ROCHESTER — Growers in southern Minnesota say this year’s early-season apples are ready to be picked.

This year’s apple harvest is running a week late because of the long winter and wet spring, but varieties like Paula Red and Zestar apples are ready.

The Sekapp orchard near Rochester has about 7,000 fruit trees with 25 apple varieties.

Owner Fred Kappauff said they’ve been fortunate this season to be spared hail that hit parts of central Minnesota and wiped out apple crops.

“It’s the ‘h’ word. I hate to say it. Apple growers don’t like to say the word hail. But we’ve been fortunate we’ve had a good growing season and good weather conditions and things are progressing nicely,” Kappauff said.

Jim Luby, professor of horticultural science at the University of Minnesota, said the crop looks very good in some areas but spotty in others.

Minnesota’s roughly 150 apple growers are expected to produce around 21 million pounds of fruit this year.

The closet apple orchard to Albert Lea is Huntley Gardens & Orchards near Twin Lakes.