Belleville, IL (KSDK) - This year, locally grown apples are coming earlier than usual and we have the early, unseasonably warm temperatures to thank.
Chris Eckert, the president of Eckert Farms, says they have the largest apple crop in the last five or six years.
For the first time, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Jonathan apples will all be available Labor Day weekend. And this year, you'll be able to start apple picking next weekend, earlier than ever before. But the weather isn't all good for the apple crop.
"The biggest challenge has been dry weather and fortunately for us almost all of our acres of apples are irrigated so they have been able to flourish even though there has been a shortage of rainfall so we are fortunate," said Eckert.
Eckert says earlier apples don't necessarily mean they will run out earlier. The crop is still expected to last through October.
KSDK