It’s that time of year again when the evenings cool and the apples ripen at orchards across the state.
Fall in Maine brings with it some 100 apple varieties available for pick-your-own excursions or purchases at stands and farm stores. Whether you’re looking for Cortlands, Macs or Paula Reds, there’s a long list of spots where you can get a whole bushel of one variety or just a few of each.
Use our guide to find spots near you. For orchards in Cumberland County with cider and doughnut options choose all three buttons.
THE APPLE FARM
Details: From the weekend after Labor Day through October, you can pick your own apples. Wagon rides are available for transportation in the orchard. The store has apples, fudge, sweet apple cider, extra sharp cheddar cheese, jams and jellies, Maine maple products, other delicious treats, Maine made crafts and art.
Details: Apple orchards plus a wide variety of vegetables.
Where: 234 Dexter Road, St Albans
When: Call for hours
Contact: (207) 938-2501
TAGS: Somerset, Food
BAILEY’S ORCHARD
Details: Owned and operated by the same family for over 60 years. With more than 50 apple varieties. You can pick your own or buy them in the barn, along with apples, crabapples, plums, pears, pumpkins, squash, gourds, honey, fudge and cider pressed at the farm.
Where: 255 North Hunts Meadow Road, Whitefield
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Contact: (207) 549-7680
TAGS: Lincoln, Food, Cider, Pumpkins
BERRY FRUIT FARM
Details: Family-owned since 1900, Berry Fruit Farm offers the classic U-Pick apples, as well as pumpkins in September and October. Fresh raspberries are available from July to October.
Where: 54 Main St., Livermore Falls
When: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
Details: Sixth-generation family farm that has 1,200 trees on 18 acres. They specialize in heirloom apples, but grow a range of fruit like berries, peaches and pears and also sell cider.
Where: 99 Hilton Hill Road, Skowhegan
When: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Sept. 1-Thanksgiving
Details: Pick-your-own apple orchard operating from September through early November with Macintosh, Macoun and Cortland apples, as well as pick-your-own pumpkins.
Details: Offers pick-your-own apples or pre-picked. Varieties include Mcintosh, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. The orchard also offers snowshoe hiking and skiing on its groomed and backcountry trails in the winter.
Where: 720 S. Bridgton Road, Bridgton
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Details: Offers pick-your-own apples and raspberries. Grab a gallon of fresh-pressed cider while you’re there.
Where: 36 Gibson Road, Bethel
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily starting Sept. 2
Contact: (207) 595-6944
TAGS: Oxford, Cider
GREENWOOD ORCHARDS
Details: A family-run farmstand specializing in apples, cider and baked goods.
Where: 174 Auburn Road (Route 4), Turner
When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Contact: (207) 225-3764
TAGS: Androscoggin, Cider, Food
HAZEL HILL ORCHARD
Details: Reserve a tree to harvest your own apples from, or grab a bag of pre-picked apples. Pick up some maple syrup, apple butter or an apple can cake before heading home.
Details: Located just 20 minutes from downtown Augusta, Lakeside boasts about 60 acres of apple trees and several additional acres of blueberries, raspberries and honeyberries.
Details: Orchard is home to more than 300 varieties of apples and pears traditionally grown in Maine, with more being added each year. The collection includes varieties from all 16 counties, dating back as far as 1630.
Details: This 10-acre, 400-plus tree orchard has more than 12 apple varieties and is part of an 65-acre farm with a 150-year history. Also cider for sale, wood-fired pizza and events, including a cornhole tournament.
Details: Family-run farm located at the foot of the western Maine mountains, overlooking the Kennebec River. The property also houses cold storage, a packing facility, farm store, pick-your-own apples, a maple sugar house, a cider mill and a farm kitchen.
Details: More than 60 varieties of apples, as well as peach, plum, pear and cherry trees. High bush blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and grapes round out the assortment of fruits. The shop features fruits, baked goods and cider and sells fresh vegetables, maple syrup, vinegars, sauces, chocolate, honey and more from Maine farms and producers.
Where: 430 Brunswick Road, Richmond
When: Store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday & Monday, from July to December
Contact: (907) 317-0888
TAGS: Sagadahoc, Cider, Food
RICKER HILL ORCHARD
Details: Ricker Hill Orchards has been growing Maine apples for more than nine generations in Turner. Pick your own apples, visit the maple sugar shack and country store, then stick around for some disc golf.
Where: 295 Buckfield Road (Route 117), Turner
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, March through December
Contact: (207) 225-5552 or (207) 225-3455; rickerhill.com
TAGS: Androscoggin
ROCKY RIDGE ORCHARD
Details: Pick your own apples from September through the end of October, or grab a bag of apples from the store. Varieties include Macintosh, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Macoun, Red Free, crabapples and more. Pick up some homemade bread or pastries while you’re there.
Details: Rowe has been growing apples and pears for 50 years with 12 different varieties of apples in large quantities, and 30 more varieties in limited volume. You’ll also find four varieties of pears on 95 acres of trees. The store has a wide variety of farm produce, as well as canned products such as jellies, jams and preserves, dressings and maple syrup. For the sweet tooth, Rowe’s sells fudge, maple sugar candy, doughnuts and pies.
Details: First established in 1852, the orchard features more than 25 varieties of apples to choose from. The farm’s 200-plus-year-old barn was restored in 2012.
Where: 240 W Sandy River Road, Mercer
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, September through mid-October
Details: Spiller Farm has existed since 1894 and its many acres are home to row crops, hay fields and pastures. On the fruit front there are four acres dedicated to strawberries and another four to several varieties of apples for picking. The farm store offers beef, pork, chicken and eggs as well as pizza, sandwiches, drinks and homemade pet food.
Where: 85 Spiller Farm Lane, Wells
When: Check website for hours and current availability of apples
Details: Pick-your own or take home a bag of pre-picked apples. Produce including pears, plums, squash pumpkins as well as fresh-pressed cider available.
Where: 144 Ferry Rd, Lewiston
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Details: They don’t offer pick your own but there are still plenty of reasons to visit the farmstand at Sweetser’s Apple Barrel Orchards. There you’ll find many types of apples along with cider and cider doughnuts. You can also pick up things like honey, maple syrup, preserves, baked goods and an array of fresh fruits and vegetables. Once fall is here, you’ll also find plenty of pumpkins.
Details: Thompson’s Orchards has been a family affair since 1906. Roam through the orchards to pick Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Macouns, Miltons, Honey Crisp, Jester and several other types of apples. You can also grab a bag of pre-picked apples along with baked goods and doughnuts.
Details: With 25 acres of pick-your-own apple trees, there is no shortage of prime picking. Stop by the bakery for fresh-made apple cider, chocolate doughnuts, pies, muffins and more.
Details: Willow Pond is a small diversified farm on 35 acres, seven which are MOFGA-certified organic vegetables and berries. Offering pick-your-own apples from Labor Day weekend through October. Visit the animals or shop at the farm stand when you’re done picking.
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