Some California growers specialize in dry farming, working with nature to grow apples and melons without irrigation. They tout the approach as a water solution.
When you call Green Mountain Orchards, a popular pick-your-own-apples destination in Putney, Vermont, the current outgoing message doesn’t boast about which apple varieties are available for picking.
Some orchards in NY had to close their U-pick seasons this year after a late spring frost damaged apples. Others made it through without a lot of crop loss.