Feeling Loopy

  We have wanted to go the Fruit Loop for a while now. We keep mentioning it and never do it, but we decided now is the time! I knew we were going to be pressing our apples soon and wanted a few different kinds to blend ours with. Our apple tree did amazing this year and we can't seem to use it all, but the cider it makes is very one note and sort of dry. I felt adding some other varieties would help fill out the flavor, so off we went! The  Fruit loop is a self-guided tour of several farms, orchards and wineries in Hood River county Oregon. We decided to try 3 of them: Pearl’s Place, The Gorge White House Fruit Stand & Winery, and The Fruit Company. They were close together and I figured by then we'd be ready to go home. 

   Pearl's Place was a cute family orchard with abundant fruit. They introduced us to some dehydrated apples with blackberries on them, they are amazing! Our next farm had a bigger variety of produce and the kids liked the honey sticks. The gold mine was The Fruit Company. If you go Friday before noon, everything is way discounted. I got 3 25lb boxes of apples for $35.00! We got other goodies too, but I was so happy to get those apples so cheap. They also had a walking tour with old equipment. 

The next day we went to our friends and had a cider pressing. I think we ended up with 12 gallons this year. that's double from last year! This year's batch is much better. Daniel took some of the peelings and mash to make apple cider vinegar. It's still curing a month later. I can't wait to try it.