Love is in the air — and the apple orchard

February 7, 2025

The New York Apple Association has produced over 45 videos featuring New York apple growers and the apples they grow, and love is in the air —or the apple orchard — in one heartwarming video.

“We have been interviewing growers throughout this season, and this winter we’ve been busy in the edit room. I must admit, one story stands out as my favorite because it centers around love, and Valentine's Day is always a special time,” said said Cynthia Haskins, president and CEO of the New York Apple Association.

sdf The sweet love story started in Wayne County when Lindsey Mercurio and Thomas Coene, an apple grower from Ontario, NY, met. Family and friends enjoyed watching the budding relationship grow. You could tell the love was hand-picked for these two.

As the NYAA staff, videographers and Bob for Apples from New York were visiting different apple orchards and filming various apple growers, they were touched when Mercurio shared the couple’s love story.

Coene, vice president of the New York Apple Association, shared that he invited Mercurio for a ride to the apple orchard, a cherished pastime for the couple. Little did Mercurio know that this familiar outing would turn into the moment of a lifetime.

It was no easy feat for Coene to keep his plans a secret from his girlfriend. As they stopped by a nearby pond with a panoramic view of the vast acres of apple trees, he knew this was the perfect place and the perfect moment.

The video captures Mercurio recounting the magical story of how Coene proposed. He surprised her by getting down on one knee to ask the love of his life for her hand in marriage. Mercurio said he didn't even get a chance to finish popping the question before she eagerly answered yes.

Apple orchards make a romantic and rustic venue. The picturesque farm’s breathtaking apple orchards are the perfect backdrop for any engagement. New York is home to over 150 apple-picking destinations and over 125 hard cider destinations, with many making space available for events like weddings and gatherings.

Bringing apples and this special engagement moment together feels natural, as apple growers love what they do. Coene, a fifth-generation farmer with degrees in agriculture business management and sustainable crop production, proudly continues his family's legacy. In 2020, their farm, now operated by his grandfather, father and himself, was honored as a centennial farm.

“For over 100 years, one thing has remained constant — our commitment to growing the best apples possible,” said Coene.

This season, New York apple production resulted in 31 million bushels of apples across 50,000 acres, making the state the second-largest producer of apples in the country. New York farmers cultivate over 250 unique apple varieties, and approximately 36 of those are grown in promotable volumes. As the New York Apple Association continues to coordinate promotions with retailers to sell the current crop, the growers are out in the orchards caring for their dormant trees to prepare for the next season.

The New York Apple Association reminds retailers that cross-merchandising apples, apple slicers and apple slices with dark chocolate dipping kits are a perfect pairing for Valentine's Day. New York state utilizes state-of-the-art controlled atmosphere storage, ensuring apples are in grocery stores year-round. Several apple varieties are available to promote during Valentine's Day.

The love story will be available on NYAA's social media pages during Valentine's Day.

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