Thursday, September 22, 2011

NECESITAMOS AYUDA MEANS HELP WANTED - WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON

Perfect appleApples!  Apples, apples and more apples!  And pears, peaches… the orchards of Wenatchee, Washington, are laden with fruit, ripe and ready to be picked.  I can’t imagine where they get the workers to bring it all in; it was common to see signs proclaiming “Help Wanted – Necesitamos Ayuda” along the road as we traveled.

When we visited Wenatchee early in July, cherries were the crop of the moment – but I always think of Washington as the state for apples, and I knew I wanted to return during the apple harvest.  After we set up camp at Lincoln Rock State Park (click here to read our review), we set off for the Washington Apple Commission Visitor Center. 

The Washington Apple Commission is all about boosterism, and we watched their upbeat 16 minute video about apple farming in Washington while we munched on free samples… and learned a few things.  One big surprise: when apple trees blossom, buds grow in clusters.  The first bud to open is the “king” blossom, and all the other buds in the cluster (which looked like 6-10 more buds) are either removed by hand, or treated by hand so that they cannot open so only the king blossom will be pollinated and produce an apple.  Can you imagine?  These are big trees, covered with buds, and 60% or more of those buds need hand removal or treatment.  Who does all that work??  Necesitamos Ayuda!

Pears ready to harvest Apples ready to harvest
Wenatchee Apple Bin Delicious Peaches

According to the video, Washington produces more than 15 billion (yes, that is billion with a B) apples each year.  It looks like about 10 billion of them are still hanging on the trees in the orchards lining the roads around Wenatchee, and ALL harvesting of apples, pears and peaches is done by hand.  It’s incredible! 

Leavenworth LibraryDo you know Aplets and Cotlets?  They are rather odd little fruit candies, been around for years, difficult to describe – a soft, jelled confection, cut in squares and dusted with powdered sugar.  Well, the Aplets and Cotlets factory is in Cashmere, Washington, just up the road from Wenatchee, a stop on our way to Lake Wenatchee State Park. 

We arrived at the factory around 11 am, just in time to miss the factory operation as the workers took their lunch break.  We peeked through the windows at the slumbering candy line, sampled each of the three flavors (aplet, cotlet, and a strawberry version that didn’t have an “et” name), made a few purchases, and continued on up the road to Leavenworth.

Many, many people LOVE Leavenworth, Washington.  I am not among them.

This small Washington town, surrounded by forested peaks of the Cascades, adopted a strict municipal building code for the city center in the 1960’s, modeling itself as a Bavarian village and, thereby creating a tourist attraction.  It works, drawing over two million visitors a year. 

Lake Wenatchee at the state park of the same name.When we first visited Leavenworth five years ago, I was annoyed by the rampant commercialism (how many Bavarian trinkets, music boxes, and t-shirts can tourists buy??) and irritated by the oompah music playing from speakers all over town.  On this trip, I went with an open mind, thinking it couldn’t really have been as annoying as I remembered.  Guess what?  It really WAS!

We parked, walked a few blocks, had lunch in the outdoor beer garden at Munchen Haus (yes, yes, German spelling rules, except for Starbucks, which is Bavarian in looks only) listening to polkas.  Each store we passed sold items ONLY a tourist would buy.  I was SO READY to leave!  But don’t worry, Leavenworth thrives without grumpy Laurie.  :)

Lake Wenatchee, on the other hand, was calm and quiet, just about deserted.  We hiked along the lake shore enjoying the weather and the views, exchanging smiles with the few others visitors we saw.  Just my kind of place.

We pulled out of Lincoln Rock State Park this morning, headed for points south, our refrigerator bins laden with three varieties of apples, Bartlett and Asian pears, and a couple beautiful, perfumed peaches.  Excellent time of year to visit this lush, orchard-covered valley.

20 comments:

  1. I too tend to loathe the touristy spots... but wow I can see why help is needed there...

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  2. I've often thought I'd like a t-shirt that states, "Ich bin kein Tourist!" (I'm not a tourist!) Not sure if it would make me feel any better, but mostly we try to avoid the tourist and touristy spots like the plague. Pretty hard to do though.

