Autumn is here, and what is better in the fall then going to pick nice ripe juicy apples with your family? There are some wonderful orchards close to Springfield, Missouri, that I love and are a must-visit this fall. These orchards have some delicious varieties ready for the picking. Plan your trip sometime soon, so that the foliage will be lush and beautiful. To help plan your apple-picking adventure, I narrowed the list down to the three that are close to Springfield, Missouri, below, but before you go out, call the orchard to make sure it’s open or check their website.
1. Blue Heron Orchard
This is a 5-acre certified organic orchard and has been since 1990. They became the first certified organic apple orchard in the state of Missouri. They family-owned and family-friendly. Blue Heron Orchard is located in northeast Missouri on the Mississippi River. If you cannot make a trip to Missouri, they are happy to ship apples and products to your door any time of year.
Blue Heron Orchard
32974 220th St.
Canton, MO 63435
573-655-4291
Website: www.blueheronorchard.com
Blue Heron Orchard features a dozen varieties of apples and certified organic apple products: apple butter, apple sauce, apple syrup apple cider vinegar, apple wood smoked fire roasted jalapeno peppers.
There apples are: Winesap, Cortland, Jonathan, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Empire, Freedom, Jonafree, Gala, and Pristine.
2. Centennial Farms and Orchard
They are located in the beautiful and historic town of Augusta, Missouri. The farm has been owned and operated by their family for over 150 years. They offer seasonal fruit and vegetables. They have a wonderful market in the century-old, timber-framed barn, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Right now, they are having Pumpkin Fantasyland, where there farm is decorated with full-size figures, cutouts, hundreds of pumpkins, and fall. In their market, they have several varieties of apples; apple butter, which was recently featured in “Missouri Life” magazine; preserves; honey; salsas; pickles; fresh cider; and lots of other goodies.
Centennial Farms and Orchard
199 Jackson St.
Augusta, MO 63332
314-228-4338
Website: www.centennialfarms.biz
Open: April-Mid November. Open times varies by season, please call.
Centennial Farms and Orchard has a large mix of fruit and vegetable with a farm market.
They grow 22 varieties of apples, including: Jonathan, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Empire, Jonagold, Mutsu, Cameo, Sun Crisp, Cortland, Braeburn, Gold Rush, Staymared, York, Arkansas Black, Fuji, Blushing Golden, Gala, Winesap, Ozark Gold, Ruby Jon, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith.
Other Fruit: Black raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, and grapes.
3. Schweitzer Orchards
These orchards are in Amazonia, Missouri, and have been since the 1900s. It has you-pick blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins. Vast varieties of vegetables are grown on the property and are sold locally during the growing season.
Schweitzer Orchards
S Hwy 169 & FF
St. Joseph, MO 64507
816-232-3999
Website: www.schweizerorchards.com
Apples include: Early Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonagold, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Winesap.
