Where to pick apples this fall in Ontario
By admin Sunday, September 22, 2019
Did you know that apples have existed in the wild since prehistoric times and as a cultivated crop for 3000 years? Because of its large, deep bodies of water in Lakes Ontario, Huron, Erie and Georgian Bay, Ontario is a leader in cultivating apples, with 20 different varieties grown on 16,000 acres across the province. Ontario’s top 5 apples are McIntosh, Gala, Empire, Red Delicious, and Northern Spy. Make some memories by heading out to pick apples with the family, and then bake pies, make apple sauce or just eat them fresh from the trees!
GTA
Weirdly enough, while there are lots of PYO apple farms outside of the GTA, especially in the Collingwood area, and Niagara, the “fun-farms” tend to be clustered close to Toronto, so if you’re looking to make a day of it, the GTA is where its at. Chudleigh’s Apple Farm in Milton has PYO but also slides, farm animals, wagon rides & more! Brooks Farms, Mt Albert has Animals, Train Rides, Zip Lines, and apples too! Applewood Farm & Winery Stouffville Corn Maze, Animal yard & wine, cider and meade. Downey’s Farm Market & Winery has Farm animals, wagon rides, play area, PYO fruit & festivals. |
SW
SW Ontario has some good options too. Orchard Home Farm – PYO Apples & Pears in St George is more of a late summer/early fall option; it opens daily, mid August – late October. You don’t even need a ladder because their apples are grown on “Dwarf” and “Semi-dwarf” trees! Great Lakes Farms in Port Stanley is also open daily in the fall. It has PYO apples, pumpkins, and an awesome corn-maze. Apple Land Station, near London, has PYO apples + farm animals and a train tour of the farm starting Labour Day.
|
Eastern/Ottawa
Eastern Ontario has loads of beautiful farms – some of which have apple orchards. Avonmore Berry Farm has berry in its name but in addition to the U-Pick strawberries and raspberries, it also has apples & pumpkins. Cannamore Orchard in North Dundas has PYO or prepicked apples, and also strawberries & pumpkins and a cool train. Mountain Orchards near Ottawa has 25 acres with almost 10, 000 apple trees. You can PYO, take a wagon ride and more! |
Central
Central Ontario is one of the most important places in Ontario for commercial production of apples but it also has some fun places to PYO. However, what it is known for is the Apple Pie Trail in the Blue Mountain, Collingwood & Meaford. This award-winning apple-inspired regional trail unites art, apple history, food, ciders, treats, and apple pies at 28 local orchards, and other apple -focussed businesses in the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment along the shores of Georgian Bay. Hike, hike, paddle or cook and sink your teeth into delicious, crunchy apples! Well there you have it. 6 great spots for picking apples and breathing in that good o’l country air. Anything that involves apple pie is too hard to pass up in my opinion! |
