WHY SETTLE for a supermarket apple from Washington state when you can pluck more than 35 ripe, crunchy varieties straight off the trees in orchards just outside Washington, D.C.?
Throughout September and most of October, at least 17 "pick-your-own" orchards are laden with apples to please all palates. Local growers offer everything from Red Delicious, the shiny, sweet apple that looks right at home on a teacher's desk; to the crisp, flavorful Jonagold, No. 1 in Europe; to Esopus Spitzenburg, Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple. Some customers pick without preference, while others go on quests for their ideal fruits.
"People get attached to a certain tree," says Bill Green, who runs Hartland Orchard in Markham, Va., with wife Sharon. Many folks show up at the same time each year, aiming to pick their favorites. This year, they probably won't be disappointed.
"It's really an exceptional apple crop this year," Green says. "It's probably four times the quantity of last year."
"My apple crop is probably the best apple crop I've had in a long time," echoes Ed Streapy of High Places Orchards in Rappahannock County, Va., attributing his success to luck. Throughout the region, growers are crediting a combination of factors, including good summer rainfall and cool nights, with making this season's apples colorful and flavorful. At some orchards, a cooler than average spring contributed to apples being a bit smaller, but still packed with flavor.
Many weekend orchardgoers find that their outings offer far more than apples: For at least an afternoon, they can escape the hectic pace that too often rules their workweeks. At Rinker Orchards in Stephens City, Va., customers enjoy the pure, rural environment, says Ruth Rinker. Some people spread blankets underneath shade trees and have picnics.
"They even have family reunions," says Rinker, whose orchard, now in its 31st year as a pick-your-own business, regularly sees second- and third-generation customers.
While getting to an orchard often requires drives along country roads or through the Blue Ridge Mountains, some locations are closer than you'd expect.
"People like to get back to nature," says Jo-Ann Weber, whose Weber's Cider Mill Farm in Baltimore offers a rural oasis for residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. In bucolic enclaves of Montgomery and Prince George's counties, farms with pick-your-own orchards offer surprisingly scenic views, just a few miles from the bustling 'burbs.
Wherever you decide to pick, you'll need to prepare a bit beforehand. Apple growers strongly encourage pickers to call first to confirm availability and weather conditions. They also appreciate customers following these standard rules:
• Leave pets at home.
• Carefully supervise children.
• Because sticky sweet apples attract bees and yellow jackets, growers recommend that pickers wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes.
• Pick only in designated areas, where the fruit is ripe and easy to remove by gently lifting rather than yanking. And, don't waste fruit by dropping it or picking more than you can use.
Now, pack a picnic basket and grab your camera, and you're good to go.
RESOURCES:
For apple lore, health tips, recipes, activities and information on orchards and farm markets, check out the following:
APPLE JOURNAL -- 231/599-3486. Web site: www.applejournal.com.
MARYLAND APPLE PROMOTION BOARD -- 301/733-8777. Web site: www.marylandapples.org.
U.S. APPLE ASSOCIATION -- 703/442-8850. Web site: www.usapple.org.
VIRGINIA APPLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION -- 804/371-6104. Web site: www.virginiaapples.org.
PICKY, PICKY, PICKY
Pick your own apples at the following orchards, most of which are within a 90-minute drive of the D.C. metro area. You'll also find prepicked fruits and vegetables and other fall fare such as cider, baked goods and harvest-themed decorations. Orchards provide bags or other containers to hold your bounty, and some locations loan picking poles for reaching fruits on high branches. Because nearly all pick-your-own trees are dwarf or semi-dwarf in size, you won't need ladders. Apple prices vary according to supply and variety, but generally range from 59 to 89 cents per pound. Rare heirloom varieties usually cost more than $1 per pound. A few orchards sell by the bushel, with prices ranging from $9 to $12. Some locations offer discounts for bulk purchases.
