PITTSFIELD – Although winter weather took its toll this year and some orchards’ production will be down, the apple harvest overall is being touted as excellent because of good summer growing conditions.

Depending on locale, the crop is running five to seven days ahead of a normal year, and early varieties such as Jersey Mac, Paula Red and Ginger Gold already are available at local farm stands and farmers markets.

To celebrate the season, Maine Apple Sunday will be held next week, Sept. 12, at most orchards throughout the state.

For generations, families have trekked to pick-your-own apple orchards or farm stands to celebrate the beginning of the fall season. The annual event is sponsored by the Maine State Pomological Society.

By Sunday, popular varieties such as MacIntosh, Macoun and Cortland will be ready.

“Apple orchards throughout the state are operating in full force,” said Jennifer DeChant, Maine State Pomological Society marketing coordinator. “Maine Apple Sunday encourages citizens to visit local apple orchards and farms to experience the long tradition of the apple harvest. This tradition is full of sights of rolling acres of apple trees, sounds of a farm humming with machinery, smells of fragrant apples waiting to be picked, and the irresistible taste of a variety of apples.”

Next Sunday, apple orchards and farms will highlight the apple harvesting experience by providing samples and conducting cider demonstrations or offering hayrides, depending on the farm.

Russell Powell of the New England Apple Association, based in Hatfield, Mass., said, “A good supply and a wide range of sizes are expected for all varieties. The six-state region estimates a harvest of just over 4 million 42-pound boxes. The quality and color are excellent.”

Powell said that at U.S. Apple’s Outlook Conference in Chicago last month, the 2004 national crop was predicted to be slightly larger than 2003’s.

In New England, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts expect crops either slightly smaller or at the same level as last year’s, mostly due to a decline in acres of production.

Despite a heavy winter that killed thousands of trees, Maine and New Hampshire are looking for an increased harvest.

“Maine expects a crop of 1,071,000 boxes in 2004, matching the state’s five-year average and up slightly from 2003,” Powell said.

Links to local participating orchards can be found at www.newenglandapples.org or wwwmaineapples.org.

A new map of Maine apple orchards that features pick-your-own operations is now available through the MSPS. Copies are available at the Maine Tourism Association’s Yarmouth, Kittery and Hampden South visitor information centers.

For information about receiving a map by mail, contact Jennifer Dechant at 442-8486 or 232-2800 or Jennifer.dechant@verizon.net.