Freeze leaves Penrose without apples again

Why it matters: It's a similar story at orchards around the state, meaning families looking to spend a fall day picking fruit are pretty much out of luck.

What they're saying: "It was just as well we froze out in April," said Lance Tyler, who runs Third Street Apples with his wife, Gail. "We had a massive hailstorm Wednesday night that would have completely destroyed an apple crop if there had been one. Such is farming. You have to be an optimist."

• The couple, both 81, ventured into apples as a retirement project after buying a home in 1997 with an orchard attached. Tyler said they consider themselves lucky they've eked out a profit most years.

Zoom out: The recent freezes are a reminder of why the commercial orchards that fueled Penrose's boom in the early 1900s are long gone.

• Fickle weather combined with competition from out-of-state apple growers slowly strangled the business, per the Pueblo Chieftain.

Yes, but: Apples or no apples, the town still proudly celebrates its heritage with an annual Apple Day festival, which this year falls on Oct. 3.

• The spirit of the day is more important than the specific provenance of the apples, suggested Steve Shannon, the event's treasurer.
• He noted that last year, in a pinch, organizers procured an apple crumble from Sam's Club to maintain the tradition of offering every visitor a free slice.