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Apples Galore: A Roundup of Nearby Orchards

As the leaves start to change colors in the Midwest, so does the locally grown produce. September is the peak of apple season in the area, and there is no shortage of orchards that offer seasonal apple picking, fall foliage, and spiced baked goods. 

Apples are ahead of schedule, so check out an orchard sooner rather than later. Below are several nearby orchards in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. The orchards are organized from nearest to farthest from 1800 Sherman Avenue.  

Nearby Orchards

Heinz Orchard in Libertyville, Illinois (40 minutes, 26 miles) 

Heinz Orchard is currently picking snack-size Empire, Jonathan, and McIntosh apples. They are open on limited Fridays and Sundays in September, so be sure to check their website before visiting. This is a no-frills orchard that does not have bathrooms, does not allow pets, and has no fall fanfare. Heinz is perfect for anyone looking for a quick trip to enjoy the outdoors. 

Brightonwoods Orchard in Burlington, Wisconsin (1 hour and 10 minutes, 60 miles) 

Brightonwoods Orchard is family run and has more than 150 apple varieties. It does not allow visitors to pick their own fruit, but visitors are welcome to roam through the orchard and wooded trails. Check out their list of apple varieties organized by availability. Brightonwoods has a picnic area, two-story tree house, allows dogs on leashes, and has a winery on-site—there is truly something for everyone.  

Munster Orchard in Burlington, Wisconsin (1 hour and 12 minutes, 60 miles) 

Munster Orchard is a family-owned and operated 10-acre orchard open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They currently have McIntosh, Paula Red, Sweet Sixteen, Cox Orange Pippin, Honeycrisp, Spartan, and Holiday apples. Golden Delicious, Arlet/Swiss Gourmet, Empire, and Jonathan apples are also available for picking. They even have apples that are great for brewing hard cider.  

Lang’s Orchard in Woodstock, Illinois (1 hour and 20 minutes, 62 miles) 

Lang’s Orchard is a no-frills city escape that has a mix of u-pick and prepicked apple varieties available. Right now, Gala, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Cortland, Empire, Red Delicious, Gold Delicious, Snowsweet, and Red Jonagold apples are available—with Braeburn, Granny Smith, and Blushing Gold varieties still to come. The owners set out to create an “old-fashioned orchard” nearly 50 years ago and have done simply that.  

Edwards Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove, Illinois (1 hour and 35 minutes, 80 miles) 

Edwards Apple Orchard is a fourth-generation family farm where guests can enjoy crisp apples, apple cider donuts, and freshly pressed apple cider. They offer a mix of u-pick and prepicked apples including Honeycrisp, Early Beauty, Blondee, Gala, Jonamac, McIntosh, and Jonathan, but they will have more than 24 varieties available before the season comes to a close. No pets or no carry-in food allowed.  

Radke’s Orchards in Michigan City, Indiana (1 hour and 40 minutes, 71 miles) 

Radke’s Orchards is among the many family-owned and operated orchards in this article, but it has been in business since the late 19th century. They currently have Honeycrisp, Gala, Blondee, McIntosh, and Summerset apples available to pick, with many more on the way. Radke’s is a step above the other no-frills orchards as it offers fresh apple cider doughnuts, offers free tractor rides, and allows dogs.  

Curran’s Apple Orchard in Rockford, Illinois (1 hour and 45 minutes, 94 miles) 

Curran’s Orchard offers a mix of old-fashioned fun at their orchard. In addition to the apple picking, they have a straw maze and corn tunnel, a haystack to climb around, an apple slingshot, and a petting zoo with pigs, goats, chickens, and turkeys. Check out Curran’s full schedule of produce with flavor notes, and don't pass on the apple cider donuts and lunch options. 

Sprague’s Family Fun Farm in Dowagiac, Michigan (2 hours and 35 minutes, 123 miles) 

Located in Michigan’s “Fruit Belt,” Sprague’s Family Fun Farm is a fruit farm and market. They offer u-pick apples, apple cider, hayrides, and fresh pies in the fall. There is a playground for the kids and a train room. Reviews state this place is very family friendly.  

Shafer Farm in Baroda, Michigan (2 hours and 15 minutes, 102 miles) 

Shafer Farm is a third-generation family farm currently offering u-pick apples and vine-ripened grapes. Shafer is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and serves fresh apple cider and apple cider doughnuts on the weekends. Call for an up-to-date list of apples currently available.  

A (Very Brief) Guide to Common Apple Varieties 

Not all orchards carry the same varieties, but there are a few types that seem to be popular among local farmers. Check them out.  

  • Cortland is a mild, white-fleshed apple that is great for eating fresh, cooking, and applesauce. 
  • Empire is a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious. Great for eating fresh or adding to salads.  
  • Gala is crisp and sweet. Great for fresh eating or desserts—apple slices keep their shape once cooked.  
  • Gold Delicious is well-loved in the apple world for its versatility. The apples are large and very sweet; ideal for snacking, salads, baking, sauces, and freezing.  
  • Honeycrisp lives up to its namesake. Crunchy, mildly aromatic, and juicy. Excellent for eating fresh, stores well.   
  • Jonathan is a tried-and-true classic for bakers. It’s crisp, tangy, and moderately tart with a distinctive flavor. Good fresh, baked, or applesauce.   
  • McIntosh is good for eating fresh, as a dessert apple, or cooking. Excellent for applesauce. 

Bonus storage tip from Edwards Orchard: “Always store apples in the refrigerator, ideally at 32 degrees. To extend the shelf life of your apples, place them in a plastic bag with ventilation holes and add a damp paper towel to maintain humidity.” 

Apple Recipe Roundup 

After your visit to the orchard, you might be saddled with a lot of apples and are unsure of what to do with them next. In addition to the classics—applesauce, canning, butters, and jams—below is a roundup of a few recipes that will keep you sweet on apples all fall.