Maryland
Baltimore County
WEBER'S CIDER MILL FARM -- 2526 Proctor Lane, Baltimore. 410/668-4488 (recording with directions). Open 9 to 8 daily, with picking until 6. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Jonathan apples on dwarf trees are available until the end of September at this small suburban orchard. Take a hayride, $1 per person, from 10 to 6 Saturdays and Sundays. The Johnny Appleseed Festival this Saturday and Sunday features crafts, pit beef, live bluegrass, a giant hay maze ($2) and a scarecrow workshop, all materials provided, $15 per scarecrow. Kids can crawl through an inflatable playground, $1, through Oct. 31.
Howard County
LARRILAND FARM -- 2415 Woodbine Rd. (Route 94), south of Lisbon. Call 301/854-6110 (recording with directions), Washington area; 410/442-2605, Baltimore area; and 410/489-7034 to schedule group hayrides. Web site: www.pickyourown.com. Open 9 to 5 Saturdays and Sundays and 9 to 6 Monday through Friday through Nov. 1. The farm's 16 acres of apples include at least a dozen varieties. This month and possibly into October, look for Jonagold, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, Magnolia Gold, Empire and Cameo. Ida Red, Stayman and Fortune most likely will peak in early October, followed by Mutsu and Sun Crisp. The picking season ends with Braeburn, Granny Smith, Enterprise, Pink Lady and Fuji. Receive a price break when you pick 20 pounds or more. Other pick-your-own fall crops include tomatoes and flowers during September, broccoli in early October, and pumpkins, winter squash, spinach and beets throughout October. Sept. 29 through Oct. 28, visitors can take hayrides ($2.75, free for children younger than 2) Saturdays and Sundays, 10 to 4:30. October activities include a Sudan grass maze ($1.50), a straw maze ($1.50) and a Boo Barn (adults 50 cents, children $1.25).
Montgomery County
BUTLERS ORCHARD -- 22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown. 301/972-3299 (recording with directions). Open Tuesday through Sunday 10 to 5:30 through Dec. 24; reopens in May. Perhaps best known for its annual Pumpkin Festival, this nearby orchard also offers a limited supply of pick-your-own apples during September. Choose from Jonathan, Golden and Red Delicious and Stayman, all of which probably will be available for the next week or so. Also this month, pick your own red raspberries. The Pumpkin Festival, featuring numerous children's activities, takes places on Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day, Sept. 29 through Oct. 28. Festival admission is $6, free for children younger than 2.
HOMESTEAD FARM -- 15600 Sugarland Rd., Poolesville. 301/977-3761 (recording with directions); 301/977-3761 for group reservations. Open 9 to 6 daily through Oct. 31. This rural setting just 12 miles from the Beltway features around 5,000 dwarf trees on 11 acres. Current varieties likely will include Gala, Jonathan, Jonagold, Empire and Melrose. Red Delicious and Golden Delicious are ready to pick now through early October, and Liberty apples likely will be around until mid-October. Look for Stayman, Braeburn and Fuji from the end of September through early October, and Granny Smith in late September through mid-October. A few Rome Beauties should be available in late September. Ask about reduced prices for pick-your-own purchases of more than 10 pounds. Pick red raspberries until the first frost, and pick pumpkins starting Sept. 25. Hayrides, from 10 to 5, $1.50 per person, take place the last weekend in September and all weekends in October. The farm also has a six-acre corn maze, $5 per person.
ROCK HILL ORCHARD -- 28600 Ridge Rd. (Route 27), Mount Airy. 301/831-7427. Take I-270 to Exit 16-A (Route 27) and go toward Damascus. Turn left at the Shell Station and go 2 1/2 miles to the farm on the left. Open 9 to 5 daily until the apple supply is gone, probably during late October. The orchard, situated on one of the county's highest points, has close to 600 semi-dwarf trees. This week, look for Jonathan, Empire and Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. Varieties expected to ripen toward the end of September include Stayman and Melrose, followed by Rome Beauty. Buy 20 pounds or more for a discount. Pick-your-own raspberries also should be available during September until frost, and pumpkins are available for picking during October. Weather permitting, visitors can take free hayrides to the apple orchard Saturdays noon to 4 and Sundays 1 to 4 in October.
