These London-area farmers say this year's apples are some of the biggest ever

It's that time of year. Apples are ripening in orchards across southwestern Ontario, revealing their brilliant reds, yellows and greens.

But some London-area farmers are finding there's something unusual about this year's apple crop, thanks to all that summer rain and heat: their big size. 

"The size is tremendous this year," said Philip Crunican of family-run apple farm, Crunican Orchards. 

"We're very happy with the size," he said, estimating they are about 20 to 30 per cent larger than usual.

Crunican Orchards typically harvests about 2 million apples per year on their 30 acres of orchards along Highway 4, just south of Lucan. 

The last time he said he remembers seeing apples close to as big was in 1992, a cool wet year. 

Lots of rain led to extra big apples

For Dan Muzylowsky, a second-generation apple farmer, these are some of the biggest apples he's ever seen grown in their orchards at Apple Land Station, east of London.

"All I can say is the rain. We had heavy amounts of rain this year and that wet growing season, I think it just pushed the size into the fruit," said Muzylowsky, who co-owns the pick-your-own orchards east of London in Thorndale.

"The heat, the moisture — it's just packed the size into those apples."

All varieties of apples grown in their orchards has gone up in size compared to usual this year, he said, turning medium-sized varieties into large fruit. 

"All those the weather conditions, the health of the tree, it just meant for just a beautiful crop," he said. While there is concern of too much rain, this orchard sits on sandy soil, so the excess rain doesn't stay long. 

From Galas to McIntosh and Honeycrisps, the trees are bursting with in-season fruit at Apple Land Station this time of year, with many more varieties on their way as the season unfolds.

Muzylowsky's favourite apple, Ambrosia, is set to come in October. "Nice, sweet apple. Crunchy. Can't be beat," he said. "You can't beat the freshness right off a tree."

Muzylowsky grew up on the apple farm, which his parents started in 1985 selling apples off a roadside stand. Now, it's home to a fun farm, corn maze, sunflower fields, a shop and a bakery — filled with everything from apple pie to donuts and crumble. Apple picking is open until October 31.

"I love apples. They're great for health. They're great for baking treats all around."

Local apples keep extra fresh

Apple pickers at Crunican Orchards are also busy this time of year getting apples harvested and stored into cool storage so they stay fresh to sell at their store all year long.

"We just sell the apples that we grow on the farm out our front door here," Crunican said. 

"It's a true family business that's grown from long time ago."

His grandfather first planted about five or six acres of apple trees in 1910. The business is coming up on their 75th anniversary next year, he said, and the farm itself dates back in their family much further. 

"We have quite a milestone to keep the farm in the family, and running and operational for that many years," he said. "We're quite proud of that."

LISTEN: Have you noticed your apples looking bigger this year? 

Afternoon Drive9:11Have you noticed the apples looking bigger than usual in the region?

CBC Afternoon Drive guest host Josiah Sinanan speaks with people on the street about apples, as well as Dan Muzylowsky, a second-generation apple farmer and co-owner of Apple Land Station in Thorndale.