Apple Hill season to start Labor Day weekend

THE PAST WEEK AND CAL FIRE SAYS THAT 709 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND ANOTHER 54 HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND ALL ROADS ARE NOW REOPENED. >>> LABOR DAY WEEKEND IS ONE WEEK AWAY AND THE UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER, WHICH ALSO MEANS THE OFFICIAL OPENING WEEKEND OF APPLE HILL . YOUR REPORTER COVERING EL DORADO COUNTY IS LIVE WITH THE PARKING PROBLEMS EXPECTED AND WHAT FARMS ARE HOPING FOR THIS SEASON. SHELBY? >> Reporter: YES, WE ARE AT APPLE RIDGE FARMS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL TIMES THAT OPENS EARLY PRIOR TO LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND THEY SAY IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL OPENING DAY WEEKEND FOR HIM. IT IS WINDING DOWN A BIT NOW AS THEY CLOSE AT 6:00, BUT APPLE HILL IN GENERAL HAS AROUND 50 FARM RANGING FROM APPLE ORCHARDS, PUMPKIN PATCHES, WINERIES, BREWERIES AND YOU NAME IT. THEY HAVE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. FARM OWNERS I SPOKE WITH SAY THAT THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS SEASON HAVING BIGGER CROWDS THAN EVER BEFORE. >> Reporter: FROM THE DONUTS TO THE PIES AND APPLE PICKING , THE END OF SUMMER ALSO MARKS THE OFFICIAL START OF APPLE HILL SEASON. >> WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF CROWD AS LAST SEASON AND WE DID EXTEND OUR PARKING LOT TO ACCOMMODATE MORE CUSTOMERS. >> Reporter: OWNER OF APPLE RIDGE FARMS SAYS THAT 2023 WAS ONE OF THE BUSIEST YEARS THEY HAVE EVER SEEN FORCING THEM TO ADD MORE THAN 100 PARKING SPOTS TO THEIR FARM AND SHE SAID THAT LAST YEAR PEOPLE WERE PARKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR WHEREVER THEY COULD FIND ROOM. >> EVER SINCE 2020, WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN CLIENTELE AND MAYBE THEY WANT TO STAY CLOSER TO HOME. IT'S AN EASY DAY. >> Reporter: THE OWNER OF HARRIS FAMILY FARM AND SAYS THAT ALTHOUGH EVERY FALL SEASON IS BUSY, THEY ALSO SAW A HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE DURING THE 2023 SEASON THAT THEY HADN'T SEEN BEFORE. >> WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE OUR GROWERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE AMPLE PARKING AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING. >> Reporter: THEY ARE ALSO ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PICK APPLES IN SEPTEMBER TO BE THE CROWD IN OCTOBER. >> THERE HAS BEEN A REAL MOVEMENT WITH YOUNG FAMILIES IN RECENT YEARS WHERE THE FAMILIES WANT TO COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE A FARM. >> Reporter: MOTHER NATURE IS ALSO PLAYING A ROLE AND A GOOD START TO THE 2024 SEASON. >> THIS YEAR, NOT AS MANY APPLES , BUT CERTAINLY ENOUGH. WE DIDN'T HAVE A BAD FREEZE THAT COULD DESTROY YOUR CROPS, SO EVERYONE IS IN GOOD SHAPE. OFFICIALLY OPENING THE FLOODGATES ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND TO WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING FAMILIES TO WHAT HAS BECOME AN EL DORADO COUNTY STAPLE. >> WITNESSING FAMILIES COME YEAR AFTER YEAR AND WATCHING FAMILIES GROW UP, WHICH SEEMS ODD THAT YOU REMEMBER FAMILIES, BUT YOU REALLY DO. >> Reporter: SEVERAL OF THOSE FARMS ARE ALREADY OPEN , BUT THE REST WILL BE OPENING NEXT WEEK AND ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AND IT DEPENDS ON THE FARM AMMA WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL START TO THE APPLE HILL SEASON AND WE HAVE A LINK TO THE MAP OF ALL OF THE FARMS INCLUDED, WHICH IS OVER ON OUR WEBSITE,