Pendleton, N.Y. (WBEN) - It is peak fall season in Western New York, as the trees begin to change colors, the crisp weather takes over, the Buffalo Bills are back in action, and everything pumpkins are as popular as ever.
However, another popular activity to do in the fall time is head to the apple orchards and cider mills for a fun weekend with friends and family alike. That's where Brendan Smith, owner of Smith's Orchard Cider Mill in Pendleton, is most active during the year.
"It's been busy, lots of people showing up. Luckily, they've all been happy, we've been able to accommodate them, and we want to accommodate more people," said Smith. "Sometimes it gets a little bit tougher to pick, but what we do is we have apples that are in the bins and ready to go in case it's a little tough, and varieties that we don't typically grow, like Snapdragons, Honeycrisp, or what have you."
As long as the weather remains nice and the temperatures aren't too crisp, Smith believes that any weekend is a good one to enjoy an apple orchard. As of right now, it continues to look like the weather will remain in prime condition to get out and take in some activities at the orchard.
Although we're already halfway through the prime season for apple picking in Western New York, Smith says it's already been a good season for people heading out to Niagara County.
"It's typically a mob of people. You've got to remember, I'm getting a whole year's income in six-to-eight weeks. So they're in here and they're picking, and they're getting it," he said. "They're harvesting the entire crop, that I typically was hiring pickers for, they're coming in here doing it. And there is a little bit of waste here and there, but we've got that compensated and most people are pretty good."
Smith's Orchard Cider Mill has been offering the Buffalo-Niagara region an assortment of apples and sweet apple cider since 1976. Smith has a number of different apples grown at his 20-acre orchard including Macintosh, Cortland, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Crispin, Ida Red and Rome.
While there is probably three or four weeks remaining in the apple picking season, Smith says he is already running out of apples to pick off the trees. Nonetheless, he is always prepared for anyone looking for a fun couple of hours out-and-about in Pendleton.
"If we don't have any more apples on the trees, I've got them in bins. I've got some great cider donuts, we're making fresh cider every weekend, every Saturday, Sunday, the people can watch the cider being made. The donuts are fresh," Smith said. "When you get a donut for me, it's probably about 20 minutes old. They're coming here, having cider slushies, fresh cider donut and apple cider, and walking around the orchard. It doesn't cost anything, the walk around the orchard is free, and my prices are pretty good."
Smith says he takes a lot of pride into the process of harvesting apples and making apple cider, which he admits has been an evolving process over the years. While Smith's Orchard Cider Mill may not offers as much as some other orchards or cider mills, the focus is on the apples.
"We focus on our crop, we focus on products that are part of our crop. There's not a lot of stuff that I do that isn't part of what I grow," Smith explains. "Everything is apple-based, everything is cider-based. Everything I got here is that, so pretty much it's all about apples. That's what you come here for."
The cider that is made and sold at Smith's Orchard is all fresh-pressed, with enough cider made every year until the cider runs dry. That way, the quality of the cider is always at its best.
In addition to growing his own apples, Smith also purchases apples, and they have to have the same quality and freshness of the ones that he grows on-site.
"The apples that I purchase are coming from Lakeside Orchards in Newfane and Burt, and their quality is fantastic. I've been going to them for 30 years, I get great stuff," Smith said. "We're quality driven, and so is that particular orchard. That's why purchase from them. It makes life a lot easier when everybody thinks the same way of having good product."
Smith's Orchard Cider Mill begins pressing apple cider in mid-September, and continues to make quality apple cider through Thanksgiving. When the sales begin to drop off just after Halloween, Smith is willing to fill up containers for people to make hard cider or wine, where there's no pasteurization.
"It's not against the law to do that if they're going to make wine, so I'll fill up five-gallon containers. Something that won't touch my bottler and not a glass container, I'll fill up barrels," Smith said. "People come and buy cider, processed and pasteurized cider for Thanksgiving and apples for Thanksgiving. Then we're usually done around Thanksgiving when the weather starts turning."
There are a number of different locations in Western New York for people to enjoy the luxuries of apple picking and enjoying apple cider this fall. While Smith's Orchard Cider Mill is nothing extravagant, Smith feels his business stands out in its own way due to its simplicity, as well as its perfect family environment.
"You want to come out here with your kids, have fun, I want people to focus on having fun with their family. Not having fun going through this maze, or having fun with this," Smith said. "The things that kids remember when they grow up, I think, are when they had those simple times with their mom and dad, or their [siblings] doing simple things. Out here, picking apples, having a slushy, having a donut, hanging out with mom and dad for a couple hours. That's probably a memory maker."
Smith's Orchard cider is currently available for purchase at George's Produce on Wehrle Drive in Williamsville, Sweet Jenny's in Williamsville, as well as on-site in Pendleton.
The cider mill is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the fall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
More of our conversation with Smith is available in the player below:
