LIVERMORE — Two apple producers are expecting a much better crop this year than last with big, colorful, juicy fruit on their trees.

Two orchardists say apples are big and colorful this year in Livermore. As seen in this file photo, people can pick their own Thursday through Sunday at Boothby’s Orchard on Boothby Road in Livermore. Pre-picked apples are also available at their stand on Route 4 in Livermore or at Berry Fruit Farm’s store on Routes 4/17 in Livermore Falls. Daryn Slover file photo/Sun Journal

On Friday, Sept. 6, Joel Gilbert, owner of Berry Fruit Farm which raises fruit on Crash Road in Livermore said the orchard is not doing pick your own this year. “Our apples are available in our store on the corner in downtown Livermore Falls,” he stated.

The store is at 54 Main St.

“It is a great quality crop this year,” Gilbert noted. “I really couldn’t ask for anything better. We didn’t experience any kind of adverse effects from all the rain this summer. The size is beautiful. The apples are going to be big and juicy. The quality looks like it is going to be really good.”

The flavor this year is also going to be good, Gilbert said. “It is definitely going to be a great season for people to come out and get their fruit.”

Berry Fruit Farm also raises peaches and pears, has planted plum trees that are not producing yet. “We have had a great peach year so far,” Gilbert noted. “Another variety will be coming along in about a week. Our pears are looking good.”

Gilbert expects a larger apple crop yield this year. “After last year’s frost and different things, us not having those issues this year I think it will be great.”

Berry Fruit Farm is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. Baked goods, soups, sandwiches, local honey and maple syrup and more are available to purchase.

For more information call 207-897-4767.

He urged people to “come out and support your local farmers.”

The apple crop at Boothby’s Orchard, 366 Boothby Road in Livermore looks fantastic, owner Rob Boothby said later Friday. “There is no scab, no disease, pretty good size,” he stated. “The apples are ripening up OK. We have been picking red corts for most of this week.”

Years ago, MacIntosh apples weren’t picked until September 15, Cortlands weren’t picked until October, Boothby said. The red corts are a newer strain of Cortlands that are darker red and ripen earlier, he stated. “I like them,” he noted.

“The trees look good,” Boothby said. “We opened yesterday for picking and had a few people come. It wasn’t too bad.”

Boothby’s is open for picking apples at the 266 Boothby Road location 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Tractor wagon rides are offered Sunday. “There are five weeks left through Columbus Day,” he said. “We will be open that Monday too.”

Boothby’s also raises peaches. “[We] have a lot this year,” he noted. “There are some varieties that might be available to pick next weekend.”

For a few years the orchard has been charging one price to pick a bag of apples. “It makes it a little easier,” Boothby said. “People are getting used to that. It is easier than sorting varieties. Just take a bag and have fun. Pay in advance, go pick then leave when you are done. It saves on a lot of things.”

Wine tastings will be offered at the orchard. Wine, cheese, snacks and popcorn will be available to purchase.

Boothby’s Orchard also has a farm market located at 1425 Federal Road [Route 4], two miles from the orchard which can confuse those visiting the farm’s Facebook page, Boothby said. “If you look at Facebook, it always says one is closed,” he noted.

The market is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends, and closed Monday. Boothby’s wine and Hereford beef, vegetables, and other local products may be purchased there.

All varieties of apples should be available at the market, Boothby said. “We still have a lot of sweet corn to pick,” he noted. “We are not really doing pick your own pumpkins, we have a pumpkin barn over there. We are going to have pumpkins around the farm market and around the grounds and cornstalks, hay bales and mums. Pumpkins [we] really want to be inside [to protect them from frost]. We will have plenty.”

For more information call 207-754-3500.