4-H Ends the Year and Begins the New (with Apples)

September 1 is the official start of the new 4-H year - 2011/12. Before anymore time passes, we must recognize the two Clubs of the Year. Why two clubs? 4-H clubs come in all shapes and sizes, so we recognize the large and small clubs that have excelled.
The Crazy 4 Canines 4-H Club is the large Club of the Year. With over 20 members, they do everything in a big way. Individual members have excelled with their individual project work. As a club, they complete many community service hours and are terrific 4-H ambassadors at public events. They also conduct our only county 4-H dog show. The Crazy 4 Canines 4-H Club is led by Organizational Leader Liz Piquet.
The Hare Raisin' Homesteaders have the distinction of being a first year club and of winning small Club of the Year. They have all jumped into the 4-H program by completing multiple projects, attending 4-H Camp Ocala, Congress, and 4-H Legislature. The members compete at county, district, and state levels and have a terrific time with everything they do. This club is led by Organizational Leader Betty McNelis.

If it is September, it must be apple time. Once again the Pinellas County 4-H Foundation is holding its apple and pecan sale.

There are two kinds of apples that are sold in full or half bushels. A bushel is approximately 40-42 pounds).

EMPIRE - This apple is a cross between a Red Delicious and McIntosh made in 1945 by the New York Agriculture Experiment Station and named and introduced in 1966. They are medium sized fruit with dark red skin with a sweet tangy flavor that resembles McIntosh though with better color, flavor and keeping ability.

CRISPIN/MUTSU- This apple is a cross between Golden Delicious and Indo made in 1930 in Japan and introduced in 1948. It was renamed Crispin in England, a name that still persists in the US. The large to extra-large fruit has a yellow green skin with flesh similar to Golden Delicious though, slightly coarser in texture and tarter in flavor. Excellent all-purpose apple (baking, freezing, making apple jelly/apple butter, fresh eating) that keeps well.

Full bushel of either kind of apples sells for $34.00 and half bushel of either kind sells for $20.00.
This sale is the major fundraiser of the year. Much of the money raised goes to 4-H trip scholarships, such as to 4-H Camp Ocala, Congress.
For more information on the apples and pecans, and to order, go to: http://www.pc4hfoundation.org/applepecan.html