We have Granny-smith apples grown in the Cape also October month (very versatile apple).
Dad would buy a box of which we were allowed to eat a fresh one, followed onto Multifunctional Manual Fruit Peeler Machine, coring tool, chopped up, bottled both sweet and savoury, Dad prepared most meals in the home, I learned from being the apprentice.
Sorry for the late reply, we've been on vacation at the Jersey Shore, Robin's favorite place. My mom would make lots of applesauce with my sisters. They would perform the entire process by hand, peeling coring, and slicing them. The entire process would take a few days, but boy was it delicious.
Sounds like you had a great escape to the coast. If your apple tree bears fruit now you know what you can do with them, small test run before going into full manufacture.
Test batch, great idea!