Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Posts tagged ‘apples’

Tastee Apple Celebrates 50th Anniversary

America’s Favorite Caramel Apple

Tastee Apple is located on the banks of the Tuscarawas River in Newcomerstown.

Tastee Apple has been making caramel and chocolate apples since 1974. That’s 50 years of delicious apples being made locally in the small, historic village of Newcomerstown, Ohio at a family owned and operated business started by John Hackenbracht and his son, Greg.

Hackenbracht Orchard was the beginning of it all. John not only owned the orchard but from 1958 to 1976 was manager of the Ohio Fruit Growers so was quite familiar with apples. Son Greg grew up surrounded by 4,000 apple and peach trees so he lived, breathed, and ate fruit growing up. He smiles when recalling, “I always knew what a good apple was supposed to be.”

The seed for a caramel apple business was planted in the 1960s. However, it wasn’t until Greg graduated from high school in 1973 that the idea seriously took root. Very few jobs were available at that time and college money was in short supply. John had the perfect solution!

They would start the caramel apple business they had been dreaming about. Greg could work there for six months out of the year and go to college the other six. Tastee Apple, Inc. was officially born!

A variety of Tastee Apples are displayed under their logo.

It all began with one caramel machine and Greg’s personal caramel recipe, which is still used to this day because its smooth taste can’t be beat. That’s why Tastee Apples are called America’s Favorite Caramel Apple. That first year, they made 50,000 dozen caramel apples. Today, they make 50,000 dozen in four days!

Once Greg received his Bachelor Of Science in Marketing/Marketing Management from Bowling Green State University in 1979, he joined Tastee Apple on a full-time basis. During those early years at the plant, Greg worked long hours, seven days a week. Often during the busy season, he fell asleep in a chair at the plant.

John passed away in 2007 knowing that he was leaving the continuation of his legacy in the capable hands of his son, Greg. The family hopes to continue this family tradition of quality products and working conditions for many years to come.

Chad became the president of Tastee Apple in 2022 when his dad, Greg, retired.

Today Tastee Apple continues in the capable hands of a third generation, Greg’s son Chad, who carries on the family tradition after Greg’s retirement in 2022. Prior to returning to the business, Chad enjoyed racing and was a NASCAR champion.

Before returning to Tastee Apple, Chad enjoyed the life of a NASCAR champion.

Today Tastee Apple has 15 full-time employees working all year. However, during the busy apple season from August – October, they employ from 100-160. They treat everyone with kindness, just like they would like to be treated.

Over the last 40 years, Tastee has sold over 250,000,000 apples with candy, chocolate, caramel, and other toppings. This is the only company in the industry certified by the Safe Quality Food Institute. All their apples go through a unique, seven-step rating process to guarantee the quality and freshness of the fruit.

Their dark chocolate, peppermint Gourmet Apple is very popular.

Then perfectly ripe apples are ‘sticked’ and dipped in made from scratch, small batch, kettle cooked caramel or a candy coating. Once cool, they are rolled in gooey toppings like milk, dark, or white chocolate, and then rolled in peanuts, pecans, cookies, or pretzels. The apples are then carefully packaged, stored, and shipped to stores throughout the United States.

Tastee Apple was displayed at the Big Apple in Times Square.

The East Coast is a popular area for their Tastee Apples and New York City has long been a big supporter. Locally, their apples can be found at Walmart and Myers. They also make them for Giant Eagle under a private label.

The Hackenbracht family likes to try new things and over the years have made apple chips, potato chips, sweet potato chips, popcorn balls, and even apple cider. But the Caramel Apple has stood the test of time as a favorite. They have seen a large increase in requests for their Gourmet Apples.

A newer addition this year is Apple Pops, a smaller covered apple.

Every year they come up with some new ideas for their delicious apple treats. This year they have designed Apple Pops, which are just the right size to be convenient for a snack and they are themed for every holiday. A Mystery Box has also been developed that holds a variety of their popular treats.

A sign in front of the business lets locals know when seconds are for sale.

Tastee Apple sells apples with caramel, candy, chocolate, and other toppings. No apple gets the Tastee label unless it is perfect. Those that don’t meet their standards are sold at the plant as “seconds” if the caramel doesn’t cover evenly or the stick isn’t straight!