Prince George's County
CHERRY HILL FARM -- 12309 Gallahan Rd., near Fort Washington. 301/292-1928 (recording with directions) or 301/292-4642. Web site: www.cherryhillfarm.com. Orchard hours are 9 to 5 daily throughout September and October. Market hours are Monday through Saturday 8 to 6:30 in September and October, Sundays 8 to 5 in September and 8 to 6:30 in October. Owned and operated by the Gallahan family for six generations, this farm features a 55-acre, 7,000-tree orchard with mostly semi-dwarf trees. Pick Red Delicious and Golden Delicious now. Look for Stayman in early October, followed by Winesap and Rome Beauty the second week, then Fuji, Granny Smith and Pink Lady. Cherry Hill also specializes in homemade ice cream and baked goods. The weekend Fall Harvest Festival, $6, Oct. 3 through 31, features more than 450 scarecrow characters, hayrides, children's activities, entertainment and more. The farm also operates a five-acre, spider-themed "Maze of Cornfusion" at Cherry Hill II, on Piscataway Road about five miles from the main site. Open Fridays 4 to 7 and Saturdays and Sundays 11 to 7, $5 per person.
Virginia
Fauquier County
HARTLAND ORCHARD -- Route 688 North in Markham. 540/364-2316. Web site: www.hartlandorchard.com. From I-66 Exit 18, go north on Route 688 and west on Route 284; follow red apple signs to orchard on the right. Open 8 to 6 daily, possibly through early November. September varieties at this 70-acre apple orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains include Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, Grimes Golden, Greening, Jonathan, Cortland and McIntosh. In October, look for Granny Smith, Winesap, Rome Beauty, York and Stayman. The orchard loans apple-picking poles with attached baskets for reaching fruit on high branches. Weather permitting, free hayrides travel to and from the orchard from 8 to 5 Saturdays and Sundays. Other highlights at this family-owned, working farm include honey made in on-site hives, pumpkins and cider. Picnic tables are available.
LINDEN VINEYARDS -- 3708 Harrels Corner Rd., Linden. 540/364-1997. Web site: www.lindenvineyards.com. Take I-66 west to Linden-Front Royal Exit 13. Follow Route 55 east one mile. Turn right at the Linden Post Office and take Route 638 two miles to the orchard on the right. Open for apple picking 11 to 5 Wednesdays through Sundays through late October. This Blue Ridge winery's small orchard specializes in rare, expensive heirloom varieties on easy-to-pick trellised dwarf trees. Because so many varieties are scarce, children must be well supervised by adults. The orchard's most prolific trees, from late September to early October, produce Esopus Spitzenburg, Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple; Calville Blanc, a French dessert apple; Ashmead's Kernal, a tasty fruit that looks like a potato; and Black Amish, a cooking apple. Newtown Pippin apples, recommended for pies, should be available from early to mid-October, followed by Black Twig apples, a tart variety with white flesh and dark skin. Adult visitors can participate in free, drop-in wine tastings during all business hours, and, on the half-hour on weekends only, special cellar tastings for $7.50 per person.
STRIBLING ORCHARD -- On Route 688 South in Markham. 540/364-3040. Web site: www.virginiaorchard.com. Take I-66 west to Markham Exit 18. Go left on Route 688 South for a quarter-mile and follow signs to the orchard on the left. Open 9 to 6 daily through November. The 60-acre orchard at this 200-plus-year-old, six-generation family farm contains mostly semi-dwarf trees. Visitors can rent picking poles for a refundable deposit. Current varieties include McIntosh, Empire, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. In late September and into October, look for Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Rome Beauty, Stayman, Winesap, York Imperial and Granny Smith. Other varieties may be available in limited quantities throughout the picking season. Visitors are welcome to picnic at mountaintop tables, and pets on leashes are permitted. Hayrides take place from 11 to 3 every weekend, $2 admission, free for children younger than 5. Pony rides, sometimes available from 11 to 3 on weekends, cost $3 per person. The orchard is a stop on the Fauquier Fall Farm Tour this Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 5. Call the Agricultural Development Office, 540/349-5314, or go to http://co.fauquier.va.us/services/Farm/ fallfarmtour.html for information. On Sept. 22, 10 to 4, the orchard's 18th annual Apple Fest features live bluegrass by the Page County Ramblers from 11 to 3:30, apple-butter making, crafts, a Civil War display and food, as well as lots of free children's activities. Admission is free.
