PLACERVILLE, Calif. —

Apple Hill in Northern California is opening for the season this weekend, with apple growers celebrating what they describe as the best season in decades due to favorable weather conditions.

"My dad and mom were the founders in '64, and I've been farming for three decades, and it's my best in three decades. That's a major statement, right?" said Chris Delfino of Delfino Farms.

This year's mild summer has contributed to the near-perfect ripening of crops across the region, with growers noting the absence of heat or wildfire impacts.

"The stone fruit – the cherry, the peach, the berries; all of them are the best they've ever had. We're making peach pie right now. From what I hear, they say, the flavors are the best. Again, cooler nights and not really hot days," Del

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