Photo: Adobe/Weyo
Minnesota apple orchards are once again ready to satisfy your cravings for deliciously juicy apples, baked treats, and a fun outing. Some orchards offer pick-your-own apples and others pick the fruit and have them available for purchase in their store, so make sure to check ahead, depending on what you’re looking for. Many orchards also offer baked goodies such as freshly baked doughnuts sprinkled with delicious cinnamon sugar, apple pie, and frozen pies you can take and bake at home. Plus, find pumpkin patches and activities such as hayrides, mazes, and more.
U of Apple
Did you know that since the apple breeding program began in 1878 at the University of Minnesota, 29 apple varieties have been released? These include favorites such as Honeycrisp, First Kiss/Rave, State Fair, SweeTango, and Zestar. Some University-developed varieties are no longer available, but you can find all the current U of M varieties here, many of which you can purchase from local orchards.
Seeking out a particular apple? Whether you are a fan of the early-ripening apples or waiting for other varieties to ripen, keep in mind the harvest estimates below.
Storage
While they might look pretty in a bowl on the counter or table, refrigerate apples as soon as you bring them home to slow ripening and maintain flavor so they can keep from four to six weeks. Then you’ll have them on hand to enjoy on their own or in a variety of recipes (see below).
Local Apple Harvest Estimates
Call ahead to confirm what’s ripe for the picking or just go and enjoy whatever apples are available when you get to the orchard. You are bound to have a delicious time either way.
First Kiss: Ready
SweeTango: Ready
McIntosh: Ready
Zestar: Ready
Cortland: Mid-September
Sweet Sixteen: Mid to late September
Honeycrisp: Mid to Late September
Haralson: Late September
Honeygold: Early October
Regent: Early October
Fireside: Early October
Keepsake: Mid-October
Find an Orchard
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers a searchable map on its Minnesota Grown website that makes it easy to find what you’re looking for, whether you want to head to a nearby orchard, plan a day trip, or an apple-centric weekend getaway. Here are highlights of some of the popular spots to visit, and again, make sure to check the searchable map for more. Plus, please check with individual orchards as many have a no-pet policy.
Aamodt’s Apple Orchard
Stop in the barn for a slice of fresh apple pie, unique foods, local honey, pure maple syrup, and gifts. Apples available in the Apple Barn for purchase: Honeycrisp, First Kiss, SweeTango, Sweet RiverBelle, Chestnut Crabs, and Paula Red. Pick Your Own Apples: Honeycrisp are currently available for picking. Check out the goat farm and wagon rides.
Open 7 days a week 10a.m.-6p.m. Pick Your Own is open 10a.m.-5p.m. when available.
6428 Manning Ave., Stillwater, MN • 651-439-3127 • aamodtsapplefarm.com
Afton Apple Orchard
This is an over 250-acre orchard in the heart of the St. Croix Valley with pick-your-own Paula Red, Zestar, KinderKrisp, and McIntosh. First Kiss, Estival, SweeTango, and RiverBelle apples are available in their store. Activities include a playground, wagon rides, and more.
Orchard and retail store open daily 10a.m.-6 p.m. Call for picking schedule and orchard updates.
14421 S 90th St., Hastings, MN • 651-436-8385 • aftonapple.com
Apple Jack Orchards
You can pick your own apples and there are various varieties available in the orchard store. Check the website for variety updates. The orchard features a gift shop, bakery, café, and a pumpkin patch, and family-fun activities include farm animals, jumping pillows, apple cannons, low ropes course, and more. Open 10a.m.-5p.m.
4875 37th St. SE, Delano, MN • 763-972-6673 • applejackorchards.com
LuceLine Orchard
This sprawling 155-acre property has nearly 10,000 apple trees with seven locally grown apple varieties and a vineyard nestled on the Luce Line trail. Visitors can enjoy the apples, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, nature trail, hay mountain, and a tire tower for the kids, plus live music and more. Open Sat. and Sun. 10a.m.-6p.m. and Wed.-Fri. 10a.m.-5p.m.
2755 Rose Ave., Watertown, MN • 612-817-6229 • lucelineorchard.com
Pine Tree Apple Orchard
Explore a corn maze, pick your own pumpkins, a large variety of apples that are available for purchase in the orchard store, homemade bakery treats, caramel apples, fresh cider, gifts, and more. Enjoy your treats on the patio or on a picnic table near the lake. Fall hours: Mon.-Thur. 10a.m.-5p.m. and Fri.-Sun. 10a.m.-4p.m. Hours vary for some events.
450 Apple Orchard Rd., White Bear Lake, MN • 651-429-7202 • pinetreeappleorchard.com
Pleasant Valley Orchard
Overlooking the St. Croix Valley near Taylors Falls, Pleasant Valley Orchard offers a fun fall experience for the whole family. In addition to your favorite Minnesota grown apples, (prepicked and ready for you), you will find pumpkins, classic apple pie, hand-dipped caramel apples, and other goodies in the bakery, plus gifts, hayrides, and live music. Open 10a.m.-6p.m. daily. Call for updates on apple varieties available and announcements.
17325 Pleasant Valley Road, Shafer, MN • 651-257-9159 • pleasantvalleyorchard.com
Sekapp Orchard
Find dozens of apple varieties fresh from the trees, fresh produce, pure honey, and family fun activities. Honeycrisp apples are ripe for picking, plus the yard is full of mums and is beginning to fill with pumpkins. Open 7 days a week 9a.m.-7p.m. through Oct. 31, then 9a.m.-6p.m. Nov. 1-Dec. 24. Located three miles from downtown Rochester.
3415 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN • 507-282-4544 • sekapporchard.com
Photo Terry Brennan, Food Styling Lara Miklasevics
Cooking with Apples
Apples are delicious in both savory and sweet dishes. Try these recipes I have highlighted here.
Slow Cooker Vanilla Applesauce Recipe
If you can cut up apples and put them in the slow cooker, you can master the art of making your own applesauce.
Apple Pancakes with Maple-Apple Sauce Recipe
It’s apple harvest time, so step up your breakfast with apples in the pancake mix plus a sweet apple maple sauce to top it all off.
Apple crisp meets caramel apple pie in these treats. Plus, chew on apple fun facts and link to more recipes.
Apples mix up great meals from dinner (Pork Fajitas with Apple-Cilantro Salsa) to dessert (Apple-Hazelnut Cheesecake Tart)
Cheddar-Apple-Walnut Muffins
Embrace fall with flavorful muffins that are crunchy and rich with cheese and walnuts as well as tangy fruit.
Curried Apple-Squash Soup
Need another idea for all those apples you’ve picked? Combine them with squash in this vibrant soup and celebrate a twofold harvest.
Autumn Harvest Salad
Apples join spinach, dried cranberries, and a little bacon—which makes everything better—in a nutrient-packed salad.
Cinnamon Apple Cake
As the all-too-short summer turns to autumn, enjoying a harvest treat can help ease it in.
