I’ve been thinking of apples a lot around here lately– like apple pie, apple cider, apple chutney, apple butter… you get the idea. It’s not fall in the Northwest without picking apples!
More apples and pears are grown in Washington than in any other state, a testament to our nutrient-rich volcanic soils and pure mountain water. Oregon boasts a big harvest too, from super sweet to pucker-worthy tart varieties.
My West Seattle house came with it’s own vintage apple tree in the front yard that’s older than I am. Each autumn it yields incredibly crisp, beautiful fruit of an heirloom variety I’ve not yet been able to identify–all I know is they’re delicious (at least, the ones I can get to before the squirrels do!) Still, I love some variety in color and taste. So every fall, I grab a basket and head to a local orchard.
The epicenter of Pacific Northwest apple country is Washington’s Wenatchee River Valley with a climate distinctly ideal for growing apples–sunny, dry days and cool nights. The Wenatchee River plunges east through Cascades foothills flanked on both sides by rolling orchards that yield nearly 60% of the nation’s apples—more than 10 billion a year, all hand-picked. Varieties range from the ubiquitous Red Delicious, Fuji and Gala to sought-after heirlooms like Maiden Blush, Winesap, Palouse and Golden Russet. West of the Cascades, several small family farms and cideries tend apple orchards that are available for u-pick.
More Apples
Find u-pick orchards and farms at pickyourown.org.
U-pick Apples from Seattle
Skagit Valley Fruit / Jones Creek Farms
32260 Burrese Rd in Sedro Woolley | see map | website | 360-391-3904Harvest Season Hours: Friday-Monday, 10am – 5pmIf you’re an heirloom apple connoisseur, head straight to Jones Creek Farms, a small, family-run operation in the fertile Skagit Valley.This place is an annual trip for us. I love experimenting with different proportions of unique apple varieties when making apple butter in the crock pot, one of my standard holiday gifts. In their organically-maintained orchard you’ll find Mott Pink, Aroma, Jonamac, Gravenstein, Sunrise, Niagara Mac, Akane, Early Cortland and 100 or so more. The farm also hosts Upick Asian pears, squashes and pumpkins.
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Apple Creek Orchards
5367 Barr Road in Ferndale | see map | website | 360-384-0915Harvest Season Hours: Open for the season starting October 1, 2019 every day except Wednesday, 10am – 5pmLooking for an excuse to head up to Bellingham for an afternoon in Fairhaven? Go early and head first to Apple Creek Orchard near Ferndale to pick some Jonagolds. The price for apples is $15 for a 5 gallon bucket. (bring your own boxes or buckets). The farm also has chickens, geese, ducks, and guinea hens walking about to the delight of apple-picking children.
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Lattin’s Country Cider Mill and Farm
9402 Rich Rd. SE in Olympia | see map | website | 360-491-7328 Harvest Season Hours: 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm SundaysThey don’t host U-pick apples, but one of our favorite spots in the harvest season is Lattin’s Country Cider Mill and Farm near Olympia, where the last weekend in September and each weekend in October they host a fun Apple Festival (no admission charge, $3 to park a vehicle). Take a tractor-drawn wagon ride to their pumpkin patch, then find your way through a corn maze. Kids will love the plethora of baby farm animals to pet.
2 Responses
There’s a free one at golden gardens up the trail
Skipley farm in snohomish is an organic u pick apple orchard with 80 varieties of apples. We went today and picked apples and grapes while ducks and chickens wondered around the orchards. We also saw bunnies and pet baby goats!