Hunt for the Apple and Win an iPod
by Nancy Wood,
September 22, 2011, page 13.....

Visitors to Vermont’s pick-your-own orchards will have a chance to win an iPod or iPad during the “Apples to iPods” promotion that began last week. One specially marked wooden apple is hidden in an apple tree at 15 Vermont pick-your-own apple orchards. Customers who find the wooden apple replicas will win an Apple iPod or iPad.
The wooden apples won’t be easy to find. Nick Cowles, proprietor of Shelburne Orchards, said, ““I sneak out into the orchard early, early in the morning... before Terry’s even there... and hide the apple very well.”  And he continued by saying, “People keep trying to bribe me to find out where it is, but I don’t even tell that secret in my sleep!”
Boyers Orchard in Monkton is also participating.
The promotion is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, Woodchuck Cider, Small Dog Electronics, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. The State of Vermont first launched this promotion in 2007 with hopes of growing participation at Vermont pick-your-own orchards. Since the launch, participation has grown throughout Vermont.
Vermont’s nearly 4,000 acres of commercial apple orchards produce leading apple varieties: McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious and Empire. In 1999, the Vermont legislature designated the apple as the state fruit, and the apple pie as the state pie.
“Vermont’s apple orchards are full of activity this time of year and in true Vermont fashion, the ‘Apples to iPods’ promotion has made the tradition even more fun,” said Megan Smith, Vermont’s Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing. “Apple picking is the perfect way to experience Vermont’s gorgeous autumn landscape and participate in a festive and tasty activity.”

This year, the Vermont Department of Tourism is also helping the Vermont Foodbank promote Pick for Your Neighbor, where visitors to participating orchards can pick and purchase extra apples to donate to the Foodbank. These apples will then be distributed to Vermonters in need.
For contest details about “Apples to iPods” and a list of participating orchards, visit applestoipods.com. 

Most of the information in this article was provided by the Vermont Department of Marketing and Tourism.