Charlbury Green Hub
BIG APPLE TAKE-AWAY: Playing Close, Charlbury
Each Autumn, local fruit is given away FREE, all welcome. Big Apple Take-Aways are held every fortnight on the Playing Close from end of August through to November. Apple varieties change each time as the season progresses, and pears, fragrant quinces and medlars become available in November. This year we are starting two weeks earlier than normal to catch the early apples which have been ripening earlier than normal over the past two years.
2019 is the 12th year of Big Apple Take-Aways in Charlbury. Please phone 811057 or email sharecroppers@charlburygreenhub.org.uk if you have surplus fruit that need picking so they can be shared around the community.
In May 2017, Charlbury Sharecroppers' received this year's OCVA Environmental Award from the Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action organisation at Oxford Town Hall. This is county-wide recognition that what we are doing in Charlbury is a really good model for other communities to follow.
Last year we redistributed over 2 tonnes of apples, do you remember your favourite varieties and when they were available? The fruit is given away FREE and you can take it for eating fresh, cooking, or storing.
When to eat apples and pears?
Early season apples don't store well fresh and need eating or cooking straight away but varieties that ripen in October will store for several weeks, keep them in the salad draw in your fridge or in a cold garage - perforated plastic bags are good to stop russets shrivelling.
Pears need to be stored in fridge and brought out a few at a time to room temperature for a few days until they are soft enough to eat - test by pressing the neck or if gentle pressure of thumb nail goes through the skin - then they will be divine - an unripe crunchy pear is such a wasted opportunity!