Apple picking
Even in our times, apple picking is carried out manually, with the invaluable help of the "kizkia", a tool for picking the fruit one by one.
The picking seasons are carried out when the cider maker considers that the apple is at its optimum ripening point, when they have their own crop, and according to the "baserritarra's" (farmer's) opinion in the case of external suppliers.
The picking period lasts from the end of September-beginning of October, until the middle of November, depending on the variety of apple.
Apple crops have a biennial bearing, and therefore a good year is followed by a bad year, in which case the cider maker will have to use non-native apples. Applies for cider are generally imported from France, Spain and the Czech Republic.