Salt Spring festival takes bite out of apples

Spend a day sampling more than 450 varieties of organically grown apples at the Salt Spring Island Apple Festival, Sunday at various venues on Salt Spring Island.

This is the 19th year for the event, which boasts the biggest selection of apples in Canada in one place. The show’s motto is: A chance to visit Apple Heaven while still on Earth.

The festival includes apple tastings, farm tours, information on growing trees, apple art and food created by local chefs.

You can visit about 20 farms, many not typically open to the public, to both taste the fruit and see the trees from where they were picked. Different varieties of apples will also be on display at Fulford Hall.

You can also purchase some trees from the farmers. Some, such as dwarf varieties, are already potted and available to take home immediately, while others can be pre-ordered for pickup in the spring.

Learn about organic apple growing or consult with apple experts, who will be on hand to try to identify apples brought to the event.

The island’s connection with apple production dates back to the 1860s, when local orchards supplied fruit to both the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island markets.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for children. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 30 at Fulford Hall, 2591 Fulford Ganges Rd., and at various orchards (a map of participating farms is included with admission).

Tickets are available at Fulford Hall and the Ganges Tourist Information Centre, 121 Lower Ganges Rd. For more information, go to saltspringapplefestival.org.