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This month's notes: May 2013: The cool weather has delayed blooms and slowed growth by a couple of weeks, but don't miss strawberries: they started in most Southern areas in late April, and in late May up north. Click here for strawberry facts and picking tips, and this page for easy strawberry jam making directions. Blueberries will come in June in most areas. Of course, Florida, southern Texas, and other very warm areas are already picking both crops! See this page for hundreds of easy canning and freezing instructions/recipes, canning equipment guide! Also make your own ice cream - see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals. Then see each state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. Organic farms are identified in green!  See our guide to local fruit and vegetable festivals!. Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!

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Apple Orchards and Roadside Stands in Georgia, Including Ellijay

Most of the orchards and their roadside shops are very close together on Hwy 52 on the east side of Route 5/Rt 76 in East Ellijay. The order below corresponds to the order in which you will encounter the orchards when driving from east to the west. Click here for more maps and directions to Ellijay from Atlanta!

 

1. Hillcrest Orchards - Uses integrated pest management practices, Apple varieties: Fuji, Arkansas Black, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Winesap, Yates, Pink Lady; 2011 prices: Admission fees (Click here for the prices) includes entertainment (wagon ride, music, pig races, cow milking) and PYO orchard (entry to the store to buy picked apples is free); Other fees for petting zoo and some other activities; apples. Always call to confirm prices and availability before you go! Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), concessions / refreshment stand, porta-potties, restrooms, picnic area, Bouncy pillow, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
   9696 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: 706-273-3838. Alternate Phone: 706-273-9494. Fax: 706-273-3888. Email: applelan@ellijay.com. Open:  (offers PYO only during the Apple Pickin Jubilee festival during September and October!)  ALWAYS click here for current , pricing, dates and times.. Directions: Highway 400 north to highway 53 west through Dawsonville. Turn right onto highway 183. Fo approximately 10 miles to highway 52 west and turn left. Hillcrest is 12 miles on the left. OR: Highway 575 north to Ellijay. Exit right at highway 52 exit. Go to bottom of hill and turn left onto highway 52 east. Hillcrest is 9 miles on the right. Click here for a map and directions. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. Click here for our Facebook page. Milk a real cow, giant slide, jumping pillow, pedal cart rides, corny kids maze, enchanted forest, live pig races, live entertainment and games on the stage. (UPDATED: June 01, 2011)
2. B.J. Reece Apple House - Apple varieties: Arkansas Beauty, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Jonathon, Granny Smith, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Stayman-Winesap, Yates; 2010 prices: $5 per half-peck, $8 per peck, $14 per half-bushel.  Offers PYO on certain dates - call
   9131 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536. Phone: 706-276-3048. Fax: 706-276-3058. Email us at: reeceorchards@ellijay.com. 
3. Mack Aaron's Apple House - Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Mutsu, Rome Beauty, Jonagold, Fuji, Stayman Winesap, Granny Smith. 2010 prices: $10 - 12 per half  bushel (depends on the variety and size of the apples). $5 per half bushel for 2nds
   Near 8700 Hwy 52 East., Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 273-3600. Open: in season, 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday; 12:30pm to 5:30 pm on Sunday.
4. Aaron's Apple House - Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Detroit Red, Ozark Gold, Jonathon, Jonagold, Mutsu, Rome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, Fuji, Arkansas black, Granny Smith, Yates. 2010 prices: $ per half peck, $ per peck, $ per half bushel, $16 to $24 per bushel (depends on the variety and size of the apples).
   52 East Ellijay, GA 30536. Phone: (706) 273-3180. Open: August through December 8am-7pm. Directions: 8.5 miles East of Ellijay on Hwy. 52.  Mailing address: 52 East Ellijay, GA 30536.
5. Hudsons - Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Detroit Red, Gala, Mutsu, Ginger Gold, Granny Smith, Jonathon, Jonagold, Fuji, Yates. 2010 prices: $4 per half peck, $8 per peck, $10-$12 per half bushel (varies by variety).
   8036 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone 706-273-3160. Open 7 days, 8:30 am to 5 pm.  2nds.
6. Seller's Orchard - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Cameo, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Winesap; 2010 prices: range from $5 to $8 per half peck
   Route 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 273-3026. Open: August through December 9 am to 6 pm. Directions: 7 miles East of Ellijay on Hwy. 52.
7. R & A Orchards - Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, loda, honeycrisp, cameo, Detroit Red, Ozark Gold,  Jonagold, Mutsu, Rome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, Fuji, Arkansas black, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Yates. 2010 prices: $12 per half bushel. Like many orchards, you can also - sometimes - buy extra small grade apples for less - perfect for applesauce. $5 per half peck, $9 per peck and $14 per half bushel
   5055 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: 706-273-3821. Open: daily from 9 am to 6:30 pm. Directions: Located 4.5 Miles East of Ellijay On Hwy 52
8. Oak Hill Orchards - UPDATE 2007: Oak Hill CLOSED permanently! :(
   Apple varieties: Arkansas Black, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Yates;
   4986 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 273-3644 Click here for more information, directions, photos and a review.
9. Panorama Orchards, Inc. - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty; 2010 prices: $5 per half peck, $8 per peck, $12 per half bushel; seconds are $0.15/lb. Open: daily from 9 am to 6 pm.
   P.O. Box 157, East Ellijay, GA 30539. (across the street from Penland's, right on the Hwy 515 bypass). Phone: (706) 276-3813.
10. Penland's Apple House - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty; 2010 prices: $5 per half peck, $8 per peck, $14 per half bushel and $24 for 2 half-bushel bags. 2nds at a discounted price with advance notice
    Hwy 515 Bypass, Ellijay, GA 30540. They also have a location at Ga Hwy 282 and US 76, 8 miles west of Ellijay. Phone: (706) 635-5110. Open: August through December, 7 days a week, 9am to 6pm.
11. Red Apple Barn at Little Bend Orchard - Apple varieties: Fuji, Cameo, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Winesap; 2010 prices: $5 per half-peck, $8 per peck, $12 per half-bushel and $24 per bushel for all varieties. Offers PYO on certain dates - call. Note: they usually have some specials at $14 per bushel, which are just smaller sized apples - perfect for applesauce.
    3379 Tallscreek Road, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 635-5898. Alternate phone: (706) 635-7674. Directions: 3.5 miles west of Ellijay on U.S. Hwy. 76/Ga. 282 on left side of road. Open: Aug.15 through Dec. Monday to Saturday. 9 am-6 pm, Sunday 12:30-5:30 pm. Apples, cider, dried apples, apple pies, fritters, breads, candy apples, jams, jellies, honey, sorghum syrup, baskets.