Tastee Apple, Inc. is located at 60810 Co. Rd. 9, Newcomerstown on the banks of the Tuscarawas River. Bite into a nutritious, mouthwatering Tastee Apple soon. You might want just a slice as their gourmet apples are very large!

Having a successful Tastee Apple business for 50 years shows that the Hackenbracht family knows a good apple when they see one.

Category:

Christmas, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Find a Taste of Fall at Hillcrest Orchard of Walnut Creek

Hillcrest applesSurely the apple is the noblest of fruits.

~Henry David Thoreau~

Apple cider becomes a favorite drink during autumn, and apples are ranked number one in the top ten healthiest foods. So harvest time felt perfect for a trip to Hillcrest Orchard of Walnut Creek to get fresh apples and cider. Rain or shine, this is a bustling place in the fall.

Hillcrest front

   With over 20,000 bushels of apples this year, they have over twenty varieties from which to choose. Two customer favorites are Golden Delicious and Honey Crisp, my personal choice. Their newest variety is now available – Evercrisp, a combination of Honey Crisp and Fuji.

   Hillcrest Orchard has been in the family since 1968. Today Merle and Lela Hershberger own and operate the orchard with help from their children. Their grandfather, Jacob Hershberger, still helps out as often as possible.

Hillcrest view from overlook

An overview features their orchard and beautiful Mud Valley.

   With over 75 acres of apple trees and 5 acres of peach trees, the Hershberger family works all year round. When the new year begins in January, it’s time to trim trees and remove a block of old trees.

   Then in April, it’s planting time each year for approximately 4,000 dwarf trees – most of them being apple. Luckily, they have a tree transplanter, which is pulled behind a tractor. They can sit on the transplanter and drop in the new trees three feet apart. With this method, they can plant over 1,500 trees in one day.

   There’s always work to be done. After planting trees, the trunks are hand wrapped with wire to keep them straight. Trellises, holding two wires that go through the trees, keep the branches from hanging to the ground. During the summer months, the apples need to be thinned on each tree. An apple tree cannot be too full of apples for best production.

Hillcrest Apple sorter

Matt Hershberger often runs the apple sorter.

   In the fall when picking begins, some extra help is needed from young people in the community. All the apples are hand-picked from ladders. That is one of the reasons they switched to dwarf apple trees so they could more easily be reached.

Hillcrest Cidermill

Mark Hershberger and his son, Adam, explain the cider press.

   Fresh pressed apple cider is made at their business operation every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. During October they make 4,000 gallons each week. One Friday/Saturday last year they sold 2,250 gallons.

Hillcrest Sample

A free sample of fresh apple cider tasted refreshing.

   Their cider is unpasteurized so it’s placed immediately in a cooling tank. That also means that it’s only good for about two weeks. Be sure to get a free sample while visiting.

Hillcrest Vinegar

There are many uses for apple cider vinegar.

   Whatever cider isn’t sold is placed into wooden barrels for one year. There it becomes apple cider vinegar, which is also available at their store.

Hillcrest Apple butter

Their fresh apple butter was a popular item.

   However, apples and their products aren’t the only things on hand. Hillcrest Orchard’s the perfect place to find organic fruits and vegetables while in season. Their products look picture perfect. You can also buy pumpkins, mums, baled hay or straw. You’ll be surprised at all the treats available.

Hillcrest Kettle Corn

In the parking lot, Hostetler Kettle Corn provides an extra treat.

   Outside during the fall months, you’ll enjoy the flavor of Hostetler Kettle Corn. Freshly popped in the lot, the smell draws you to their tent. Pick up a bag to munch on while driving home through beautiful Amish country.

   The children and grandchildren feel part of the business as they have grown up in the orchard and store. Hopefully, those youngsters will someday continue providing apples and peaches for all to enjoy.

Hillcrest Welcome

Bags of fresh apples greet you – The First Taste of Fall.

   Merle’s son, Mark, lists pressing cider and picking apples as his favorite chores. When asked what he’d like to do in the future, his answer, “Plant more trees.” What do these hard-working young men like to do for fun? Deer hunt! There’s evidence of that around their store with several deer head mounts.

