Believe it or not, “pick your own” orchards are a North American tradition born out of the Great Depression, when families offered their labour to farmers in exchange for a lighter grocery bill. A century later, the practice has been revived and supersized, fuelled by for-fun pickers participating in the social media economy. Now, every September, influencers in chunky knits and families looking for kid-friendly activities alike flock to apple orchards and pumpkin patches across southern Ontario in search of ultra-fresh produce and wholesome Instagram content.
Here are six Orchards and pumpkin patches offering true pick-your-own experiences within a 90-minute drive of Toronto.
Applewood Farm
12416 McCowan Rd., Whitchurch-Stouffville
Applewood Farm sits north of Toronto near Stouffville, and with 30 acres of apple orchards, it is one of the largest producers in the GTA. The farm is open Wednesday to Sunday to the public for a $12 admission (ages 3 and up) and the apples you take home are charged by the bag full.
Gingergold are filling the trees right now, but soon the most popular varieties, Gala and Honeycrisp will be in full force over the coming weeks. “Pickers come religiously for Ambrosia and Honeycrisp. The most enthusiastic picking wheelbarrows full,” says Miller.
Families can pick their 10-20 pounds of apples and then take the tractor-pulled wagon ride over to pick pumpkins and squash. The circuit ends with a food truck, offering fries and hot dogs. “So many of the kids that come have not seen: one, a tractor, or two, this many trees.” says Miller. “They get to see and experience something different.”
Homestead Orchards
3961 Old Homestead Rd., Georgina
“My dad started planting the trees in 1989 as a retirement plan; I was four then. From there we ended up planting hundreds more,” says Nate Pegg of Homestead Orchards. As a working farm, Homestead is free to visit, and apples picked are charged by the pound.
“We grow 28 varieties of apples on this farm.” says Pegg. “We are family run; we have a ‘from scratch’ bakery my sister runs. I pretty much run everything else.” Of those 28 varieties, Paula Reds and Gingergolds are out now, moving into Jonamacs and Galas, then the Cortland empire. Mutsu, Honeycrisp, and Ambrosia will be available in the coming weeks.
The farm store has a wealth of fresh baked goods supported by everything produced on the farm. From cookies and brownies and treats to an irresistible selection of pies including, of course, apple, apple crumble, raspberry-apple, blueberry-apple, blueberry, strawberry, cherry and rhubarb.
Carl Laidlaw Orchards
9496 Heritage Rd., Brampton
“We’ve been here for about 200 years.” says Margo Laidlaw. “My brother and I are the seventh generation to be on this farm,” making Carl Laidlaw Orchards one of the oldest remaining in the GTA.
Carl Laidlaw Orchards is open to the public for September and October just for the weekends and the holiday Mondays. Entrance for adults is $16 and children over two are $9. Ten-pound bags cost $20, and visitors are free to explore the ancient orchards loaded with 30 varieties of apples and pears.
“We have a whole host of things to do; we have wagons rides, a corn maze, a sunflower field, we have farm animals, there’s a hay barn to play in, we have a corn pit, a giant sandbox full of kerneled corn for kids,” says Laidlaw.
Nature’s Bounty Farm
651 Scugog Line 2, Port Perry
“Our orchard is really unique as it looks over the rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine,” says Kelty Mackay of Nature’s Bounty Farm. “It’s absolutely beautiful and scenic.” Nature’s bounty leans into the traditional nostalgia of the pick-your-own season with a picturesque setting and plenty for kids to run around and see, like the Minecraft-themed corn maze, obstacle course, Highland cows, sheep, and alpaca.
There are 24 different varieties of apples and a large pumpkin patch on the orchard. The season kicks off with Sunrise, Silken, and McIntosh leading into Cortlands, Macouns, and Honeycrisp, and finishing with Gold Russet, Empire and Crimson Crisps. Admission is $8 on weekends and $5 during the week, and apples are charged by the bag: $26 for 10 pounds and $39 for 20 pounds.
The little market shop sells preserves and baked goods. “We also have fresh-pressed apple cider made from what we are picking at that time, so the blends are always changing week to week,” says Mackay.
Fallbrook Farms
13260 Fallbrook Trail, Georgetown
Sandra and George Urbano of Fallbrook Farms in Georgetown, noticed during COVID a lack of ways for families to spend time together and too much engaging in screen time. “We had the idea of inviting other families into our farm. We wanted to share our values with the community and allow others to enjoy the privilege that we have,” says Sandra. “We started planting our orchard in early COVID, around 7,000 apple trees, and opening up our farm to pick-your-own within a couple years.”
Admission is $9, and apples and pears are charged by weight at $2.25 a pound. The 26 different varieties produced throughout late August to November are built on a hillside designed for better airflow. Pumpkins and gourds are available in abundance, and the farm animals — chickens, goats, pigs and calves — are free to pet.
The picking experience is rounded out with plenty of things for kids to see and do from the corn box, old foraging wagon safely converted into slides, a jungle gym and antique fire truck with a built-in lookout with a view of the GTA.
Chudleigh’s
528 Regional Rd. 25, Milton
In the years since it opened in 1967, Chudleigh’s has transformed from a modest family farm to a massive apple-picking operation and baked-dessert production operation Chudleigh’s apples and baked goods can be found in nearly every province, all made five minutes from the farm in its 110,000 square foot facility.
The farm has grown in capacity without neglecting to provide a tailored family-friendly experience. With 18 varieties and nearly 50,000 trees planted over 60 acres, the popular McIntosh, Honeycrisp, and Gala apples will be ready for picking within a week. Farm tickets are available on the Chudleigh’s website: $18 for adults and $16 for children, which includes access to the petting zoo.
The farm doubles as a music venue with local performers and cover bands on weekend evenings.
Plus, there are two restaurants, the Windmill and the Blossom Cafe, and the Silo Bar, serving a large selection of hard, sweet and sparkling ciders all made on the farm.
