Growing up we would pick our own apples, blueberries, and pumpkins...unfortunately so far we have only been able to pick our own raspberries here. The irony of it is that we live in a very agricultural area, heck...most of Switzerland is farmland, cow pastures, and tractors everywhere. So I was sure as Fall rolled around and the vision of apple pies, apple sauces, and chutneys took the place of summer grilling, that we'd be able to pick the local produce during the harvest season to preserve for colder months. But the response I got from a few farmers and locals was "why would you want to do that?"
Why? Because it's tradition, it's just what you do in the Fall...you drag your family out in the middle of a field to pick fruits and vegetables that eventually can be turned into some great treats. Of course you have hay rides and eat plenty of apple cider doughnuts, apple cakes, caramel apples...all the quintessential Norman Rockwell picture perfect postcard events of American life (at least from growing up in the Northeast). So why don't they offer a "pick your own apples" farm here? As this is Switzerland and not America, when they say "we don't do it that way" they mean they don't and they most likely won't...ever. People have their own fruit trees, or they help themselves to their neighbors plentiful bounty from the orchards next door.
But what they do have in Switzerland, and is most likely their own tradition every Fall, is to pick your own grapes. If you can't own a vineyard and want fresh grapes to make grape juice, grape jelly, and wine then why not set aside a small area of vines for "pick your own"!
 |
| This couple was kind enough to explain what I needed to, though there were a lot of hand signals and pointing since my French lessons are still in progress. |
 |
| More or less...use these scissors that are hanging here, pick between the flags only, weigh on this scale, and put 3 francs per kilo in the little slot below the arrow. Et Voila! |
 |
| The grapes have a perfect home wedged between Lake Geneva and the Jura Mountains. This is actually an ideal climate for grape growing, but you will not see a lot of Swiss wine throughout the world because they are very good at selling and consuming it within their own borders (we of course are helping with the consumption). |
 |
| The harvesting was in full swing...this truck was filled in no time |
 |
| Strap this fiberglass bucket on your back, start filling it up, and let the grape juice drip down. |
As one of our friends likes to say: "Ah, the Swiss."
