Apple mania hit the Slow Food Earth Market on Thursday and it's just the beginning of a core promise to support a farmer.
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Shoppers flocked to grab a bag, or a box, of Upper Hunter Tilse family apples and relish in the sweet treat that refused to succumb to the worst drought in living memory.
Farmer Steve Tilse is still in awe of the bumper crop and certainly didn't expect it after his century-old apple trees shut down during the drought.
He expects to pick 40 tonnes of apples before the season is finished, which would make about 40,000 family size apple pies.
"It's a hell of a turnaround. It's great to see how they have jumped back. It has taken us by surprise," he said.
"We thought it would take two years for them to come back and we certainly weren't expecting such a big crop this year."
Mr Tilse and his wife Alison opened their orchard to the public over the past few weekends for 'pick your own fruit' days.
Tourists flocked from Sydney to take part and soak up the country air.
"People have been enjoying the serenity here. They have been coming out of the city and camping here and bringing the whole family," he said.
Tilse family apples have become a favourite at the earth market and this year is no different.
"This is the last remaining apple orchard in the Upper Hunter and the apples are so fresh - they are picked from the tree and put into a box and then brought to the market. There is no wax on them and they haven't been in cold storage," earth market chairwoman Amorelle Dempster said.