Apple picking season is in full swing at Lynd Fruit Farm, but this year the farm is making some changes to prevent theft. READ MORE: https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/lynd-fruit-farm-crack-down-on-apple-theft/530-1ef92bfe-7316-4426-a316-e3497459a88c Each fall, the family-run farm welcomes visitors who take part in the long-standing tradition of picking apples straight from the orchard. The system relies heavily on trust — guests pick apples and pay afterward. But recently, that trust has been tested. “Our customers drive their cars in [to] the orchard, that’s most convenient for a customer,” said Noah Lynd, owner and manager of Lynd Fruit Farm. “But with that comes people that take advantage of that.” Over Labor Day weekend, Lynd said four people attempted to take apples without paying. In one case, someone allegedly hid $350 worth of apples in their car. “But occasionally we have bad apples who try to get away with more than what they are willing to pay for,” Lynd said. For the farm, which spends the entire year cultivating crops, these incidents are more than just frustrating — they’re disheartening. “It’s really discouraging to us,” Lynd said. “We only get one shot at getting a return on those apples that we spend the whole year growing. We count on that to support our employees, ourselves, so it’s something frustrating for us.” To prevent further theft, the farm is introducing new measures. Additional signage will remind visitors of the payment system and staff will be more visible in the orchard to deter dishonest behavior. “When you come out here and steal from us, that slowly degrades from our ability to provide [a] fun experience for people,” Lynd said. Apple picking season at Lynd Fruit Farm runs through the end of October.