How about them apples?
Here are five spots to visit this fall for apples. There’s room to spread out on the orchards and farms or at the outdoor market. Health and safety measures related to COVID-19 are noted on individual websites.
Fayetteville Farmers Market, 1330 N. College Ave., Fayetteville, Arkansas. The best of the autumn harvest can be found in this popular market on the downtown square, and that selection includes Arkansas Black Apples. Since 1973, this year-round market has featured all Arkansas grown and made products. Open on Saturdays and Tuesdays, the market also accepts online orders. fayettevillefarmersmarket.org
Liberty Apple Orchard, 8308 Kuhn Station Road, Edwardsville, Illinois. Pick your own, visit the new farm market building, or choose curbside pickup; whichever way, you’ll get locally grown, crisp apples from this family farm. October varieties include Braeburn, Candy Crisp, and Gold Rush. Other treats—cider, baked goods, applesauce, and apple butter—also will be for sale. libertyappleorchard.com
Engelbrecht’s Countryside Orchard, 16800 Old Petersburg Road, Evansville, Indiana. Since 1919 when John Engelbrecht started an orchard in north Evansville, this farm has provided fresh food to the area. Owned today by Joe Black (founder, Apple Hill Orchard in Bruceville, Indiana), most of the 40 acres are devoted to peaches, but fall presents Granny Smith apples. This farm’s produce also is available at area farmers' markets. engelbrechtsorchard.com
Cider Hill Family Orchard, 3341 N. 139th Street, Kansas City, Kansas. Seriously, get the apple cider donuts. Probably as popular as the 25 varieties of apples at this family farm, the donuts alone are worth the visit. Kettle corn and take-and-bake sweet treats are here, too. And while hayrides will not be available this season, there is online ordering for customers who need to quickly pick up a peck, half, or full bushel of apples and other goodies. On Thursdays, crop updates are posted to the farm's Facebook page. ciderhillfamilyorchard.com
Centennial Farms, 199 Jackson Street, Augusta, Missouri. This farm has been in service since 1821; it’s been in the Knoernschild family since 1854. Bob Knoernschild and his wife, Ellen, planted the orchards in 1967, which have grown to include 1,500 apple trees. Grandson Gabe Wright manages the farm today. Pick from 16 varieties of apples. The farm’s kitchen supplies the store with apple butter, preserves, honey, and salsa. centennialfarms.biz
Deborah Reinhardt is managing editor of AAA Midwest Traveler and AAA Southern Traveler magazines.