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Apple U-Pick Orchards in Northwest Montana in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for apples that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have apples orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Lake County

  • Fat Robin Orchard & Farm - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, cherries, U-pick and already picked, farm market
    34126 Finley Point Rd, Polson, MT 59860. Phone: 406-887-2869. Email: liserousseau@bresnan.net. Open: Friday to Sunday, from 8:30 am to 6 pm; other times by appointment; Call to confirm before traveling to the orchard; Visit our website for details. Directions: From Polson, take highway 35 north to Finley Point Road. Go approximately 1 mile to the T-junction of South Finley Point Road. Make a left. Take the first dirt road to the right just past the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers packing plant. Our orchard is at the top of the hill. Cherries: Late July through early August, Apples: Mid-October. We are certified organic for all . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers.
    Fat Robin Orchard & Farm Facebook page. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. crops! Our beautiful certified organic farm has fabulous views of Flathead Lake and even better fruit. We offer you-pick, picked and packed, delivery, and shipping. Fruit is available at the farm, local CSAs, natural food markets, and is featured in local restaurants. Some fruit goes to Ten Spoon Winery for their outstanding "Flathead Cherry Dry" wine. Cherry varieties: Lambert, Lapin, Rainier, Van, Montmorency (Pie), Balaton. Apple varieties: Mac, Wealthy. Other products available: frozen and dried cherries, cherry-themed aprons, wool, lambs. Visit us soon!.
  • Getman's Cherry Red Orchard - Uses natural growing practices, apples, cherries, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
    East Shore, Flathead Lake, Bigfork, MT 59911. Phone: 406-871-5499. Email: getman@me.com. Open: most of the time and easily available; We also have preserves and will ship cherries by mail; See our website; Black, sweet cherries are our main crop; During the fall, we have great apples and many other varied fruits and vegetables; We often have picked vegetables, like peas and greens, etc. Directions: Please call first. East side of Flathead Lake, between Polson and Bigfork, close to Yellow Bay. Near Mile marker 20. There is a sign and we are building, "The Orchard House", a large construction project. This is easily seen from the road. Call 406-871-5499. Do Not . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
    Getman's Cherry Red Orchard Facebook page. . We arrange by appointment; Please call Dan's cell;; however, during July, August, September, October; we are open Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. open gates, precautions for our pets and animals. Our cherries ripen at the end of July; U pick lasts during August, September, October. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We usually have a tasting table with various items. We can invoice with paypal or receive cash or check.

Missoula County

  • Green Bench Orchard - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, raspberries (red), Honey from hives on the farm, events at your location (call for info)
    4701 South Avenue West, Missoula, MT 59804. Phone: (406) 549-9017. Email: fred@greenbenchorchard.com. Open: Hours vary considerably; please see our website or Facebook page for availability and hours; Typical opening season date for raspberries is July 1st Typical opening season date for apples is September 1st. Directions: Typical . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
    Green Bench Orchard Facebook page. . Hours vary considerably; please see our website or Facebook page for availability and hours; opening season date for raspberries is July 1st opening season date for apples is September 1st. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. opening season date for raspberries is July 1st opening season date for apples is September 1st. We are certified organic for all crops! (ADDED: February 05, 2020)

 

Apple Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Apples ripen from the outside of the tree towards the center, so the apples out the outside of the tree will ripen first.  Once they are picked, they stop ripening. Picking apples directly from a tree is easy. Roll the apple upwards off the branch and give a little twist; don't pull straight away from the tree. If two apples are joined together at the top, both will come away at the same time. Don't shake the trees or branches.  If the apple you are trying to pick drops, (or others on the tree) go ahead and pick it up. They're perfectly fine! But do wash them before you eat them! More info: How to tell when apples are ripe

  • Once picked, don't throw the apples into the baskets, place them in gently, or they will bruise and go bad more quickly.
  • Don't wash apples until just before using to prevent spoilage.
  • For an explanation of why apple slices turn brown and how to stop it, see this page!
  • Keep apples cool after picking to increase shelf life.  A cool basement is ideal, but the fruit/vegetable drawer of a refrigerator will work, too.  A refrigerator is fine for small quantities of apples. Boxed apples need to be kept in a cool, dark spot where they won't freeze. Freezing ruptures all of an apple's cells, turning it into one large bruise overnight. The usual solution is to store apples in a root cellar. But root cellars often have potatoes in them: apples and potatoes should never be stored in the same room because, as they age, potatoes release an otherwise ethylene gas, which makes apples spoil faster. If you can keep the gas away from your apples, they will keep just fine. Just don't store them right next to potatoes.
    Prevent contact between apples stored for the winter by wrapping them individually in sheets of newspaper. The easiest way to do this is to unfold a section of newspaper all the way and tear it into quarters. Then stack the wrapped apples . See more here: How to store apples at home
  • Apples don't improve or "ripen" after being picked - this is an urban myth - see this page for the truth - with references!

Which apple variety is best?

There are tens of thousands of varieties of apples, developed over centuries. They vary in sugar, acoidity, flavors, storing, crispness and many other attributes. See our guides to apple varieties:

Canning apples - fully illustrated, with step-by-step instructions

Recipes, illustrated with step by step instructions

Using fresh apples and miscellaneous

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)