When people picture the great state of Colorado, they often imagine sweeping Rocky Mountains, chilly babbling rivers, and thick pine-filled forests. While all this rings true, this landlocked state is also home to countless fruit orchards and is known for some fantastic you-pick opportunities. From tasty Granny Smiths to pretty pink Galas, pick your own apples at these Colorado orchards.
Ault, Colorado
Over 150 apple varieties cloak the trees at this relatively new orchard. Organic practices are used to grow delicious, sweet and tart apples at Adam’s Apple Orchard. Depending on how you time your visit, the following varieties may be available: Pink Lady, Early Fuji, Golden Supreme, Hawkeye, and others. Just 20 miles east of Fort Collins, Longmont residents can make an easy day trip to this u-pick apple orchard.
Golden, Colorado
This family-run farm was founded almost a decade ago with the intention to provide pesticide and chemical free apples to the surrounding community in the Front Range. In addition to pick-your-own apples, Nelms Farm boasts a smattering of other fruits and vegetables like potatoes and peaches. It also gives bee tours, which allow guests to dress in a full beekeeper outfit and watch these important pollinators work up-close.
Penrose, Colorado
No reservations are required at this apple orchard. Visit Jenkins Farms Apple Valley Orchard anytime during business hours and enjoy its pick-your-own apples. This Penrose farm is well-known for its apple wine and invites guests into the tasting room to sample a wide variety of Western Skies wines. At just a few hours’ drive from Longmont, make a weekend out of visiting this charming town near Colorado Springs. Hike along the Royal Gorge and spend the afternoon sipping apple wine and plucking apples right from the tree.
For apples of high quality and astounding taste, stop by Happy Apple Farm in Penrose, Colorado. Visit the charming country store on the farm’s premises for apple jams, homemade goods, and more. Cool nights and warm, sunny days are perfect for growing apples at Happy Apple Farm. Spend $3 to get in and pick apples for $12 a bag (which hold five to seven pounds of apples). Get creative and make apple tarts, top oatmeal with fresh cut apples, and even consider making your own apple juice.
Where: Longmont, Colorado
This increasingly popular fruit farm and apple orchard in Longmont has sold out its fruit picking for the rest of 2021. However, mark your calendars to reserve a spot early next year as this abundant farm shouldn’t be missed. Early in the summer, pick plump cherries right from their branches. July – September boasts apples and pears. Make tasty pies, your own jams, and so much more with supremely fresh fruit.
Picking apples is a great end of summer and early fall activity to celebrate Colorado’s changing seasons up close and personal. Select the juiciest, ripest apples right from the trees they grow on while experiencing a working farm, first-hand. These apple orchards are within just a few hours of VerraWest, giving our residents an array of farms to choose from when sourcing organic fruit and fresh vegetables. Contact us to learn more about our Longmont apartments.