Hillcrest Cider Sign   Hillcrest Orchard is open from July through April. It has even become a requested stop for tour buses. Many people make an annual visit there in the fall and some stop by often to pick up fresh produce. One man said he took the cider home and froze it in small containers so he could have fresh tasting cider for months to come.

Hillcrest Check out

Area young people help out during their busiest season – September and October.

   Stop by the orchard and pick up some apples straight from the tree. Apples can be enjoyed in so many different ways: apple pie, applesauce, apple butter, apple crisp, dipped in caramel, or just take a bite of a fresh, juicy one. However you decide to use the apples, they will taste delicious.

   Remember, apples are also healthy, so that old adage of ‘an apple a day’ is a good rule to follow. Stop at Hillcrest Orchard of Walnut Creek on your next trip to Amish Country and experience the fresh taste of fall.

Hillcrest Orchard of Walnut Creek can be reached off I-77 at Exit 83. Go left on OH 39W until you reach 515. Turn right at the light, then go straight back about a half mile to the Orchard on the right. 

Category:

Farming, Gardens, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Ohio’s Johnny Appleseed Ap*peel*ing to the Core

An apple a day keeps the doctor away is a saying we have heard most of our lives. But John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, has a slightly different version:  Eat an apple before you go to bed, and make the doctor beg his bread.

Each evening before the appearance of historical scholars, local musical groups entertained with songs from frontier times.  This particular evening a group called Unwound presented lively music on two hammer dulcimers accompanied by guitar and tapping Limberjacks.  They got the crowd in the Chautauqua tent at Marietta Ohio ready for the appearance of Johnny Appleseed, an excellent yarn spinner.

John Chapman wanted to do something useful with his life that would also support his ministry. Apples seemed to be the perfect tool as they were the only fruit that could stay fresh for an extended time. There was a litany of uses given by John regarding his favorite fruit: apple chips, apple butter, apple brandy, and even payment for taxes…to name a few. Would you believe his favorite color is apple red?

Starting a nursery for Johnny was a simple affair: poke a hole, plant a seed, cover it up. He tried to anticipate where people would be settling in two or three years and would start a nursery in that vicinity. Johnny said that in order to claim the land, the homestead law required settlers to plant fifty apple trees during the first year. Sometimes you might see him going down the Ohio River with two canoes:  Johnny in the first one, 50 apple seedlings or apple seeds in the second.

In 1812 when troubles in America erupted with the British and the Indians, Johnny said the fear grew deeper than the snow. These war years were painful for Johnny, as he had always been friends with both Indians and whites.  Trying to make peace was like trying to put out a fire – while you were stomping on one, you were fanning the rest. At this time, he felt the Indians were like a tornado – you never knew where they were going to strike.  But you couldn’t always trust the British either as they burned whole villages – another white man’s promise up in smoke!

With his constant good humor, he admonished listeners not to believe everything they heard about him, “Gossip is like the measles, sooner or later it will turn your face red.”  For example, barefoot Johnny Appleseed did not walk over the entire country.  His travels and consequent apple tree plantings only occurred in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and often in a State of Confusion.

Johnny was deeply religious and felt his religion gave him a peaceful path to tread. His was the perfect life in his eyes because sometimes he was with people… but sometimes by himself.  He often enjoyed being alone and said he was not “the marrying kind”.

He spent his life doing good deeds for others and planted more than just apple trees. He also planted spiritual seeds that nourished the soul.

Along the way to Marietta, stopped just south of Dexter City on SR 821 to see a monument dedicated to Johnny Appleseed.  It is made of small rocks contributed by people in areas where Johnny planted apple tree.  The grave sites of his family are located nearby.  The tree to the right behind it is, of course, an apple tree.

Hank Fincken displayed a great sense of humor in his portrayal of Johnny Appleseed /John Chapman.  Johnny was the first historic figure that Hank ever developed. He feels it opened doors for him much the way Johnny’s seedlings opened doors for early settlers.

2012 Ohio Chautauqua continues throughout the summer with week long performances and workshops in Gallipolis (July 17-21) and Warren (July 24-28). Hope you find time to join them and learn a little more about “When Ohio Was the Western Frontier”.

Category:

Festivals, History, Ohio, Uncategorized

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