How 'Bout Them Apples?
October, fittingly enough is National Apple Month. So dust off those boots and grab your scarf, because you’re going apple-picking! (Or shopping – Some places don’t want you up on a ladder. In a tree. For safety reasons.)
Close to home, you’ll find numerous options to find or harvest apples within an hour’s drive of Cincinnati.
We’ve picked few of the most fun.
Hidden Valley Orchards
5474 N. State Road 48, Lebanon, 513-932-1869
For hours and information: www.hiddenvalleyorchards.com
This operational farm and market offers homegrown fruits, vegetables, seasonal U-Pick crops, and activities. With more than 60 acres, Hidden Valley also has an ice cream barn, Taprooms with HVO hard ciders and Fall “Crop-Tails,” and Market with local vendors and seasonal meals.
Hollmeyers Orchard
3241 Fiddlers Green Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45248, 513-574-0663
For hours and information: www.facebook.com/HollmeyerOrchard
This family-owned, 105-year-old orchard on the west side of Cincinnati sells in-season produce in its market including peaches, plums, pears, apples, and an array of vegetables. They also make their own pickles and unpasteurized cider. Cash only.
Irons Fruit Farm
1640 Stubbs Mills Road, Lebanon, OH 45036, 513-932-2853
Hours and information: www.ironsfruitfarm.com
The fourth generation on this farm makes apple cider, apple butter, jams and jellies. A greenhouse was built in 1999 allowing us to grow vegetable plants for our field crops. In the Fall, they have a 12-acre corn maze and hayrides for pumpkin-picking, with a bakery making pies, apple fritters, cider donuts, caramel apples, and more.
McGlasson Farms
5832 River Road, Hebron, KY 41048, 859-689-5229
Hours and information: www.mcglassonfarms.com
This roadside farm has been family owned and operated for six generations. All of their fruits and vegetables are picked and ready for sale at the stand, along with opportunities to pick-your-own produce, including apples and pumpkins in the Fall.
106 The number of apple orchards in Ohio, according to OhioApples.com.
291 The number of breweries in Ohio, many of which make cider so, huzzah, gluten-free friends!
15 The number of dedicated cider-makers in Ohio, with Kentucky Pete's Apple Cider, Over-The-Rhine Cider Co., Rhinegeist Brewery, and Rivertown Brewery and Barrel House among the local favorites.
Ohio is one of the top 10 states in apple production in the United States. It produces around 50 different varieties, including 2 Ohio originals.
There are over 7,000 apple varieties grown across the world.
2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States.
Apples are grown in all 50 states.
Apples are grown commercially in 36 states.
A medium apple is about 80 calories.
Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.