Frederick County
HILL HIGH FARMS -- 933 Barley Lane, Winchester. 540/667-7377. Web site: www.thepumpkin-patch.com. Take I-81 North, take exit 310 to Route 32 North. Go two miles to the Opequon exit and turn left onto Route 622 (Cedar Creek Grade). Continue two miles to Opequon, turn left across the bridge and go two and a half miles to left on Route 732 (Barley Lane). Take the first driveway on the left to the farm. Open Saturdays and Sundays 10 to 5 through Oct. 28. The 30-acre orchard at this Virginia Century Farm -- in the same family for more than 100 years -- has Red Delicious and Golden Delicious ready to pick now. York, Granny Smith and Rome probably will be ripe by early October. Other pick-your-own crops include sunflowers through mid-October and 17 acres of pumpkins. The Pumpkin Patch features two straw mazes, farm animals and antique farm equipment; admission is free. Hayrides, $5, start approximately every 30 minutes and feature live music. Admission includes a pumpkin and apple. A "Wizard of Oz"-themed, eight-acre corn maze boasts three miles of trails. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 11 and seniors ages 65 and older, free for ages 5 and younger. Haunted hayrides, $8, start at 7:30 on Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27. On Oct. 6, masks made by schoolchildren will be sold and baked goods will be auctioned, with all proceeds benefiting cancer research. An Apple Trail celebration on Oct. 20 and 21 features contests, face painting and live music. Admission is free. Pumpkins carved during a free, all-day contest on Oct. 27 will be stacked on a tower and illuminated after sundown.
MARKER-MILLER ORCHARDS -- 3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester. 540/662-1391. Web site: www.markermillerorchards.com. Take I-81 to Exit 310, Route 37 north 2 miles to the Opequon exit. Turn left on Route 622 and go 2 miles to Opequon. Go left across the bridge and travel 1 1/4 miles to the orchards on the left. Open Monday through Friday 9 to 6, Saturdays 9 to 4 and Sundays noon to 4 through Thanksgiving. This is the orchards' first year for pick-your-own apples, available only on weekends. Varieties include Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, available now, followed by Crispin in late September and York, Rome and Fuji in October. Other features include pick-your-own pumpkins, prepicked produce and a picnic area. Wagon rides are available for a small fee on weekends. The annual free Marker-Miller Orchards Apple Harvest Festival takes place Oct. 13 from 9 to 5 and Oct. 14 from 10 to 5. Highlights include apple-butter making, antique tractors, concessions and, from 2 to 4, live music.
RICHARD'S FRUIT MARKET -- 6410 Middle Rd., Middletown. 540/869-1455. Web site: www.valleymarkets.com. Take I-66 west to I-81 north to Exit 307 (Stephens City). Turn left and travel about 3 miles to the T-intersection. Turn left and go 1 mile to the market, on the right. Open 8:30 to 6 Mondays through Saturdays, 10 to 6 Sundays until Nov. 25. This 48-year-old family orchard features five acres of semi-dwarf trees. Pick Ida Red, Golden Delicious and York apples, probably through early October. Pick flowers until the first frost. The market also sells fresh-baked pies and hand-dipped ice cream, and has picnic facilities. A Chicken Barbecue Country Dinner with live bluegrass music takes place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 22. Admission is $6 adults, $3 children 12 and younger, and advance registration is required. Mary Richard's home-baked pies, $2 per slice, will be available for dessert. The annual Orchard Festival is all day on Oct. 20 and 21, with live bluegrass music from 2 to 4, crafts, food, children's games, pony rides, a petting zoo and free hayrides. Admission is free, but there are fees for some activities.
