Jabłkowizna

Apple time again! Jakubowizna and surrounding districts are starting to get the harvest in. This is the beginning of four intensive weeks of apple-picking and getting them to market, via the punkt skupu - or purchase point. The air is starting to smell cidery, as the apples that have fallen prematurely are beginning to ferment. And there are many of them; on my street there are about 20 orchards.

Below: narrow tractors hauling narrow trailers carrying crates full of apples.

Below: seconds later - apple jam. Three tractors manoeuvring, ulica Wspólna, Chynów.

Below: a well-run commercial orchard - trees kept low, planted in rows, easy to tend, easy to pick. Top-class apples destined for the table and lunch-box.

That orchard close up; such gorgeous ripeness - all ready to be picked. But do remember these apples have had their fair share of chemistry pumped on them as they matured; to eat them 100% safely, dip them in diluted baking soda for ten minutes, or just peel them. Apples destined for processing including pressed fruit juice have been subjected to far less pesticides and are safer.

Like 2018, this is another bumper year; however, prices are holding up. Wholesale price paid to farmers for jabłko przemysłowe ('industrial apple' suitable for processing) in this region between 50 and 60 grosze per kilo (10p - 12p), and higher price for premium, unblemished table apples (jabłko deserowe), depending on variety and condition.

Below: farmers who keep well-run orchards can expect to reap the rewards of their labour. Payday is but once a year; each year it can be different, depending on quality and quantity of apples - and the market.

The sun is setting ever earlier; today, it set at 19:11, the same time as on 2 April. I watched it set over Wola Pieczyska, the village across the railway line and DK50 from Jakubowizna, as the lights came on, and a southbound train approached Chynów down the new track, below.

This time five years ago:
Low water level - Jeziorki lakes

This time six years ago:
Around the Czachówek diamond, again

This time nine years ago:
Second line of the Metro runs into delays

This time ten years ago
Army helicopters in action at Kielce defence show

This time 11 years ago:
World's largest helicopter over Jeziorki