#1000towns choice
Amina Rizwan
Fruit picking/harvesting is a seasonal journey that usually occurs around the time of harvest. Farms that grow fruit will sometimes be open to the public, allowing people to pick their own fruit.
Ontario is the largest apple producer in Canada, followed by British Columbia, then Quebec. Apple picking serves as a great activity for any age group, especially kids. This activity is great if you want to spend some quality time with your family or even for a date night!
The best time to go apple picking is September to early October.
Some farms/orchards don’t just have apple picking as an activity, sometimes, they’ll have a petting zoo, a gift shop, hayrides, and many more.
Once you’re done picking your apples, you can make delicious apple desserts such as apple pie or apple butter.
Fun Fact: There are enough apples in Canada for each person to consume approximately 100 apples every day!
#1000towns will help you and your family find the perfect place to pick some delicious apples!
Photo: By U+1F360 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1
Mountain Orchards
Town: Mountain, Ontario
10175 Clark Rd., Mountain, ON
Mountain Orchards has been around since 1970 and has been running a pick-your-own farm for decades. It’s a family tradition!
This location offers many activities, such as wagon rides, straw jumps, a corn maze, forest trails, picnic areas, and a playground. The orchard allows consumers to pick a variety of apples. The apples grown include Silken, Spartan, Mcintosh, Lobo, Cortland, Honey Gold, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Golden Delicious, and Eden.
They also have a store that is full of apple products, baked apple goods, and cider doughnuts!
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/MountainOrchards
#2
Dixie Orchards
Town: Inglewood, Ontario
14309 Dixie Road, Inglewood, ON
Dixie Orchards offers to choose from 23 types of apples, and the fun doesn’t just end there!
The farm also has sunflower fields, corn mazes, and a hazelnut orchard. It is a great place to come with your family, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some wagon rides and watch farm animals play with each other!
Reservations are needed to visit Dixie Orchards! Especially if you’re visiting on a weekend.
Photo: https://dixieorchards.com/gallery
#3
Apple Land Station
Town: Thorndale, Ontario
329 Richmond St., Thorndale, ON
Apple Land Station is a second-generation farm that has been around since the late 1980s. Currently, you can pick from 5 different apple types at this farm. In the fall, the farm offers apple picking, pumpkin picking, and a train ride tour of the farm.
You can also spend some time with the barnyard animals and visit the store for some fresh baked goods.
Photo: https://www.applelandstation.com/our-farm.html
#4
Davison Orchards Country Village
Town: Vernon, British Columbia
311 Davison Road, Vernon, BC
This is a family farm that consists of about 50 acres of fruits, vegetables, a gift shop, a market and a bakery.
Everything at their bakery is made fresh from the local produce grown on their farm. The farm offers group and school tours. They have a beautiful patio where children and families can enjoy their lunch and have some fun together! They have some of the freshest apples and offer consumers a variety to pick from, September is the best time to pick them.
The farm has a crazy kids’ play area! It is called the Crazy Cow Kids Corral, and it has a sandbox, playground, and tractors that kids can play on.
The Orchard also offers a farm tour.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/davisonorchards
#5
Taves Family Farms
Town: Abbotsford, British Columbia
333 Gladwin Road, Abbotsford, BC
Home to third-generation farmers, the Taves Family Farms offers a variety of fun activities for families to do. Not only do they have apple picking, but they also let consumers pick their own goji berries, strawberries, and pumpkins. They have hayrides, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches. You can pick from a variety of apples: Ambrosia, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp and many more.
They also have a handy chart on their website to help you find the perfect apple for yourself. Visit https://www.tavesfamilyfarms.com/upick-apples/ for more information.
Dogs are not allowed in the orchards.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/TavesFamilyFarms
#6
Denis Charbonneau Vergers et Cidrerie
Town: Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec
575 Rang de la Montagne, Mont-Saint-Grégoire, QC
The Vergers & Cidrerie Denis Charbonneau farm offers consumers to pick from a variety of apples. You can choose from 19 different apples.
The best time to pick is between July- October.
You can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. The farm has a mini-farm with rabbits, ducks, hens, pheasants, sheep, llamas, and peacocks! The peacocks are definitely a selling point. You can also enjoy cider tasting and motorized horse rides.
Dogs are not allowed!
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063743194021&locale=fr_CA
#7
Belliveau Orchard
Town: Memramcook, New Brunswick
1209 Rue Principale, Memramcook, NB
This is one of the leading producers of apples in Atlantic Canada. The Verger Belliveau Orchard was established in 1932 and is a family business that specializes in the production, storage, and processing of apples.
Visitors can explore the orchards and learn about the history and production of apple growing. It is open every day as long as there are apples on the trees!
Apple picking begins in mid-September, allowing consumers to pick from a variety of apples.
Pets are welcome but on a leash!
Photo: https://vergerbelliveauorchard.ca/notre-histoire/
#8
Boates Farm
Town: Cambridge, Nova Scotia
432 Bligh Rd, Cambridge, NS
Boates Farm is a two-generation family business established in 1960. It specializes in organic apples and pears, about 60% of the apples are organic.
It is the only farm producing apple cider vinegar in Atlantic Canada, and they do an amazing job at it! They have a variety of flavors to pick from, such as red wine vinegar and blueberry vinegar.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/Boatesapples