Apple orchards open for picking, fall festivities

The break in the heat and humidity that blew through the area in August gave apple growers something to smile about.

"That cool air sweetens the apples," said Cathleen Harder with All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock.

Growers weren't smiling a few months ago. The warm spring enticed trees to bud early, but many of those buds were nipped by hard frost in late April.

"Last year we had a bumper crop," said Pat Curran recalling the 2009 season at Curran's Orchard in Rockford. "This year will be a little lighter."

Growers said the early spring has moved the harvest up as well.

"We have Early Blaze and Macintosh already," said Don Burda of Homestead Orchard in Woodstock. "We've never picked them this early."

Those blooms that did survive to produce fruit were rewarded with a nice mix of plentiful sunshine and quenching rain and that translates into larger apples, Harder said.

Here's a list of area orchards for your apple-picking pleasure. The ripening schedule is subject to change so call ahead to be sure your favorite varieties are available.

As you're tossing apples into a basket, please remember those less fortunate. Support the Daily Herald's Giving Garden program and pick an extra pound or two to donate to a local food pantry.

All Seasons Orchard, 14510 Route 176, Woodstock (half mile west of Route 47; look for the big red building). Opens Saturday, Sept. 4, for u-pick; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. New varieties available about every two weeks including Gala, Honeycrisp, Cortland McIntosh and Liberty (ready now); Red and Golden Delicious and JonaGold. 2010 pricing not yet set. Orchard celebrating its 20th season with loads of family fun including hayrides, two corn mazes, hay mountain, petting zoo and picnic area. (815) 338-5637; allseasonsorchard.com.

Apples on Oak, 16146 Oak Ave., Lockport (three miles north of Route 80 off Gougar Road). Picking 80 to 100 varieties ranging from classic baking apples and heirlooms to traditional favorites and new varieties now through the middle of October. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Special apple pie demonstration with Pillsbury from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 18. Half-peck bag $8; 1 peck (about 10 pounds) $14; two pecks $24. (815) 726-0386; applesonoak.com.

Curran's Orchard, 6385 Kilburn Road, Rockford (Route 70 just east of Meridian Road). Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Picking begins Sept. 4 and continues through the end of October. Varieties include (in ripening order) McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Empire, Red and Golden Delicious, JonaGold, Northern Spy, Blushing Golden, Rome Beauty and Granny Smith. U-pick apples cost $1.39 per pound; 1-peck minimum.

Also, raspberries, apple pies, cider, hot dogs and doughnuts and activities for kids are available on weekends. (815) 963-7848 or visit curransorchard.com.

Homestead Orchard, 11802 Charles Road, Woodstock (east of Route 47). 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Twenty varieties, including McIntosh, Gala, Jonathan, Empire, Golden Delicious and JonaGold. $1.25 per pound. Also u-pick raspberries, pears and rhubarb as well as honey and beeswax candles. (815) 338-7443. www.homesteadorchard.net/

Honey Hill Orchard, 11747 Waterman Road (two miles north of Route 30 on Elm Street/Waterman Road) in Waterman. Opens Sept. 7 with early season hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through mid-September. Regular season hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan and Honeycrisp in September; Empire, Red and Golden Delicious and many other varieties through the end of October. Apple prices not available.

Also, new bakery, country store, raspberries, Michigan peaches, petting zoo and weekend hayrides. (815) 264-3337. For special events check out honeyhillorchards.com.

Jonamac Orchard, 4403 Twomby Road (three-quarters of a mile south of Malta on South Shabbona Road) in DeKalb County. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through Oct. 31; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday until Thanksgiving. The orchard offers 25-plus varieties including Akane, Mollies Delicious, Ozark Gold, Gala and JonaMac. Prices $15 for 1 peck (about 10) and $27 for half-bushel, about 20 pounds.

Beginning Labor Day weekend, the orchard will have hayrides, corn maze, caramel apples, fudge, doughnuts and pies. (815) 825-2158 or jonamacorchard.com.

Kuipers Family Farm, 1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park (five miles west of Route 47). Open for picking 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through October (store open Tuesday to Sunday). $7.50 admission fee per person includes quarter peck of apples; additional pecks cost $14. General ripening as follows: Prima, JonaMac, Gala, Cortland, Spartan, Ozark Gold (early September); Empire, Golden Delicious, Jonathan (later in September); Idared, Rome, Braeburn, Blushing Golden (October).

Corn maze opens Sept. 18. Reduced hours in November. (815) 827-5200 (press 1 for weekly varieties) or kuipersfamilyfarm.com/apples.

Lang's Orchard, 17411 Secor Road, Woodstock (off Franklinville Road, north of Route 176). 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday beginning Sept. 11 through the third week of October. Gala, RubyJon, Honeycrisp and Cortland ready first followed by Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, JonaGold Red, Braeburn, Blushing Gold, Winesap and Granny Smith. Most varieties $13 a peck. Honeycrisp prices not yet set. Also, country store with homemade fruit spreads. (815) 568-7547.

More Than Delicious Orchard, corner of Route 120 and Thompson Road, Woodstock. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 11 through Oct. 18. Offers dozens of varieties of apples and pears in the following ripening order: Sweet Sixteen, Gala, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Lustre Elstar, Cortland, Pippin, Jonathan, JonaGold, Empire, Snow Apple, Golden Delicious, Idared, Northern Spy, Mutsu, Golden Russet, Winesap. $50 a bushel (that's about $1.20 a pound for 40-42 pounds); half-bushels, pecks and half-pecks also available. (815) 338-2309 or morethandelicious.com.

Pine Apple Acres, 41W651 Powers Road, Huntley (one mile north of I-90 from Route 47, then east on Powers Road). 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday beginning Friday, Sept. 3, and continuing through early October. $1.50 per pound; 5-pound minimum. $5 entrance fee per vehicle. (847) 669-3251 or pineapple-acres.com.

Prairie Sky Orchard, 4914 N. Union Road, Union (off route 176, west of Route 47). One thousand dwarf trees offer easy picking. One peck $14; $27 for a half-bushel and $52 for a bushel (40 pounds). U-pick open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Also raspberries, blackberries and a gourmet store with apple cider doughnuts and artisan fare. (815) 923-4834 or prairieskyorchard.com.

Royal Oak Farm, 15908 Hebron Road, Harvard (four miles west of Route 47). Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through mid October. More than 20 varieties available as the season progresses; expect Ginger Gold and Sansa this weekend, but call for variety availability. $14 for a peck; $27 a half-bushel.

Activities include clowns, storyteller, tepee, pony rides and wagon rides to the orchard. Homemade baked goods, fresh honey, apple pastries and more at the market. Also, tree-ripened peaches and u-pick raspberries and blackberries. (815) 648-4141 or royaloakfarmorchard.com.

Woodstock Country Orchard, 17015 Garden Valley Road, Woodstock (north of Route 176 off Franklinville Road). 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through October. A dozen varieties, including Gala, JonaMac and Honeycrisp. $6 a half-peck. Also u-pick raspberries; homegrown garlic and local honey for sale. (815) 923-4359; woodstockcountryorchard.com.