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  3. So what flavor is a Cotlet? Can't think of a fruit that starts with CO. :)

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  4. Been to both towns...and yes,Leavenworth is a tourist trap..I really like the location though. That is a beautiful area all through...

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  5. we have been to Leavenworth too..no real opinion of it though..glad you got all your 'apples'..nothing like fresh picked ones!!!

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  6. After seeing our photographs, I said to Michael--let's go to Washington!

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  7. I like these touristy places (for a short time only). And only if it isn't overrun with people at the time we're there. But after visiting a place like that I want to return to peace and quiet. All those apples!!

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  8. Been there, done all that including the Aplets and Cotlets (Apricots, for those wondering) tour. We happen to be among those who have enjoyed Leavenworth, but then we have a Thousand Trails Park just north of town, which is not at all touristy. When we were in the peachy area of the state, we bought a bunch of them, and prepared 8 quarts for freezing. Fortunately we carry a freezer with us, so we were prepared.

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  9. Timing is everything. I had just bitten I to an apple just before opening your blog. It's yummy this time of year.
    Syl

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  10. Hi Odel and Laurie. When John and I lived in Washington, we use to love going to Wenatchee for fruit at this time of the year. Thanks for the reminder of how wonderful it can be in that part of the country. By the way Odel and Laurie, I don't think I have ever heard from you guys over at A Camp Host's Meanderings. Would love if you dropped by. Take care...Levonne levonnegaddy@hotmail.com

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  11. All those apples and pears look so yummy. Nothing like a crisp, just picked fall apple. Did you find any fresh pressed apple cider? I never cared for Aplets and Cotlets though. Didn't know they made a strawberry flavor.

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  12. Aplets and Cotlets...never heard of them, but they sound delicious!
    We are not crazy about these tourist towns. One of the worst ones we have visited is Tombstone. We could barely walk down the street without paying a fee. Not sure Leavenworth would be a city on the top of our list to visit. Glad we leaned about it from you two...thanks.

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  13. What's all this about having Bin Laden in your refrigerator? I thought he was dead. Oh bins laden. Never mind.

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  14. @Weaver: Paul, Tombstone is a good comparsion - except that Leavenworth is MUCH, MUCH prettier!

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  15. Do I see apple, pear or peach pie in your future???

    It's amazing how many people really do like these over touristy spots. I'm with you all the way. And wonder how the local folks can stand to live there. I mean umpha music ALL THE TIME??? Definitely have this on my skip list.

    Sherry
    www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com

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  16. I see your right in the middle of the state - never been there. I'm enjoying through your eyes.

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  17. Gotta admit I somtimes like those tourist-trap spots...for about a few hours anyway:)
    LOVE the shot of the lake. Now, that's definitely my kinda spot.
    Nina

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  18. We parked the motorhome in Leavenworth while we walked to a restaurant. I could see the rig while I was eating and a local cop parked behind it, shone his light in the windows and banged on the door and rear window before leaving. When we walked back to the rig after dinner the cop materialized out of nowhere to inform us we could not park there overnight. Not very friendly folk there.

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  19. I loved that photo of Lake Wenatchee. All the years I visited my daughter when she lived in Wenatchee I never saw this. Also, my grandmother loved Aplets and Cotlets back in the 50's and she was from California. Imagine my surprise when I went to Turkey to find "Turkish Delight" a hugely popular confection there and the spitting image of the old cotlets. I think Cashmere stole something from Turkey. Turkish Delight is the go-to tourist present to take home to folks and of course we always gifted a box to our tour guides. It was the "thing" to do.

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  20. We live in Washington State and make the trip to Wenatchee every year, just when the peaches ripen hopefully. Sometimes we are a little early and have to settle for other crops, but the area is full of Cherries, Nectarines, Pears, Apples and much more. So there is always something to buy and can in quantity at home.
    Leavenworth is a nice place for visiting if you know where to go, most places are very tourist oriented, so ask around if you want the real Bavarian touch, or food. We always go to Cafe Motzart or another small place for "real" German food, Kartafelpoofers (potato pancakes w apple compote) and snitzel - Excellent! Pricey but good when the chef is in.... places change owners all the time here, be careful!

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