Robert Pease of Pease Orchards, Templeton, MA (Photo: Tim Skoog, WBUR)

The recent run of crisp mornings means that fall is right on schedule, and with it, apple season.  In full swing.  This week Radio Boston will feature stories and discussion about apples in New England, from White Pippins, Macouns and Roxbury Russets to Wixens and Winter Bananas.  Listen today or tomorrow at 1:00pm on 90.9 WBUR, or stream it online at radioboston.org.

Producer Adam Ragusea visits Tougas Farms in Northboro for a lesson in pick-your-own, joining thousands of hungry pickers.  LISTEN HERE.

Guests Kathleen Fitzgerald (author of America’s Founding Food: The Story of New England Cooking) and Ben Watson (author of Cider, Hard and Sweet: History, Traditions and Making Your Own) will join host David Boeri to take listener questions and talk about the history—economic, cultural and culinary—of apples in New England.

In the third part of the show, the guests and Boeri will taste different varietals of apple, sample some hard cider and apple wine from Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, Ma., and some of Boeri’s own sweet cider. Check out some of those delectable samples on this video:

What do you do with your half-pecks: do you have favorite pies, crumbles, jams or muffins?  Do you use apples in savory dishes or salads?  Have you ever tried making your own cider, hard or sweet, or apple wine? 

Your suggestions are coming in. Here is an apple cider doughnut recipe from Megan at Delicious Dishings. Keep ‘em coming!