Apple U-Pick Orchards in Greensboro Triad Area of North Carolina 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.
Guilford County
- Blueberry Thrill Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, flowers, picnic area
6938 Eaglesfield Road, Gibsonville, NC 27249. Phone: 336 449-7246. Email: farmer@blueberrythrillfarm.com. Open: UPDATE for 2020: no apples in 2020, but they will open for pumpkins in October, see their website for hours, dates and availability. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
Blueberry Thrill Farm Facebook page. . We use integrated pest management practices. We grow 20 different varieties of apples that are a carefully selected assortment of the best heritage and commercial varieties available for our climate, including some not available elsewhere. In addition to commercial varieties like Gala, Fuji and Pink Lady, we grow heritage varieties, including two different varieties of Winesaps. Another heritage variety in our orchard is Roxbury Russet which originated with the Pilgrims in Massachusetts. Other heritage varieties include Grimes Golden, which is associated with Johnny Appleseed, and Albemarle Pippins. Pippins were grown by President Thomas Jefferson and President George Washington and are regarded as one the best apples in the world after they ripen in storage for several months. Apple picking (u-pick) is available at the beginning on the seasons. We offer both u-pick and pre-picked. Click here for the apple variety arrival and picking timesPeaches: They grow seven varieties of peaches that ripen over a long period of time. As a general rule, the early peaches are Clingstone. The Freestone peaches start with Redhaven, followed by Fireprince , Winblow, Contender and Flameprince. The early peaches like Rich May ripen at the start of the Pick Your Own Blackberry & Blueberry season, while variety like Winblo and Contender ripen later in the Blackberry & Blueberry season. (UPDATED: August 16, 2020 JBS) - Windy Knoll Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, blackberries, chestnuts, eggplant, flowers, herbs or spices, muscadine grapes, pears, peppers, persimmons, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg,
7149 Ludgate Road, Gibsonville, NC 27249. Phone: (336) 449-5029. Email: angyal@elon.edu. Open: Hours and availability of crops to pick varies considerably; please call or email for current availability and hours. Directions: Windy Knoll Farm is located fours miles north of Gibsonville, one half mile east of NC Highway 61 north. Turn right onto Ludgate Road coming north from Gibsonville and our driveway and mailbox will be one half mile on the left. Turn left into the gravel driveway and continue one quarter mile to the farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Windy Knoll Farm Alternate Phone: (336) 447-0086. . Apples are available beginning in July and tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants by mid July; Paw paws are ready by early to mid August; Muscadine grapes are generally available by the end of August; Chestnuts are available mid September and Japanese persimmons by the end of September;. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Paw paws, Japanese persimmons, Jujube fruit, chi fruit. (UPDATED: May 12, 2018)
Harnett County
- Hidden River Farm, LLC. - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, blackberries, blueberries, figs, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties, picnic area you may bring your own food, group reservations, events at your location (call for info)
774 Kirk Adams Road, Angier, NC 27501. Phone: (919) 601-6610. Email: hiddenriverfarms1@gmail.com. Open: Monday through Friday by appointment only (unless otherwise specified) Mid June - October Annually Saturday 9am to 3pm Sundays 10 am 12 pm to 2 pm All times are subject to change. Directions: Blueberry season is typically mid June through August Blackberries are mid July until all gone Other fruits begin late July through the fall. We are certified organic for all . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
Hidden River Farm, LLC. Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (919) 331-0369. . crops! We also grow Jujube's, Asian pears, almonds, kiwi and hazelnuts. (ADDED: July 03, 2019)2019 Prices and Notes: Blueberries- $4/lb. - Thornless Blackberries $5/lb.
Randolph County
- Cedar View Farm - apples, beans, blackberries, broad beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, melons, peas, peaches, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes,
7466 Richland Church Road, Liberty, NC 27298. Phone: 336-202-7771. Email: poehouses@aol.com. Open: 7 days a week 8am to 6 pm. Directions: Call for directions and availably. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 336-622-3296. . June Thursday November. - Hill's Orchard and Vineyard - apples, blueberries, figs, muscadine grapes, peaches, plums, school tours
4554 Finch Farm Road, Trinity, NC 27370. Phone: (336) 475-7042. Email: hillsplace@northstate.net. Open: Summer to early Fall as fruit becomes available; Please call ahead to confirm availability. Directions: Exit #106 on Interstate 85 between Thomasville and Archdale NC. East on Finch Farm Road one and one-half miles to orchard on left. Park at brick house. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Hill's Orchard and Vineyard . Generally our harvest dates are: June-Blueberries and Plums July-Peaches August through September-Apples September-Muscadine Grapes. School field trip by appointment only during the month of September. Please call during August to secure your desired date. The field trip consists of a short lecture on growing apples and a question and answer session. Then we provide a half-peck bag and send the students off to pick their own apples. - Millstone Creek Orchards - apples, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, peaches, pecans , pumpkins, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, gift shop, concessions \\/ refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
506 Parks Crossroad Church Road, Ramseur, NC 27316. Phone: 336-824-5263. Email: info@millstonecreekorchards.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 6pm; Sunday, from 1pm to 5:30pm, June 1 to October 31. Directions: Located at 506 Parks Crossroad Church Road, Ramseur, NC approximately 4 miles east of Ramseur, then right on Parks Crossroad Church Road one mile, farm on right. Located 12 miles east of Asheboro, right on Parks Crossroad Church Road, one mile on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
Millstone Creek Orchards Facebook page. . Crop availability: Corn - June-August Cantaloupe, Beans, Watermelon, Squash & Peaches - July & August Tomatoes - June-October Okra - July-September Pears - August-September Apples - August-November Pumpkins - September-November Pecans - November & December. Pumpkin Day, Apple cider, gift shop, tours, hayrides & Pick Your Own fruits & vegetables.
Rockingham County
- Bee Sweet Orchards (formerly Haight Orchards) - apples, peaches, Honey from hives on the farm
2229 Pannel Road, Reidsville, NC 27320. Phone: 336-427-6933. Open: August 1 to mid - September: Bee Sweet Orchards hours page. Directions: Located at the junction of routes 704 and 65, halfway between Madison and Reidsville. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
Bee Sweet Orchards (formerly Haight Orchards) Facebook page. . Ten varieties of apples are available starting late July through approximately mid-September; Please call ahead for availability. Crops are usually available in August, September. No pick your own on peaches but peaches are only available from mid-July through late August. Please call for availability. We have 3 acres of apples, featuring 9 varieties (among them Ginger Gold, Gala, Red & Golden Delicious, Jonagold & Mutsu) and 4 acres of peaches, all of which are freestone. We feature pick your own and already-picked apples usually available from late July/early August thru end August. No pick your own on Mutsu, Early Fuji, McIntosh & Cortland. Our peaches and nectarines are already picked and sold from our barn and usually begin early/mid-July thru late August. We are open seasonally from early/mid- July through the end of August. ~~PEACHES & NECTARINES - We grow 14 varieties of peaches and 5 varieties of nectarines. Almost all are freestone and great for eating, canning or freezing. Please call for availability before you come . NO PICK YOUR OWN. (UPDATED: June 29, 2019, JBS) - Devil Dog Orchard - apples,
771 Highway 150, Reidsville, NC 27320. Phone: 336 491-0382. Email: devildogorchard@gmail.com. Open: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 to 7:00, August 15 to September 30. Directions: Highway 150 in Rockingham County, near intersection of Candy Creek Road. Payment: Cash, only. Pick your own Red and Golden Delicious, Yates, and Black Twig apples (no other U-pick . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
Devil Dog Orchard Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 336 772-3415. . crops).
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!
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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:
- Summary table of many apple varieties and their characteristics
- Detailed descriptions of each apple variety with detailed characteristics
- Apple varieties, sorted by the order in which they typically ripe
- Apple varieties that don't turn brown when they are cut
- Why are some apples brown or spotted inside when you first cut them open?
Canning apples - fully illustrated, with step-by-step instructions
- How to make applesauce
- How to make apple butter
- How to make apple jelly
- How to make apple pie filling (canned)
- How to can apples
- Home canned apple juice
Recipes, illustrated with step by step instructions
- Apple pie recipe and directions and illustrated! I can say, with, ahem, no bias at all, that this is the best apple pie recipe in the world! (Alright, I did have an apple strudel in Vienna once at that place listed in Fodors that was REALLY good, but that wasn't a pie, was it? And since this was the recipe my grandmother used, it must be great!)
- How to make applesauce for a single meal (not canning it) with NO special equipment
- Apple cobbler
- Apple crunch - best of all! Moist, low sugar and using oats!
- Apple crisp - ever-popular, low sugar and using oats!
- Apple, blackberry, cherry, and/or peach cobbler
- Apple-blackberry, crumble - a English favorite (or favourite)
Using fresh apples and miscellaneous
- How to stop cut apples from browning
- Apple festivals - find one near you!
- Apple facts
- Apple seeds and cyanide