How Do You Like Them Apples?

Apple season has a way of making South Carolinians reconsider the value of an empty trunk. A few hours later, it may be carrying bags of apples, a jug of cider and, if good judgment fails, cider donuts.

Pick Your Own, or Let Someone Else Do the Work

At Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery in York, visitors can pick apples seasonally, but spontaneity requires a little planning. Pick-your-own visits are available by online reservation only, so this is one fall outing worth arranging before getting in the car.

For anyone who would rather skip the picking and head directly to the eating, Windy Hill’s Farm Stand sells pre-picked apples along with fresh cider, apple pies and cider donuts. In other words, nobody has to climb a ladder or wander an orchard to come home properly stocked.

South Carolina’s apple season also stretches beyond the familiar pick-your-own experience. MacGregor Orchard is a family-owned operation growing 11 different fruits and 111 varieties. During apple season, the farm presses fresh cider and turns its harvest into applesauce, fruit preserves and fruit butters, making the season last considerably longer than the apples in the fruit bowl usually do.

The Crop Sets the Schedule

In Long Creek, Chattooga Belle Farm grows numerous apple varieties and offers U-pick fruit when available. That last part matters. Farms work according to ripening schedules rather than weekend plans, and what is ready one week may be finished or still hanging stubbornly green the next.

Farther south in Belton, Callaham Orchards sells apples along with other seasonal fruits and produce. The orchard offers U-pick options for some crops, although apples are not specifically listed among its U-pick offerings, so apple shoppers should check before assuming they will be picking their own.

That bit of homework applies everywhere. Apple varieties ripen at different times, weather affects the crop, and U-pick availability, farm hours and inventory can change as quickly as a busy Saturday crowd can empty a row of trees. Calling ahead or checking the orchard’s website before leaving home can save a disappointing drive.

For more places to find locally grown fruits, vegetables and farm-fresh favorites across the state, explore the Guide to South Carolina directory at https://guidetosouthcarolina.com/fresh-produce-farmers-markets.