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Festivals

1. Georgia Apple Festival
   Ellijay, GA. The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay invite everyone to come and enjoy the 34th year of the Georgia Apple Festival. There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. This year promises many new crafts as well as favorites from past festivals. There is a parade and antique car show each year. The parade is on the second Saturday. 32th Annual Georgia Apple Festival  From the mountains of North Georgia  Event dates: October 9^th, 10^th, & 16^th, 17^th, 2010 (Second and third weekends). Producing 600,000 bushels of apples each fall, Ellijay/Gilmer County is Georgia's Apple Capital, so it's only natural that the second and third weekends of October each year, people from all over the nation come to Ellijay to celebrate the apple. Handmade arts and crafts, homegrown entertainment, and plain old fun, combine with every apple product imaginable to make the weekends a family adventure. Throw in the colorful fall leaves, crisp mountain air, sky-blue days, and star-studded nights and you'll want to visit again and again. Sponsored by the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce and the Ellijay Lions Club, the festivities include a car show and a parade. Call the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce office for more information (706) 635-7400. Also see ELLIJAY CELEBRATES 34 FUN-FILLED YEARS!

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Closed or erroneous

Other websites list these as apple orchards, but they are either permanently closed or not even an orchard.

• Country Apples/Country Hearth  - This is a gift shop, not an orchard
  Phone: (706) 276-6541. P.O. Box 603, Ellijay, GA 30540.  
• Little Bend Orchards - No answer - May be closed / out of business
  3385 Tails Creek Road, Ellijay, GA 30540
  Phone: (706) 635-5898 
• Pat-A-Cake Bakery - it is a bakery! Applejournal.com lists them as an orchard!
  1075 Old Hwy 5 South, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: 706-636-3917 Fax:706-636-3917. 
  They do have fresh apple bread, fried apple pies and other treats! 

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Ellijay Apple Varieties

Below is a listing of the main varieties grown in the Ellijay area. Ellijay Apple season is approximately: August to December. The apples are listed in approximate order of ripening and harvesting.

Apple Variety	Photo	Usually start harvesting	Flavor	Best uses
Gala		August 1	Very sweet	Eating, applesauce, apple butter, pies
Ginger Gold		Early	Sweet	Eating
Detroit Red	Got a  photo to share?	August 1	Tart	Cooking
Ozark Gold	Got a  photo to share?	August 1	Tart	Cooking
Jonathon		August 15	Tart	Cooking
Red Delicious		August 15	Sweet	Eating, good to blend with other apples in applesauce and cooking
Golden Delicious		August 15	Sweet	Eating, good to blend with other apples in applesauce and cooking
Empire		August 20	Tart	Cooking
Honey Crisp		August 20	Sweet, Crisp, Juicy	Eating, Applesauce, Apple Butter, Pies
Mutsu		September 1	Sweet / Tart	Cooking / Eating
Jonagold		September 1	Sweet / Tart	Cooking / Eating
Rome Beauty		September 15	Slightly Tart	Cooking / Eating
Stayman - Wine sap		September 15	Tart	Cooking / Eating
Granny Smith		September 25	Tart	Cooking / Eating
Fuji		October 20	Very sweet	Eating, applesauce, apple butter, pies, cooking
Brae burn		October 20	Sweet	Eating
Arkansas Black		October 20	Tart	Baking, Eating (very hard apple)
Pink Lady		October 25	Sweet	Eating
Yates	Got a  photo to share?	Nov 1	Sweet	Eating

 

 

Home Canning Kits This is the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)! There is also s simple kit with just the canner and rack, and a pressure canner, if your want to do vegetables (other than tomatoes). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here! Average Customer Review: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc. Need lids, rings and replacement jars?  Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes?  Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store! Get them all here at the best prices on the internet!