Redland Orchard in North Russell is starting apple sales earlier than usual this fall in an effort to beat the warm temperatures this harvest.

Sharon Guntzel along with her husband Tom Guntzel moved to the area in 1975 and has been growing apples since 1976. This year they found the high temperatures and humidity were producing big, juicy apples, but also producing them sooner in the season than usual.

In previous years, they had a tent in the yard so people could stop in and buy the Macintoshes, Cortlands, Lobos and Greenings by the pound but this year the weather is too warm for outdoor apple storage so they have a large cooler set up.

Both are seniors and orchard care and picking are hard work, so they considered going to a u-pick format. In the end, Sharon said they decided against it and instead got some help from adult grandchildren.

Redland Orchard is named after the red soil of the North Russell red shale hill, which is well-drained and sticks up above the Leda clay sediments found in the rest of the Township. Early settlers called it "beautiful land."

The orchard is at 126 Eadie Rd., Russell Township and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Here is the interview with the Guntzels: