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Wisconsin Apple Growers Field Day

The WAGA Summer Field Day will be held Wednesday, July 15th at Cain's Orchard, W13885 Cain Road, Hixton, Wisconsin. Hixton is located between Eau Claire and Black River Falls on I-94. Kevin and Diane Cain grow 20 varieties of apples they sell from their orchard and store. They also have 20 acres of U-pick blueberries. For more information, see the field day page and sign up by submitting the registration form.

Members: See the Apple Cider Powerpoint presentation from the Apple Summit.

Enjoying the Harvest is a new activity book written for children showing how Wisconsin's farmers get fruits and vegetables from the field to market. Students will follow the growing process month-by-month - from winter pruning through spring planting and the growing season to the fall harvest. The 24 page booklet offers challenging word searches, crosswords, reading, and coloring activities.

The booklet was produced through a joint effort of the Wisconsin Apple Growers, Wisconsin Berry Growers and Wisconsin Fresh Market Vegetable Growers Associations. It is funded in part by grants from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Ag in the Classroom. It was written by WAGA Executive Director Anna Maenner and illustrated by Bradley Maenner.

The book can be used in classrooms, given out on field trips, or offered to children at orchards and farm markets. Cost of the book is 25¢ each in packs of 50. To order, print the mail-in form or contact the Wisconsin Apple Growers at (800) 722-3120 or email.

2008 Apple Recipe Contest

The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association recently held their 2008 Apple Recipe Contest at Nesbitt’s Nursery in Prescott, Wisconsin. Finalists in three categories, salads, desserts and five ingredients, were invited to prepare their creations and bring them before the judges. Recipes were graded in eight areas including nutritional value, quantity of apples, ease of preparation, appearance, presentation, flavor, texture and uniqueness.

And the winners are:

Jordana Beyer of Weyauwega, Wisconsin with first place in the Salad Category for her “Taffy Apple Salad” recipe;

Mary Ammeter of Waupaca, Wisconsin took first place in Five Ingredients with her “Bavarian Pork Chops and Kraut”; and

Florentine Kelly of Hager City, Wisconsin took first in Desserts with her “Apple Pudding Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze”.

Each of these first place winners received a $150 savings bond for their efforts. Contest sponsors were Rural Insurance Companies, Nesbitt’s Nursery & Orchard and the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association.

You can view the finalist recipes on the Wisconsin Apple Growers website or you can request a brochure of all the finalist recipes by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: WAGA Recipe Brochure, 211 Canal Road, Waterloo, WI 53594.

Apple Recipe Contest sponsored by:

THE BEST WISCONSIN CIDER: SEARCH NO FURTHER

If fall means to you the delicious taste of apple cider, search no further, try out these championship ciders and give your tastebuds a dream come true!

The 2008 Wisconsin Apple Growers Association Championship Cider came from Maiden Rock Apples in Stockholm, Wisconsin. Herdie Baisden’s natural cider ranked highest among the five finalists in the contest. Maiden Rock Apples is located on the bluffs between Maiden Rock and Stockholm. To learn more about Maiden Rock Apples visit their website at www.maidenrockapples.com

Second in the 2008 Wisconsin Apple Growers Cider Contest and first in the 2008 North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association Contest was Heritage Orchard of Chilton, Wisconsin. Vern and Ann Gasch used a combination of McIntosh, Spartan, Empire and Jonagold apples to create their winning natural cider. To learn more or to visit Heritage Orchard, check out their website at www.heritageorchard.net

Great tasting cider comes from all over Wisconsin with the third place winner in 2008 being Brightonwoods Orchard in Burlington. Bill Stone’s UV-treated cider used McIntosh, Cortland and Empire as main ingredients and then a secret recipe of 6 or 7 other varieties. Stone’s cider is the first UV-treated cider to place in the Wisconsin Apple Growers Cider Contest. Visit their website at www.brightonwoodsorchard.com

Brightonwoods Orchard is also a stop on the first leg of the Autumn Harvest Trail which treats trail goers to great locally grown foods. You can learn more about the Trail or find an orchard near you for picking apples, enjoying Autumn fun or buying some delicious Wisconsin cider, by visiting the Apple Growers website at www.waga.org.

Wisconsin Apple Grower Cookbook

Each year, the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association holds its annual Apple Recipe Contest. Wisconsin cooks enter their very best recipes with hope of taking home the first, second or third prize. Now, we have compiled a book of all the top recipes of the last ten years, along with some of our members' favorites. This 144 page wire-bound book features the best in apple desserts, salads, and low-calorie dishes. It also includes apple cooking tips and beautiful, full color drawings of some of Wisconsin's favorite apple varieties.

Cookbooks are available for $10.95 each plus $2.55 shipping and handling or can be bought from many Wisconsin Apple Grower Association member orchards. Order form.

Flavored by Wisconsin®

The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association has released its new promotion for Wisconsin apples. To get more information, contact WAGA at (920) 478-4277 or email office@waga.org

Last Modified: June, 2009

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