RINKER ORCHARDS, INC. -- 1156 Marlboro Rd., Stephens City. 540/869-1499. Web site: www.rinkerorchards.com. Take I-66 west to I-81 north to Exit 307 (Stephens City). Turn left, go 2 1/2 to 3 miles, and look for the farm on the right. Open 10 to 6 daily through Columbus Day; after that, hours vary with apple availability. This 102-year-old family business features a 150-acre orchard of mostly dwarf trees. Current varieties include Red Delicious and Golden Delicious and Ida Red. Nittany, York and Rome Beauty should be ripe starting in late September. Pick green beans until the first frost, and pumpkins probably starting in mid-September. The orchard produces its own flash-pasteurized apple cider, available for sale. Apple-butter making takes place this Saturday and Sept. 22 and 29. Visitors can buy apple dumplings Sept. 22 and baked goods Oct. 6.
Loudoun County
CROOKED RUN ORCHARD -- 37883 E. Main St. (Business Route 7), Purcellville, 10 miles west of Leesburg. 540/338-6642. The orchard, which contains 860 semi-dwarf trees, will be open for Red Delicious and Golden Delicious picking from 8 to 6 Saturdays and Sundays until the third week in October. Gala and Mutsu will be available in limited supply. At the end of September, look for Law Rome, a premier baking apple, as well as Braeburn and York. Other pick-your-own crops include red raspberries and probably blackberries until frost, sunflowers and, in October, gourds. Specialty produce items for sale in the market include pumpkins, sunflowers and dried materials. The farm also features a nature trail, farm animals and picnic tables. During the Farm Color Tour of the Loudoun Valleys on Oct. 20 and 21, the farm will offer free, interpretive hayrides.
TARARA -- 13648 Tarara Lane, off Route 15, eight miles north of Leesburg. Follow signs. 703/771-7100; call 703/478-8161 from the District and suburban Maryland. Web site: www.tarara.com. Open 11 to 5 daily except Tuesdays. The winery's two-acre orchard of semi-dwarf apple trees currently features Empire, Jonagold, Jonamac, Jonathan, Cortland and Red Delicious. After Oct. 1, look for Rome Beauty, Northern Spy, Granny Smith and, in late October, Fuji. Visitors can also tour the winery -- including a 6,000-square-foot winemaking cave -- and taste wines, $3 including a glass. The grounds include hiking trails, picnic tables and a small playground. An apple celebration from 11 to 5 on Oct. 6 and 7 includes live entertainment, hayrides and food samplings and book signings with Olwen Woodier, author of the "Apple Cookbook." Pumpkin Patch Days, from 11 to 5 on Oct. 20 and 21, feature kids' activities and wine tasting. Admission is free both weekends. The winery also offers bed-and-breakfast accommodations.
Rappahannock County
HIGH PLACES ORCHARDS -- 121 Winesap Lane, Flint Hill/Huntly. 540/635-5537. From Front Royal, follow U.S Route 522 8 miles south, turn left on Route 662 and go 1/2 mile, then turn left on Winesap Lane. Open dawn to dusk Monday through Saturday, noon to dusk Sundays through early November; call first for exact hours. Current varieties available for picking at this 20-acre, semi-dwarf orchard include Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, Jonathan and McIntosh. Giant Winesap and Stayman should be available next week, followed by York, Rome and Granny Smith in late September or early October. Visitors can picnic by a pond.
MUSKRAT HAVEN FARM -- On Route 211, 4 miles west of Amissville, 15 miles west of Warrenton. 540/937-5191. Open 9 to 6 daily until the end of October. The nine-acre orchard's semi-dwarf trees provide Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, Jonamac, Rome Beauty and Stayman apples, most likely through the end of the month. Winesap should be available starting in late September. Red raspberries should be on hand for picking until the first frost.
