Anyone who has plucked a sun-ripened crisp apple right from the tree and promptly eaten it knows what a taste difference there really is. The freshest apples are also the most nutritious. When the apples reach their peak ripeness, we mark our U-Pick rows with yellow flags. Once you enter the orchard, only pick on those rows marked with the bright yellow flags to assure you are getting the freshest and best apples that day!
The presence of too much starch can affect an apple’s flavor. An apple that has not had sufficient time to ripen will have more starch present than sugar. This, combined with the acid present in the apple, can have an adverse effect on one's stomach. So, to avoid an upset stomach, please do not pick and eat apples that are not ripe yet.