Fall is prime time for a series of ritualized photos that appear on Instagram like clockwork: kids on their first day of school, kids in the pumpkin patch, kids picking apples, soon to be followed by kids making Christmas cookies, and kids in matching holiday pajamas.
These images are also often parodied, and captioned as obligatory, but do reflect some need we have to participate in these events (and the said documentation of these events). We have yet to go apple picking this fall and I admit to genuine FOMO around it, though I’d like to say this mostly harkens back to it being a thing we did with frequency during my childhood and because if i’m an aficionado of anything, it’s probably apples.
I grew up in upstate New York, where apple picking in the fall used to be a non-touristy, inexpensive situation that involved little fanfare and a fresh apple cider doughnut. After school, we’d go to one of a few orchards in the area—where you could also just buy bushels of apples—a far more efficient and cost-effective way to actually get fruit in quantity. There were no lines, no bouncy castles, rarely a maize maze and definitely no entry fee.
At the time I remember it seeming exotic that the farms had a half-dozen varieties or more — Gala, Macoun, Macintosh, Braeburn, Jonagold among them. This was far before the time of hybridized and consumer-optimized breeds like Snapdragon and Ruby Frost that are on par with the cost of scallops. This was also before the possibility that the trees would be so picked over there wasn’t much left for the taking. Nobody had a selfie stick or an instagram husband.
I think one can largely tie the evolution of the farm as a family destination to the farm as a highly commercial destination to the rise of social media, where capturing one’s family doing quaint, picturesque seasonal farm activities has become an act of ritualized performance. This is nothing new, of course, and fall in line with other activities co-opted for the sake of projecting that we’re rustic, outdoorsy, effortless-in-nature, and so on.
A quick search on the #applepicking tag on IG will reveal kids in matching linen overalls picking apples in wicker baskets (highly impractical), newborns who are barely sentient being held Anne Geddes-style above a branch of ripe apples (huh?), and a woman in an all white cottage core dress sitting under various apple trees taking a sultry bite out of three varieties (just…LOL). When I see these I wonder if they actually even like apple picking? Or even like apples? It’s hard to tell based on the quick follow-ups that read, “But what do I even do with all these apples?” and the abundant use of #autumnvibes and #pumpkinspice.
The images showcase our love affair with false nostalgia, and the perpetual hunt for the perfect pastoral backdrop. More invisible is the perpetuation of romanticization of this faux farm life, and the fact that my kids think all farms should have giant jumping pillows, mini golf, ice cream, a gift shop, and a pumpkin canon, like their favorite spot upstate, Kelder’s Farm.
When I suggested apple picking to my own kids—for the actual apples—they ignored me and continued playing with their LEGOs. They had no FOMO whatsoever, and even though we’ve been apple picking most years they’ve been alive and enjoyed it, it seems to carry very little gravity in their memories. After a beat, Ada suggested it might just be easier to get the apples at the grocery store. She’d even be willing to lend me some money, if I needed it, but I definitely needed to pay her back. I guess she’s going to have to be nostalgic for a very different kind of activity.
Recommendations:
If you are going apple picking upstate, my favorite place is Rose Hill Farm in Red Hook, NY.
Odd Apples is a beautiful book of photographs of some of the 7,000+ cultivars of apples in the world by William Mullen. My friend Audrey gifted this to me and it’s truly gorgeous.
To bake: This ginger date cake (scroll to the bottom) from Julia Turshen. I went heavy on the dates, definitely used coffee, and doubled the cinnamon. It gets even better after a day or two and the kids loved it.
To cook: This coconut lentil daal from Food52 is my go-to cold weather recipe. Double all the spices. Makes for great leftovers.
To cook: The Thai-Inspired Chicken Meatball Soup from NYT Cooking has over 10K five-star ratings for a reason. Damn delicious. Like the reviews say, cook the meatballs in the oven at 425 for 20 mins and add a 1/2 cup of panko and an egg.
To Listen To: This deep dive on online shopping, consumerism, the problem with SHEIN, and much more with Amanda Mull on You’re Wrong About
Winter running kit: This Smartwool thermal merino reversible headband to keep your ears warm all winter long. I’m a merino wool true believer.
Seeking Twins: Rachel Meade, who you may know from her great jobs newsletter, Words of Mouth, is looking for sets of twins to interview (separately) about their lived experience. Very excited to see what she makes of this. See her post for more details.
To eat: The caesar salad at Agi’s Counter which includes abundant radicchio and toasted caraway seeds.
Currently reading: Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us by Rachel Aviv (New Yorker writer). I’m only a third through but this book is an incredible collection of narratives around mental illness and the impact of diagnosis and labeling on our identities. She’s been doing the podcast circuit and has great recent convos with Ezra Klein and on the Los Angeles Review of Books Radio Hour.
See you next week.
I live in Oregon and I really do look forward to berry picking in the spring and summer, but apples are heavy and higher up! Seems impractical, lol. Haven't taken my little guy to do it yet.
That Thai meatball soup recipe is phenomenal!! And now that I know the tips, I can't wait to make it again!
Youngna, I feel you so much 😂 We’re in the middle stretch of the Sukkot holiday, which lands in fall, and it’s almost a standard expectation for families with kids to ‘go somewhere’ or ‘do something’ during those few days off of school. If there isn’t at least one official Outing (and usually an expensive one) you’ve failed as a parent. Apple picking is often on the list.
Meanwhile my kids definitely prefer Lego and movie nights, and endless hours of Minecraft in pajamas. As do their parents 😁 Hitting every attraction in the American Dream mall is our version of hell. 🤪
My husband and I have taken to dreading my mother-in-law’s inevitable ‘So...? What did you do today?’ At this point, we decided to try answering bluntly ‘We went to the zoo.’ (False.) Let’s see if it works.