It’s time for apples and all the crispness of fall! Here’s a rundown of area orchards and varieties to sink your teeth into…
VerSynder Orchards
1530 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Leelanau. (1 1/4 miles south of Dicks PourHouse. Open 7 days a week 9 a.m. til dusk.)
https://www.facebook.com/VerSnyderorchards/
This stand has something new every day! They have several varieties, including HoneyCrisp, CrimsonCrisp, Ambrosia, Red Flesh Niedwetzkyana, and Antique Macs (“that people are raving about to eat and make sauce with!”).
You’ll also want to try the Hudson Golden Gem – an apple that tastes like a pear! And, of course, their actual Asian Pears.
The beautiful insides of the Niedwetzkyana apple, which is great for baking.
This orchard is known for their heirloom apples, and they are adding baskets of different varieties every day they ripen – with signage next to each to let you know all the goodness you are getting. They currently have Ashmeads Kernel, Roxbury Russet, Karmijn De Sonneville and Esopus Spitzenburg at the stand.
In addition, their second HoneyCrisp and Fuji cross called Rosalee is at the stand now. This apple is “snappy with a nice sweet floral flavor” and they only have 20 trees, so don’t sleep on this one!
In addition, LudaCrisp and EverCrisp are almost ready. These, along with the HoneyCrisp, are the most popular for eating and storability.
The apple harvest is usually over by Nov. 5, so don’t wait! This orchard does a nice job of posting what is currently on their stand on their Facebook page.
Bakker's Acres
2677 N Setterbo Rd., Suttons Bay
https://www.facebook.com/BakkersAcres/
It’s high season and they have 16 varieties of apples in season, including SweeTango, HoneyCrisp, Gala, Chestnut, Blondee, Fuji, Macoun, MacIntosh, Golden Delicious, JonaMac, JonaGold, Triumph, Empire, Ida Red, Courtland and Graham Spy!
Here, Bakker’s Acres offers tips on all things apples:
Baking: Spys are the traditional pie apple, because they stay in shape and stay firm when baking with them. They also pick up the seasonings, cinnamon and sugar flavors. Another good choice is the Jonagold apple, which stays firm when baked in a pie, but are sweeter than a Spy.
Some apples work for most everything: Macintosh, Empire, Jonathan and Spartan are all varieties used in pies, and they will soften as they are baked. These are also good for fresh eating, apple butter and applesauce, too. Every variety has a unique flavor, with MacIntosh varieties having the traditional tang apples are known for.
Munching fresh: Golden Delicious, Ginger Gold, Zestar, Jersey Mac, Paula Red, Gala, Cortland, Jongold, Fuji, McCoun, Ida Red, and Mutsu, a big, firm, greenish apple. The Chestnut apple is a kid-sized apple, perfect for the lunch box.
In addition, Bakker's Acres is one of the few growers of a newer variety called SweeTango, “which has an addictive crisp, sweet flavor with a bit of a tang to it, great for fresh eating.”
While Bakker’s Acres is not a U Pick, they will be busy picking into late October, with some later varieties being picked as it snows! You can find this orchard’s offerings at their self-serve stand in Suttons Bay or at the Farmer’s Markets in Suttons Bay, Frankfort and Traverse City.
Gallagher’s Farm Market
7237 E Traverse Hwy, Traverse City
https://www.gallaghersfarmmarkettc.com/
Gallagher’s is a destination farm market – families make sure to stop in every year for their apples, fruits, veggies and delicious donuts (come October, you MUST try their pumpkin donuts with cinnamon and sugar – a local legend!).
Look for all things local in their farm market – jellies, jams, syrups, honey and more, along with their fresh daily bakery products. (Oh! They are also known for their homemade pizza bread – it sells daily!)
Consider this stop the quintessential “fall experience” in N. Michigan beauty at the base of Leelanau County. Take pics with the farm animals, conquer the maze and tuck into delicious Michigan apples.
Bardenhagen Farms
7881 E Pertner Rd., Suttons Bay
https://www.facebook.com/bardenhagenfarms
A landmark stop in Suttons Bay – the roadside farm stand of Bardenhagen Farms! The farm is going into its 6th generation of Bardenhagen farmers. The farm was homesteaded back in the civil war era, which puts the farm at a little over 150 years old.
While they are not a U-pick farm, they do have a farm stand to visit to get a taste of their bounty, and they are available at local grocery stores and through the MI Farm Co-op.
As we await winter, make time for that sweet drive through the orchards and grab some delicious apples. The colors are peak right now, too! To see when produce is likely to be in season in Michigan, check out this seasonality calendar from Taste the Local Difference.
