any u pick apple orchards around? (Raleigh, Henderson: for sale, organic, live)

[goodbyesnow]

So, coming from the midwest, we have had an annual fall family tradition of going to a local apple orchard on a Sunday and picking a bushel of apples to take home.
I've googled apple orchards but keep coming up with every kind of farm or orchard and some that are not "pick your own". I did find some in the mountain region, but really dont want to drive 5 hours. IS there a family-friendly place not too far (about 60-90 minutes max) where anyone has picked apples with kids?
Thanks for any suggestions!

[tmasek73]

The Produce Box told us that they have to import apples from VA since 80% of the NC apple crop was destroyed by the late hard frost we had this spring. You may find some that survived but unfortunately the NC crop was pretty decimated.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

The climate in the Triangle really isn't supportive of apple production. That is why you pretty much have to head out to the mountains of nc to find the orchards.

[goodbyesnow]

Bummer!!

[pfish923]

Here can be a starting place for you

Where in Piedmont area of North Carolina to find pick your own farms and orchards for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and canning & freezing instructions!

[Ellen Pitts]

Originally Posted by North_Raleigh_Guy

The climate in the Triangle really isn't supportive of apple production. That is why you pretty much have to head out to the mountains of nc to find the orchards.

I was told by a farmer who sells at the Market that the main reason all the apples are grown out in the mountains is not because they don't do well here, but because apples are one of the few crops that grow well in the rocky soil out west.

[evaofnc]

I would think it's too hot for too long in the Piedmont to grow good tasting apples. Apples benefit from cool nights to up their sugar content.

[michgc]

It looks like there is one in Efland in Orange County - Orchard Creek Farm. From the Pickyourown.org site:

Orchard Creek Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, pears, U-pick and already picked, picnic area, farm animals

4812 Timberwood Trail, Efland, NC 27243. Phone: 919-563-3643. Email: Orchardcreekfarm@yahoo.com. Open: We are sold out for 2011; come see us again in 2012, Open again for apple picking July 15 Thursday, 2012; Thank you for picking us. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Different apple varieties ripen every two weeks thru October; Pears: August 10 to Sept 1; Please call for appointment. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, only. Grass and apple fed Devon beef for sale. Grass fed beef for sale year round. Payment: Cash, only. (UPDATED: September 21, 2011)

[poppydog]

Pegotty, I think North Raleigh Guy and evaofnc's comments are probably more true. There's a lot of agriculture in the mountains. If apples were the only thing that grew there then they wouldn't be growing all the other stuff they farm. We have friends who have an organic farm and they grow just about anything you can imagine. I do think apples benefit from cooler temps, but will grow here. I think they are more susceptible to pests here, though. Cool upstate NY is prime apple territory.

Goodbyesnow, there are places around here, but you might want to consider a trip to the mountains. You can do it as a day trip, but spending one night is even more fun. There are a ton of apple orchards around Hendersonville. We also enjoyed visiting the Orchard at Altapass right off the Blue Ridge Parkway a couple of years ago. You can check on their website (The Orchard at Altapass - Family Fun by the Bushels!) or call to check how their crop is. Sept is a great time to pick.

[adlnc07]

Not pick your own (and about 3 hours away), but Papa Spuds has been delivering me apples from Perry Lowe Orchards for the past couple of weeks.

This looks like it might be fun: Brushy Mountain Apple Festival and vaguely apple related.