LaFayette (WSYR-TV) -- It’s one of the biggest festivals for apple lovers in Central New York and on Saturday, more than 50,000 people will head to LaFayette for Apple Fest.
It’s been a Central New York tradition for decades, but this year’s apple shortage had a big impact on the people who make the event a success.
For Mary Doster, Apple Fest couldn’t come soon enough. In less than 24 hours Doster’s homemade pies will make their debut.
Every year, for the past 30 years, Doster’s made it a tradition to bake and pack pies at Saint Joe’s.
“This is the one big moneymaker we have in the church, so we’ll do these pies and they’ll go down to the Apple Festival grounds and they’ll sell them there,” she said.
This year, some things had to be done a little differently.
“Usually, the church makes about 3,700 pies, but because of the early spring and late frost they didn’t quite meet that number this year,” Doster said.
“It limited the number of pies we could bake based on the limitation of apples,” said David Prince, also known as “Father Pie.”
Prince says because of the shortage they’re down about 400 pies, which in turn, affects their bottom line.
"With fewer pies there will be less profit we are making and this is really the only fundraiser for the church throughout the year, but hopefully we'll sell all the pies that we've made and account for the increase in cost of apples and come out where we were last year,” Prince said.
But they still have faith that this year will be just as sweet at the last.
The LaFayette Apple Festival begins Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s located along Route 20 and costs $4 per person; children 12 and under are free.
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