Apples are the main attractions at annual event

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Visitors to the Medina Apple Festival crowd the booth where a variety of apples could be purchased. -- Staff photo by Taylor

August 26, 2004 - When the first apple orchard was planted in Medina, almost 20 years ago, producers had no way of knowing how successful the crop would be in Bandera County, much less the importance the Medina International Apple Festival would bring to the quiet little town.

On July 31, thousands of people invaded Medina to attend the 17th annual "Medina Texas International Apple Festival." The previous week's rains had ended and visitors were offered a beautiful, if not humid, day of fun for the entire family at the event.

The Medina Texas Development Corporation was formed to oversee the apple festival, and its mission statement reads: "To promote civic pride and encourage economic and educational growth and development. To enhance cultural and recreational infrastructure for the community of Medina." Over the years, the festival has continued to grow and gain wider audiences across Texas.

According to Texas Cooperative Extension's Dr. Larry Stein of Uvalde, Texas may not produce the most apples, but does harvest some of the most delicious apples in the United States. With parts of Texas weather offering warm days and low moisture, conditions are great for harvests which begin early and are completed by October.

The past two years have been great for Texas apple producers, with weather conditions near to perfect. In the most recent Texas Crop and Weather report, published by Texas Cooperative Extension, Baxter Adams of Love Creek Farms in Medina said this year's weather conditions have offered the best growing conditions he's ever seen ... and he's 76-years-old!

The Medina festival offered apple sales; a food court; kids' areas, complete with rides, a rock wall climb and petting zoo; demonstrations; Go Texan booths; commercial vendors; non-profits and exhibits; and arts and crafts booths.

A main attraction Aug. 31, on the "Orchard Stage," included the Cadence Cloggers, a choreographed dance group from San Antonio who have performed and entertained audiences for over 22 years, and a performance by Eric Scott, a singer, also, from San Antonio. Although the humidity was at record highs, the performers played to a full audience.

Another favorite feature of the festival is the quilt competition presented by the Bandera County Quilt Guild. Every year, a special "Apple Festival" quilt is made and auctioned off during the festival. Families of several generations were seen admiring the beautiful, handmade quilts on display.

While apple orchards may be one of the most recent crops grown in Texas, it's looking like it will continue to grow in South Central Texas, because of the ideal climate. One problem producers need to be alert to is the opportunity for fungus to attack and spread in the orchards. Stein noted the excess moisture this area has witnessed in the past couple of years has produced the need for either picking the infected fruit or spraying the trees with a fungicide.

Even with the fungus problems, Stein urged Texans and others to try a Texas apple. "They are the highest quality and the best anyone will ever eat," he said.