ROCHESTER — The apple picking season has started in southeastern Minnesota.

The Zestar apple known for an earlier ripening season is ready for harvest this week at Sekapp Orchard in Rochester. The Zestar is one of the cold hardy varieties developed by the University of Minnesota.

There are more than 7,000 apple trees at Sekapp Orchard. Owner Fred Kappauf estimates there are approximately a million apples produced there each season.

He said that the early season apples are about 10 days behind the usual harvest schedule due to the long, harsh winter.