Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Friday, October 16, 2009

Montpelier, Vt – The Apples to iPods promotion continues at pick your own apple orchards across the state. This is the perfect weekend to take the family to an orchard near you where you might get the opportunity to bring home more than apples.

In its third year, the Apples to iPods promotion is sponsored in partnership by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, Woodchuck Draft Cider, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Small Dog Electronics. Specially-marked wooden apples have been hidden in Vermont’s pick-your-own orchards. If you find one of these unique “iPod apples,” keep it and call 1-800-VERMONT because you’re a winner of an Apple iPod.

As generations of visitors and Vermonters well-know, apple picking is one of the most popular activities in the state during Vermont’s stunning foliage season. There is something truly special about spending an amazing fall day in the hills of Vermont surrounded by the sweet smell of fresh apples and picking them with your own hands. Adding a free iPod to your bounty only makes it that much more special.

Only in Vermont – where our legislature named the apple as our state fruit and the apple pie our state pie – will you find such a unique harvest as “Apples to iPods.” Vermont has almost 4,000 acres of commercial apple production, and the state’s leading apple varieties are McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious and Empire. Visit www.applestoipods.com for more information.