The joys of apples in autumn
Pick of the Crop
Beth Orsborn picks apples from trees Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Fall brings with it crisp air, golden light and the harvest season. For the workers of Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township, this means it’s time to pick a lot of apples.
From the early mornings spent gathering fruit in orchards to the rhythmic process of juicing, each step carries the warmth of tradition and community.
At the apple stand, baskets overflow with bright reds and greens, drawing neighbors and passersby to pause and savor the season.
Other apples, taken to Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township, were made into fresh cider.
The act of sharing these apples — whether as juice, cider or fresh from the hand — celebrates the abundance of autumn and the cycles of nature.
Bob Orsborn unloads apples from Shannon's Apples at Sally’s Cider Press, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Beth Orsborn places lids onto half-gallons of fresh apple cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bob Orsborn, left, and Jeff Orsborn fill half-gallon jugs with apple cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Joey Orsborn picks apples Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bob Orsborn unloads apples from Shannon's Apples at Sally's Cider Press on Thursday, Sept. 18. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn picks apples from trees Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn picks apples Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Apples line branches Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Fresh apple cider pours out of the press Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. The cider is then UV-treated to kill bacteria before it is ready to drink. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn loads cider into the truck Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Carol Orsborn, left, and Beth Orsborn unload picked apples Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn drops freshly-picked apples into a bag Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Beth Orsborn picks apples from trees Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Beth Orsborn pours apples into a conveyer belt to be washed Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Cloth-wrapped apples are rolled under the press to be juiced into cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn checks on apples stored in the barn Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Frank Luek shakes out the chute depositing chopped apples from the conveyer belt to be loaded into the cider press Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Frank Luek, left, and Rich Rice spread out mulched apples along a cloth sheet before they're pressed into cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
The leftover pulp from pressed apples is discarded to clear the press for the next batch Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. The waste will be used as cattle feed. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn, left, and his son, Joey Orsborn, load bushels of apples into a truck Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. The apples were to be taken to Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Beth Orsborn places lids onto half-gallons of fresh apple cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Bob Orsborn, left, and Jeff Orsborn fill half-gallon jugs with apple cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Joey Orsborn picks apples Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Bob Orsborn unloads apples from Shannon's Apples at Sally's Cider Press on Thursday, Sept. 18. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jeff Orsborn picks apples from trees Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jeff Orsborn picks apples Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Apples line branches Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Fresh apple cider pours out of the press Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. The cider is then UV-treated to kill bacteria before it is ready to drink. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jeff Orsborn loads cider into the truck Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Carol Orsborn, left, and Beth Orsborn unload picked apples Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jeff Orsborn drops freshly-picked apples into a bag Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Beth Orsborn picks apples from trees Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Beth Orsborn pours apples into a conveyer belt to be washed Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cloth-wrapped apples are rolled under the press to be juiced into cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jeff Orsborn checks on apples stored in the barn Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Frank Luek shakes out the chute depositing chopped apples from the conveyer belt to be loaded into the cider press Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Frank Luek, left, and Rich Rice spread out mulched apples along a cloth sheet before they're pressed into cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The leftover pulp from pressed apples is discarded to clear the press for the next batch Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. The waste will be used as cattle feed. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jeff Orsborn, left, and his son, Joey Orsborn, load bushels of apples into a truck Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. The apples were to be taken to Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Joey Orsborn picks apples Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn checks on apples stored in the barn Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Shannon’s Apples in Connoquenessing Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bob Orsborn, left, and Jeff Orsborn fill half-gallon jugs with apple cider on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Beth Orsborn pours apples into a conveyor belt to be washed Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jeff Orsborn loads cider into the truck Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Frank Luek, left, and Rich Rice spread out mulched apples along a cloth sheet before they're pressed into cider on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Cloth-wrapped apples are rolled under the press to be juiced into cider Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
The leftover pulp from pressed apples is discarded to clear the press for the next batch Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sally’s Cider Press in Lancaster Township. The waste will be used as cattle feed. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
