Take your pick of local apple orchards
Apple picking in the suburbs is getting more expensive and harder to find.
As the price of diesel fuel, herbicide and fertilizer rise, many orchards are passing some of the added cost onto customers.
And with some large suburban operations closing or selling their land to developers, you may have to spend more on gas just to get to the closest orchard.
Here's the good news: There are at least nine orchards in Kane and McHenry counties where you can pick apples and enjoy other fall favorites like cider, doughnuts and hay rides.
The orchards range from large operations with petting farms, entertainment and dozens of employees to small, quiet estates run by grandma and grandpa.
Take your pick.
All Season Farm and Orchard
14510 Route 176, Woodstock
About a dozen varieties of apples is just the beginning for this orchard. All Season also sells cider, doughnuts, pie and caramel apples and hosts children's activities on weekends.
"We have a beautiful water garden and beautiful landscape," manager Sue Hong said. "People love it."
The orchard also has a petting zoo, which houses its very own llama.
"I tried to feed (her) apples, but for some reason she didn't eat (them)," Hong said.
Apples are $30 a half bushel, and the orchard is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Call (815) 338-5637 or visit allseasonfarm.com/Orchard/orchard.htm.
Homestead Orchard
11802 Charles Road, Woodstock
Don and Barb Burda have run this orchard out of a 19th-century horse barn for the past nine years.
"It's like a ma and pa operation," Don Burda said. "We don't expect to get rich."
The orchard sells 14 types of apples, including Gala, Empire, Jonathan and McIntosh, as well as pies, jam, pumpkins, raspberries and honey.
A Daily Herald staffer who visited last weekend reported a pleasant picking experience at this small orchard, with friendly staffers on hand and trees bursting with apples.
Apples are $1.25 a pound. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call (815) 338-7443 or visit homesteadorchard.net.
Kuipers Family Farm
145 Watson Road, Maple Park
This orchard boasts more than 20 varieties of apples, including Empire, Cortland, Golden Delicious and Jonathan. It also features apple cider, doughnuts, pie and a five-acre corn maze.
Admission is $7.50 per person, and apples are $14 a peck. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Picking on Saturday and Sunday only. Call (815) 827-5200 or visit kuipersfamilyfarm.com.
Lang's Orchard
17411 Secor Road, Woodstock
Steve Lang has run this orchard for more than 10 years.
"It started out as a hobby and is going into a full-time retirement business," Lang said.
The orchard features 13 types of apples, caramel apples and gifts. Apples are $11 a peck. Open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Thursday and Friday. Call (815) 568-7547 or visit langsorchard.com.
More than Delicious Orchard
9905 West Thompson Road, Woodstock
This orchard prides itself on its prizewinning honey and apple-cinnamon bread. But not to worry: More than Delicious has at least 15 varieties of apples, including Gala, Macintosh, Sweet Sixteen, Cortland, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. Apples are $50 a bushel, or about $1.20 a pound. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (815) 338-2309 or visit morethandelicious.com.
Prairie Sky Orchard
4914 North Union Road, Union
Visit this orchard on the weekend if you want to taste its apple cider doughnuts or pick up a pie you can bake at home. After snacking, head out into the orchard and choose from a variety of apples, including Jonagold and Golden Delicious.
Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Tuesday. Call (815) 923-4834 or visit prairieskyorchard.com.
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
15908 Hebron Road, Harvard
While you're browsing Royal Oak's 11,000 apple trees and 25 varieties of apples, you can also pick a pint of raspberries, take home a pumpkin or ride on a hay wagon.
The orchard also serves as restaurant, bakery and gift shop. Lunch is daily at 11 a.m., and Saturday morning brunch is from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Apple Fest runs every weekend through Oct. 13 with live music, crafts and children's activities.
"God's creation is beautiful," said Gloria Bianchini, who runs the orchard with her husband, Peter. "If (you) want to see the beauty of God's creation, this is the place to come."
Apples are $49 a bushel. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (815) 648-4141 or visit royaloakfarmorchard.com.
Woodstock Country Orchard
17015 Garden Valley Road, Woodstock
Alex and Dorothy Rash opened this orchard 20 years ago to grow the "best apples possible," Alex Rash said.
The Rashes' dwarf apple trees yield more than 10 varieties, including Red Delicious, Empire, Golden Delicious and Melrose. You can also buy raspberries and honey.
Apples are $11 a peck. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (815) 923-4359 or visit woodstockcountryorchard.com.