BlogMaine’s Best Apple Orchards in 2022
Across the state, orchards have stepped up their game over the years. Gone are the days of the majority picking bushels of apples to keep throughout the winter. Apple-picking is now an entire-family event, photoshoot opportunity, and social habit. Pumpkins, hot drinks, apple-cider donuts, corn mazes, and petting zoos are all add-ons that many orchards now offer. Today, we’ll look at some pretty cool orchards throughout the state and give you some help if you’re planning an apple-picking adventure in Maine!
Orchards
There are a ton of apple-orchards in Maine, so narrowing the list down is difficult! We’ll focus on the variety of apples grown in each orchard, the unique experiences each orchard offers, and orchards with some pretty fun facts.
The PieTree orchard was purchased in 2007 by Stephen and Tabitha King, famous Maine authors with a love for horror stories and apples, apparently. U-Pick apples are popular throughout the fall season, but throughout the year, they offer a variety of berries, plums, peaches, and veggies in their farm stand. Their farm stand is filled with a variety of Maine-grown and made agricultural products, and they offer the standard apple-cider donuts as well as brick-oven pizza for their hungry guests!
McDougal Orchards, Springvale.
Mcdougal Orchards is located in Western Maine and has been family owned and farmed for over two centuries. In 2005, the current owners took steps to put the entire 330 acre farm and apple orchard under an agricultural easement. The McDougal family wanted to protect and treasure their land, making sure nothing ever changed it. They offer U-Pick apples, peaches, nectarines, plums, pears, and fall raspberries.
Their farm store sells veggies, cider, pumpkins, and apple cider donuts made on the property. Wagon rides, a corn maze, geocaches, and a homemade “fairy” village are all activities offered throughout the fall. Additionally, if you feel like getting married or taking a field trip, the family is accommodating and pleasant to interact with.
This is a family-owned and operated orchard that dates back to the 19th century. The family has tirelessly worked the ground, pruned trees, and expanded operations throughout the years. These days, you can find 11 different varieties of apples on approximately 3,000 trees throughout the orchard. You can find classics like McIntosh and Golden Delicious, and some fun varieties like the Mutzu/Crispin (a Japanese variety) and Northern Spy. If decorating for fall is up your alley, the farm stand offers pumpkins, corn husks, and other seasonal decor. They also offer wagon rides, wine tastings, a selection of grass-fed beef, and wedding-hosting.
Treworgy Family Orchard, Levant.
Are you sensing a theme?? Along with the others in this post, Treworgy’s is a family-owned and operated farm. In 1985, a retired merchant mariner and his wife bought 42 acres in Levant with a dream to own an apple orchard. The beginnings were hard on the family, but they persevered and became a legendary orchard. I’ve personally been to this one, and while I had my doubts as to the enjoyability, I loved it for a few reasons. There are a wide variety of apples you can pick from, but the additional activities are part of what make the experience so fun. I’m a sucker for pretty flowers, and I found the pick-your-own flower patch to be the highlight of my trip.
There is a huge corn maze, which made national news this year, a snack counter filled with donuts, ice cream, and more, huge pumpkin patches, hayrides, and a petting zoo. Every year, swarms of people crowd to the orchard to have some fall fun. Clearly, the family is doing something right!
Apple Acres is one of the only organic apple orchards in Maine! For that reason, it had to have a place on this blog post. According to their website, they are sold out of U-Pick apples, but you can still snag drops for a discounted price. Historically, my family would always take trips for the drops, simply because they are cheaper and just as good as those left on the tree! The fun of picking is replaced by the fun of finding some hidden treasures laying on the ground. Apple Acres offers a beautiful playground for young-ones, hiking trails, a farm store stocked with goodies, and a cafe for refreshments. Visit the website for more information!
Happy Picking!
Here at Box of Maine, we are looking forward to weekends where we can pick some apples with our families. Growing up in Maine, enjoying apples in the fall was just a fact of life. I can remember so many days spent coring, peeling, and processing apples with my mom. Enjoying hot, spiced applesauce at the end of those days was the perfect reward!
While we don’t have any products that are apple-related (yet!), we are running deal that is yours for the taking! On our 5, 7, and 10 item boxes, we are offering $5 off using the discount code EARLY5. Use this code between October 7th, 2022, and October 31st, 2022! This is just one of the ways we want to thank our awesome customers for letting us be a part of their lives.
Let us know your favorite apple orchard, and why, in the comments!
