21/09/2026
Apple Harvest in Switzerland: The Scent of Autumn
The calendar makes it official this week: autumn begins astronomically on 23 September. But if you drive through the Swiss Mittelland or Thurgau these days, you will have smelled it long before any calendar page announced it – hanging between the orchard trees along the country roads is that unmistakable scent, sweetish, slightly earthy, of freshly pressed apple juice. The apple harvest is in full swing, and with it one of Switzerland's oldest autumn rituals.
Why Thurgau of all places?
Few cantons are as closely tied to the apple as Thurgau. For generations, locals have affectionately called it "Mostindien" (Cider India) – a nod to the seemingly endless number of fruit trees that once covered the gentle hills between Lake Constance and the Napf. Even today, a large share of Switzerland's table and cider apples comes from this region, and if you drive through its villages in September, you'll see the proof: crates full to the brim outside farmhouses, ladders leaning against branches, and somewhere a mobile cider press humming away.
Standard trees instead of espaliers: orchards with character
Unlike the low espalier trees of large commercial plantations, many Swiss apple trees still grow as so-called "Hochstamm" – tall, wide-spreading trees straight out of a postcard landscape. They take decades to reach full size, but in return can live well over a hundred years and, in a good year, carry several hundred kilos of fruit. Because these traditional orchards provide a home for countless bird and insect species, Switzerland actively supports them through direct payments – a single tree here is not just a fruit supplier, but active nature conservation.
Did you know? Pro Specie Rara, the Swiss foundation for heritage plants, maintains well over 500 traditional apple varieties in its conservation orchards – from the tiny "Chüsjiapfel" to the deep-red Bernese rose apple. Only a handful of these ever reach the shops: Gala, Braeburn, Golden Delicious or Boskoop.
From tree to glass: the tradition of pressing days
If you grew up in a rural area, you might remember it firsthand: the autumn pressing days when neighbours bring their gathered apples to a shared press. The fresh juice becomes either sweet "Süessmost" for immediate enjoyment, or, after a few weeks of fermentation, the tangier "Süürmost". This tradition is more than nostalgia: it ensures that crooked, small or visually "imperfect" fruit doesn't go to waste – an idea that feels highly relevant again today under the banner of food waste. Some municipalities still open their communal press for a few weekends each year to anyone with a tree in the garden and no appetite for a hundred unused kilos of apples.
Apple tart for the equinox
A lesser-known tradition, kept alive mainly in the canton of Bern, links the start of autumn directly to the oven: on some farms, an apple tart was once said to be baked on the day of the equinox – a small celebration that the harvest was in before the days noticeably shortened. Legend or lived practice, the idea behind it still rings true: the first cool autumn evening practically calls for warm pastry, cinnamon, and the scent of cooked apples filling the kitchen.
A grip that pays off: storing apples properly
If you're buying at the market or straight from the farm right now, a few simple habits will make your haul last much longer. Apples like it cool, dark and not too dry – an unheated cellar or garage often works better than the fridge. It's also worth keeping bruised fruit separate: a single rotten apple releases enough ripening gas to age the whole crate faster, in line with the old saying about "one bad apple spoiling the barrel". Sorting by variety helps too: early varieties like Gravenstein are usually best eaten within a few weeks, while later varieties such as Boskoop can easily keep well into the new year.
A closer look: the quiet disappearance of traditional orchards
Around a hundred years ago, Hochstamm orchards shaped large parts of the Swiss Mittelland – estimates suggest there were once several million such trees. With the rise of intensive plantations, that number has since dropped markedly. All the more reason why today's projects that map, care for and replant old trees matter: every preserved Hochstamm tree is a small habitat, sheltering bats, wild bees and rare birds such as the common redstart.
Time for your own autumn pause?
Whether it's a walk through a fragrant orchard, a glass of freshly pressed cider, or simply a local apple as a mid-morning snack – autumn is inviting you to slow down right now. For a spontaneous stroll through the orchard, a warm thermos flask of tea in your bag comes in handy, and if you'd rather spend the afternoon relaxing under a tree, just spread out a picnic blanket and let the scent of ripe fruit do the rest. What makes autumn feel complete for you: your first home-pressed cider, a wander through the orchard, or a cosy hour indoors with the warm smell of apples in the kitchen? Why not take a look through our range – you might just find the right inspiration for the weeks ahead.