CRUNCHING into a freshly picked Cox's apple or slurping the juice of a really ripe William pear are two pleasures reserved for this time of year.

And Worcestershire, with its worldwide reputation for orchard fruit, is one of the best places to try the tastiest apples and pears.

With October now upon us, producers are busy picking and packing autumn's bounty to last through the winter.

One of those producers is Tschak's, whose stall, brimming with orchard fruit from Sunbank Orchard in Kidderminster, can be found at farmers' markets throughout the county.

"Apples are in my blood!" said Frank Tschak, who gives new meaning to the phrase "core business".

"At last count we had 50 varieties of apple tree. We have blended and developed different varieties over many years to achieve a truly extended apple season."

"We start picking on August 1 and by carefully storing the fruit in the right conditions, we will have apples to sell until April next year."

"Each variety has its place in the calendar. For example, this week it is the turn of the variety "Lord Lambourne", a delicious eating apple, and "Howgate Wonder", a traditional cooker a super alternative to its better known cousin, the 'Bramley'."

But Frank is most excited by a new introduction from his native Austria.

"Ingrid Murray is a beautiful apple that I spotted in a garden while on holiday. I knocked on the door, introduced myself and asked if I could take a few cuttings from the tree to bring home to Worcestershire."

After grafting the cuttings on to his own stock trees, a clever horticultural technique that allows new varieties to be developed more quickly, the trees are fruiting better than ever.

On the stall, Frank has a "try-before-you-buy" policy that seems to be working well.

"We let the people taste the apples first and they can make up their own minds, but they don't usually leave the stall empty handed!" he said.

And ever aware that his business needs to diversify, he has also developed his own blended apple juices, which capture and intensify the flavours of his range of fruit.

"The juice has proved really popular - a great bonus to our business. We sold 102 bottles this weekend alone!" he said.

You won't just find raw ingredients at a farmers market, but prepared foods, too. At this time of year, comfort food is what's hot - and what could be better than a steaming hot apple pie smothered with creamy custard?

A group of Worcestershire women have taken up this challenge by baking, pickling and preserving the season's flavours for their customers to savour.

The Worcestershire County Markets group's huge range of homemade products includes classics like apple pie, which they sell at farmers' markets across the county - theyh also plan to join the new market to be held in Stourport-on-Severn from October 30.

"People don't cook at home like they used to - they just don't have the time," says Patricia Van Zyl, who leads the group.

"Buying homemade jams and chutneys that our cooks make with ingredients often picked in their own gardens is the next best thing.

"We find that traditional baked goods like pies, cakes and pastries are the most popular. People often by something to put in lunch boxes for children like traditional flapjacks."

And the group's products have proved so popular, they are already taking orders for Christmas

"Christmas puddings traditionally made months in advance to allow the flavours to develop. Cakes and, of course, mince pies are really popular."

Other great seasonal food to look out for this month includes the enormous and elaborate range of pumpkins and winter squashes now available.

"The variety is amazing," said Will Edmonds, of Roots at Rushwick.

"They come in a collection of colours from the seasonal orange and reds to mottled yellows and greens, beige and for the first time this year we've grown Crown Prince, which is a pale blue-grey."

"Even if you are not sure how to cook them, they still look great in the kitchen" he laughed.

For more details about any of these producers and the markets they attend, call 07795 656148 or visit www.worcestershirefarmersmarkets.net

'Hub' to help out business in the country

A "rural hub" for Herefordshire is being formed as a further link in the chain of sustainable rural business.

The first rural hub was formed in Worcestershire in the wake of foot-and-mouth and there are now nearly 20 county rural hubs scattered throughout the country.

Herefordshire Rural Hub is a business and producer-led group. It has been set up to help rural and farm businesses communicate their business ideas and needs direct to the agencies that have resources and funding.

With a small steering group, the aim of the Hub is to form a series of special interest groups and it will be able to facilitate these groups by helping with administration and promotion.

Funding

Through the networking of the Hub with funding and advisory agencies, special interest groups will be able to source both support in terms of advice, and funding for aspects such as training, specialist equipment, seminars and visits.

As well as the theme groups, the Hub will be able to support individuals looking to improve their existing business, or to develop ideas for new enterprises.

"Rural hubs have proved to be a good source of support and innovation opportunities for rural businesses, and we will be encouraging Herefordshire firms to come forward with their ideas so we can help to take them forward," said Charlie Morton, NFU food and farming advisor.

"We have seen some good success stories in other counties and we look forward to the Herefordshire Rural Hub helping the rural economy in Herefordshire."

Any group or individual who is seeking funding or innovative opportunities should contact Cathy Meredith at Holme Lacy College on 01432 870316 for more details of the Herefordshire Rural Hub and how it can help you and your business.

This month's markets

Saturday, October 2, 9am-2pm Droitwich, Victoria Square

Sunday, October 3, 10am-2pm Royal Worcester, Severn Street

Thursday, October 7, 9am-1pm Village Centre, Broadway

Friday, October 8, 9am-4pm Kidderminster High Street

Saturday, October 9, 9am-5pm Bromsgrove High Street

Saturday, October 16, 9am- 2pm Malvern Abbey Road

Sunday, October 17, 10am-1pm Welland Village Hall

n Saturday, October 23, 9am-2pm Tenbury Wells town centre and 10am-1pm Bredon Village Hall

Sunday, October 24, 10am-2.30pm Bewdley op. Dog Lane Car Park

Saturday, October 30, 10am-2pm Stourport

Sunday, October 31, 10am-4pm Webbs of Wychbold