It's apple picking season!

The owner of a local orchard says this year's crop is above normal.

And even though the apple season started three weeks behind schedule, now is the perfect time to pick.

And he says there's an art to it.

"My biggest concern is that they pick properly and just give it a nice twist, they need to keep in mind that next year's apple, the spur, is just right next to that stem," says Dave Pagoria, owner of Helene's Hilltop Orchard.

He says so many people look forward to picking apples this time of year.

The reason? It's the perfect way for families to spend time together.

And that's exactly why one couple from Merrill has made this a tradition for years.

"It's fun and there are so many out there that they should come out and pick because there so much better than buying them in the store," says Emily and Jim Pankow.

They say every year they fill up an old refrigerator with the apples to make pies and applesauce.

Apple picking season should last a couple more weeks.