IT’S A GOURD-GEOUS TIME OF THE YEAR TO PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS AND APPLES AT LYMAN ORCHARDS!

Who: When pumpkins grow round and wide in Lyman’s patches, and apples are ripe for the picking, it means New England fall is in the air.

What: Pumpkins have arrived -- and apples are still ready to be picked -- at Lyman Orchards!

When: Pick Your Own is open daily from 9 am-5 pm, now through early November.

Where: Lyman Orchards, 32 Reeds Gap Rd, Middlefield, Conn.

Why: Fall is in the air and our beautiful fields and trees are ablaze in bright colors -- in the form of colorful pumpkins and varieties of bountiful apples.

Halloween isn’t the only reason to enjoy these gourds, which come in all sizes and many colors. Pumpkins are a wonderful, colorful addition to fall decorating. And autumn’s signature squash packs some powerful healthy perks: a cup of cooked pumpkin contains 564 milligrams of the refueling nutrient potassium (take that, bananas, with a comparative 422 grams). Packed with fiber (three grams per one-cup serving) and only 49 calories, pumpkins keep bodies feeling full for longer on fewer calories.

Seasonal apple varieties now available at Lyman Orchards, including: Honey Crisp, McIntosh, Jonamac, Empire, Cortland, Macoun, Gala, Jonagold, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious.

While berries usually get most of the credit when it comes to supplying antioxidants, apples are close runners-up. With a diverse family of phytonutrients in apple pulp and skin, studies have linked the consumption of apples with a reduced risk of certain forms of cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease and even diabetes.

Peaches, Pears, Asian Pears and Squash are still available for picking through the end of September, as well. And, of course, fall is the season to waltz your way through towering stalks in the 4-acre Dancing with the Stars Corn Maze and to enjoy delicious treats from the Apple Barrel market, including cinnamon cider donuts and Lyman’s award-winning, handmade pies.

Some prime points about pumpkins:

The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.

The largest pumpkin pie made was over five feet in diameter, and weighed over 350 pounds. It contained 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar and 12 dozen eggs, and took six hours to bake.

During colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for pie crust instead of the filling.

Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

Pumpkins are made of 90 percent water.

Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.

Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash.”

Pumpkins are actually fruit!

A few fun facts about apples:
During colonial times, apples were called “winter bananas” and “melt-in-the-mouth.”

The largest U. S. apple crop was harvested in 1998, tipping the scales at 277.3 million cartons.

Apples have five seed pockets (or carpels), and each contains seeds. The number of seeds per carpel is determined by the vigor and health of each plant.

Apples are extremely rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and dietary fiber. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease

Apples ripen six to 10 times faster at room temperature than when refrigerated.

Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 8-10 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.

Visuals:

Interviews: Pumpkin and apple pickers of all ages

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About Lyman Orchards
Set on 1,100 acres in the heart of the state, Lyman Orchards (est. 1741) is a year-round destination for the whole family in Middlefield, Connecticut. Shop at the Apple Barrel market, filled with fresh farm produce and Lyman Orchard’s award-winning "Hi Top" Apple Pie; celebrate special events and weddings at the Lyman Homestead; enjoy seasonal Pick Your Own fruits and tours of the orchard; golf on two world-class public 18-hole courses designed by Gary Player and Robert Trent Jones, and improve your skills at the Lyman Orchards Golf Center and Apple Nine Course. For more information, call Lyman Orchards at 860-467-4209, or visit online at www.lymanorchards.com