By THERESA REV ISOLDS

By THERESA REV ISOLDS

RapiwhanntK-k %«*« Staff H ritt-r

Although this year’s apple crop is the smallest in three years, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says that it is also one of the besttasting crops for several years. Experts predict that because of the superior size, quality and finish of the apples, more of them will wind up as table fruit than in the past.

Local apple lovers have several options if they want a bushel or two for eating or many bushels for applesauce, canning, freezing and cider. Rappahannock growers have many varieties available right now.

Sam Snead is selling pickyour-own apples on weekends (Saturday and Sunday 9-5) at Snead Orchards between Washington and Sperryville on Route 211. Fresh-picked apples are available 9-5, Monday through Saturday at the orchards and at the fruit stand beside the farmers coop on Rt. 211.

At George Sharp’s Mountain Green Farm apples are sold from 9 to dark daily, until the end of the season. The Sharps have red and golden Delicious, Stayman, York, Grimes, Winesap, Magnolia Gold, and Mutsu. They also have fresh cider. To get to Mountain Green from Washington, turn oh to Route 622 (Blue Ridge Avenue) and continue 1three-tenths miles to the Beauties. Golden Delicious, provided.

Ted and C eorgia Walsworth are selling golden delicious apples now for S3.50 a bushel at Follow Run Farm on the dirt road just west of the farmers co-op. The Walsworths specialize in raising fruit with low-toxicity sprays and can be reached to arrange for pick-your-own apples at 987-8941. At Foster Brothers packing house in Flint Hill there are Grimes Golden apples. Golden Delicious, York, Red Delicious, and Jonathan. All are ready now at prices ranging from $2.00 to $4.00. The Fosters report plenty of cider.

The Lees have apples at their packing house on Rt. 522 near M assies corner. They have Yorks, Winesaps, Staymans, Red and Gold Delicious and Jonathan apples. They allow some pick-your-own at their orchard on the highway. Prices vary.

At Moore's Orchard there are Staymans, Roman Beautieis, Golden Delicious, Winesap and Black Twig apples. The Moore's have no pick-your-own apples but fresh-picked apples are available ai their garage on Fodderstack Road near Flint Hill. At Alice Wood’s Sunnyside Orchards there are Red Delicious. Winesap, York, Stayman and Golden Delicious apples. No cider is available at Sunnyside, which is located a few miles west of Washington on Harris Hollow Road. Some local growers and cooks gave us recipes for their apple specialties. Betty Buntin served an apple crisp for dinner the other night that so impressed one of her guests that the guest suggested the Newt print it for others to share. Betty’s recipe is from Elinor Lee’i Recipe Box a long-ago feature of the Washington Poet: