake holds a rustic old-time appearance with its fine-grained flesh and tarnished red color. As the name suggests, Keepsake is a magnificent keeper, lasting up to eight months in storage (until around April or May)