Fall is officially here, which means we are amidst apple picking season. Maine has an abundance of apple orchards throughout the state, so you are in the right place for this popular fall activity. With apple orchards less than ten miles from campus, many Colby College students have been spending their weekend free time soaking in the fall weather and picking apples. To learn about the best orchards to check out, I spoke with a couple Colby students about where they went and what they enjoyed.
One farm that has been frequented is conveniently called The Apple Farm, in Fairfield, Maine. Less than twenty minutes from campus, the orchard is a convenient spot to visit and spend quality time outdoors. Uma Graz `28 visited the orchard this year in early September.
Graz reported she had a fun time at the farm, even though it was pretty early in the season. Graz said, “Some of the apples were barred off, but I went anyway… Their apple season was going to start the next day, so it was pretty fun.”
This September was certainly not Graz’s first time apple picking either, having gone an impressive total of eleven times in her life; she “used to go every year.”
While apple picking, Graz said she prefers to pick honeycrisp apples. Her favorite type of apple “alternates between honeycrisp and fuji.” She further elaborated, “fuji’s very sweet, but I like honeycrisp off a tree.” In her opinion, fuji is not “a pick-off-the-tree apple,” preferring to get this type from grocery stores.
Overall, Graz really enjoys apple picking: “I just like all of it. I like being in the trees, too. It’s fun.”
This September, Kira Thornton `28 also visited The Apple Farm, and local vendors while there. “There was a local honey producer, which I actually purchased honey from,” she said. “They gave us these pretzels to dip in the honey and then try it.” In addition to local honey, Thornton said there was a bake sale for a local girls’ dance crew that had tasty pumpkin whoopie pies.
The orchard itself also sells baked goods. Thornton observed that “they’ve got a donut stand with cider.”
Thornton was also not disappointed by the apples at the orchard: “The farm surprisingly had some good cortland ones. All the apples I picked are good and crunchy.”
What Thornton enjoys about apple picking is “mostly just doing it with other people.” She explained, “It’s fun and it gives you the option to actually pick which ones you want yourself rather than having to go get them from a small selection. Also, you can eat them on site… They’re fresh. You know exactly what you’re getting and the quality of what you’re getting, too… You can see them being grown, and then you can accidentally drop five while you’re trying to get one.”
Another local orchard less than ten miles from campus is Lemieux’s Orchard in Vassalboro, Maine. This orchard has donuts, cider, a corn maze, pumpkins, jam, and even pickles. This is another popular place for Colby students in the fall.
With quality and fun apple orchards less than twenty minutes from campus, plenty of orchards are available for the picking. The Apple Farm and Lemieux’s Orchard are two that are nearby and positively reviewed. If you are looking to embrace the nice fall weather in Maine, apple picking is a popular activity.
~ Haley Hegarty `28
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