PICK OF THE SEASON:

Local Apple Orchards

Nothing says fall better than a crisp, juicy apple. With more than 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide and 100+ grown commercially in the United States, apples are tasty, fragrant treats that are packed full of good nutrition. In the fall, however, apples are more than just a healthy, flavorful fruit. Apples are an adventure: pick-your-own opportunities, festivals, 5K races, charming country stores packed with fresh apple products and more! Best of all, these fall adventures end with a bag of delicious apples for you to bring home, turning your memories into pies, apple butter, cider and other baked goods. 

Apple picking at local orchards 
Virginia is the sixth largest apple-producing state in the country, with ideal growing conditions for a wide range of apples. Many local orchards offer pick-your-own experiences where visitors can pluck apples fresh off the trees. Several well-established orchards are right here at our back door. 

Johnson’s Orchards is a family-owned and operated farm located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the base of the Peaks of Otter. A 15-foot statue of Johnny Appleseed keeps watch over more than 200 acres. Johnson’s Orchards developed its own variety of apple called the “Gold Nugget” in honor of Beale’s treasure. According to legend, a group on a hunting expedition led by Thomas Beale buried treasure now worth around $65 million in the mountains of Bedford County. Whether or not Beale’s stash is found, “Gold Nugget” apples and many other varieties are treasures to be found at Johnson’s Orchards. 

For nearly 100 years, Gross Orchard has been family-owned and operated in Apple Valley in Bedford County. The orchard offers fresh apples by the bag and also provides pick-your-own opportunities. A quaint country store with a variety of produce and other food products affords the ultimate farm-to-table experience. Gross Orchard is also host to a number of special events, including an Apple Harvest Festival on the third Saturday in October and the Apple Valley 5K on the first Saturday of November. 

Ikenberry Orchards & Country Store in Daleville is a fifth-generation family-owned and operated farm and orchard that offers 16 varieties of apples. Though this orchard doesn’t offer a pick-your-own opportunity, you’ll find just what you’re looking for in the country store. For your bagged lunch or for your pies, strudels or turnovers, Ikenberry has a tasty variety of apples through late October. Plus, a greenhouse full of lovely flowers shows off the beauty of autumn. 

Morris Orchard in Monroe grows 15 varieties of apples. They offer pick-your-own apples, and they press fresh cider weekly from mid-September until December. The farm is a short drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway; you can even stay overnight on the farm by renting their cabin or farmhouse. 

Cook ’em up
Eating apples right off the tree is a treat, but cooking apples is really simple. Applesauce has been around since Medieval times and is a great way to preserve what you bring home from the orchard. Simply peel, core and slice four apples and place them in a sauce pan. Add about ¾ cup water, ¼ cup white sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon (or more). Cook for about 15 minutes until the mixture is soft. Then, mash it with a fork until it’s the consistency you desire. Mixing sweet and tart apples makes a good applesauce. Try using Honeycrisp with Granny Smith or Fuji with Winesap. After you master applesauce, try a pie! 

Apple pie is thought to be a traditional American dessert, but actually apple pies originated in England and were brought to America by European settlers. For a simple pie recipe, core, peel and slice the apples, add ¾ cup of sugar (depending on the tartness of the apples) and plenty of cinnamon. Use an already-prepared crust and layer the apples, sugar and cinnamon. Dot the top layer with butter and cover with a second crust. Bake at 350º for about 40 minutes or until the crust is brown and the filling bubbles. 

Apple butter, a popular way to preserve apples since colonial times, is another tasty treat and a good use for the souvenirs from the orchard. For an easy apple butter, core and slice your apples (but don’t peel them). Place them in a slow cooker mixed together with sugar, cinnamon, a pinch of cloves and a vanilla bean. Cook the mixture for 10 hours on low heat. Remove the mixture and puree it in a blender. Then, cook it for another two hours until it’s the consistency you’d like. Apple butter is delicious on bread, biscuits, waffles and pancakes. 

With a rich history dating back to the Roman empire, apple cider originated in Europe and was brought to America by the European settlers. In colonial times, cider was a staple because of the scarcity of safe drinking water and the abundance of apples. Enjoyed in an alcoholic or a non-alcoholic form, apple cider is the taste of fall. 

You can make your own cider in a slow cooker by coring and slicing a mixture of tart and sweet apples. Add oranges for that citrusy flavor. Then, stir in some type of sweetener such as maple syrup or sugar. Add cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg or ginger – whatever you have on hand. Pour water over the mixture and let it come to a boil. Turn it back to low and let it simmer for two hours. After the fruit is soft, mash the apples and oranges against the side of the slow cooker and stir. Using a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth, strain the solids and you’re left with delicious cider. Experiment with spices and sweeteners to develop your own brand of apple cider. The solid that you strain can be used as a side dish paired with pork or on top of ice cream for a yummy dessert. 

Fall is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the fresh air at a local orchard. Whether you pick apples off the trees or buy them in a country store, you’ll enjoy the adventure of making memories and the comfort of baking a flavorful and fragrant fall treat. ✦