Bumper Crop Of Apples Brings Crowds Flowing To Area Cider Mill

BLOOMFIELD HILLS (WWJ) - It's not just Michiganders enjoying this summer weather -- but local businesses too.

Barry Peltz, owner of Franklin Cider Mill in Bloomfield Hills, says this year's warmer weather has led to an overabundance of apples, and that in turn helps his business.

He says it's completely opposite of what happened to the trees last year.

"Last year, it just got to the bud stage, the frost came, killed the bees, the bees couldn't pollinate the buds, and therefore there were no flowers. Without the flowers, no apples," said Peltz. "So that's why really Michigan was really hurt bad last year."

"We're putting fifty-fifty in now; we put in fifty percent honey crisp and right now the other fifty percent is made up of five other apples," Peltz said. That other 50 percent mix will increase over the coming weeks he noted.

Peltz says he gets all his apples from a farm in Grand Rapids -- in order to support Michigan's economy.

Lisa Hrit from Berkley took advantage of the beautiful fall weather to take a picture of her 5-month-old -- propped up against two large pumpkins.

"Actually my mother has a picture from when I was his age in the pumpkin patch. So this is going to one of her Christmas presents. We're going to blow it up, and put it side by side," said Hrit.

Lenny Rosenberg, lives in the area and loves coming to the cider mill with his grandchildren.

"They can't wait for Sunday mornings so they can come to the Franklin Cider Mill," said Rosenberg.

His granddaughter, Reese, has other interests at the cider mill "I like the ducks," she laughed.

You can find a variety of cider mills and pumpkin patches - HERE.