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Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Southern Minneapolis and southern suburbs, Minnesota in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for apples and pumpkins that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have apples and pumpkins orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Carver County

  • Fall Harvest Orchard - apples, pumpkins
    345 County Road 30 SE, Delano, MN . Phone: 763-972-3894. Email: fallharvest@frontiernet.net. Directions: Located 5 miles west of Delano on County Road 30. Click here for a map and directions. . . from late August, Thursday to Sunday (and Labor Day Monday) 10 am – 6 pm, August 27th to October 30th. Family-oriented orchard on a working farm; 18 apple varieties, pre-picked or pick your own. In season: squash, brown eggs, pumpkins, gourds, calico corn, popcorn & corn bundles. Children will enjoy the farm animals (cows with calves, goats with kids, chickens, turkeys and pigs) in an actual farm setting. Apple House features snacks, gifts and crafts. Free wagon rides. Picnicking welcome. . April 27, 2015: is about to get new owners who intend to keep the orchard going. Watch this space for more information!

Dakota County

  • Afton Apple Orchard - strawberries, apples, raspberries, pumpkins, corn maze, hayrides, weddings, school tours
    14421 So. 90th St., Hastings, MN 55033. Phone: 651-436-8385. Open: Sunday - Wednesday from 7am to 3pm and and Thursday - Sunday 7am to 7pm, weather permitting or until picked out. Click here for a map and directions.
    Afton Apple Orchard Facebook page. . We have 190+ beautiful acres producing delicious Minnesota grown strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins and 13 different varieties of apples that can be picked by our customers at the peak of perfection. Strawberry season starts approximately the second week in June, and runs through mid-July. We are open Always call for an update on picking. Fall Raspberries usually starts early August and goes until mid-October, or until we get a very hard freeze. Our apple orchard is mainly "Pick Your Own" but we do sell freshly picked apples by the peck, 1/2 bushel, and bushel, along with apple cider, honey, jam, maple syrup and other Minnesota grown products. If you like bargains, then come out during the week. It's less crowded and the orchard runs weekday specials. And for great family fun, visit us on the weekends for our hayrides. Throughout our apple season enjoy apple donuts, apple fritters, caramel apples, caramel apple sundaes, hotdogs, chips, soda pop, coffee, hot chocolate and - of course - delicious fresh apple cider all from our concession stand.This huge 15 acre corn maze is calling your name! The maze is divided into 3 phases. Have a wedding, or reception, company event, reunion, retirement party, birthday party, award ceremony, salesperson of the year, finding someone special or getting rid of someone not so special, New Years, or any other get-together in our beautiful building for any special occasion. We can hold up to 300 people inside or many more guests outside. Available are 8' banquet tables, folding chairs, and picnic tables, both inside and outside. We have several options available including tractor drawn hayrides, horse drawn wagon rides, playground, yard games, etc.
  • Applewood Orchard - apples, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), rhubarb, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, U-pick and already picked, snacks and refreshment stand, school tours
    22702 Hamburg Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044. Phone: 952-985-5425. Open: For the strawberry season we are open from 8am to 5pm if there are berries available; Always call before coming for strawberries; You need to call for hours for the raspberry season in late July through October; For apples we are usually open daily from September 1st until October 31st from 9am to 6pm Monday through Saturday and 12pm until 6pm on Sundays; Raspberries July-October. Directions: From the north take Cedar Avenue to 225th Street take a right there, and then a left on Hamburg Avenue From the south take Cedar to 225th take a left there and then a left on Hamburg Avenue We are the first driveway on the left. This year interstate County Road 70 At 35W is under construction, so if you are using 35W take the County Road 50 exit and then continue to Cedar Avenue Take a right on Cedar, continue to 225th and take a right and then a left on Hamburg Avenue. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . Fax:. We have PYO June strawberries that are usually available mid June to Mid July, red raspberries that are available from late July until the first frost and apples from late August until Thanksgving. We have hayrides on the weekends during the apple season, a maze for small children and a haystack for children to play on.
  • Castle Rock Orchard - apples, pumpkins,
    3671 250th Street W., Farmington, MN 55024. Phone: 651-463-7387. Email: starbelly3@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
    Castle Rock Orchard Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 9529179465. . We will start with Zestar in late August. Then the better than ever Sweet Tango, followed by the always refreshing Honeycrisp! Wrapping up with SnowSweet,(ADDED: August 22, 2016)

Rice County

  • Nelson's Apple Farm - pre-cut and cut-your-own Christmas trees, wagon rides (weekends), farm animals, 7 Acre Corn Maze, Gift Shop, and . Crop Maze\\/Labyrinth, Farm Animals (see also Petting Zoo), Apples, Pumpkins
    3270 Douglas Avenue, Webster, MN 55088. Phone: (952) 461-3355. Email: Appleman121@cs.com. Open: Day after Thanksgiving to December 20th, Monday through Friday 1 pm to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a. Directions: Located 2 miles south of New Market and one mile north of Webster. . Click here for a map and directions. . m to 5 pm. Apple Season - Open Daily Monday through Friday 1 pm to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m to 6 pmPick your own apples - 20 different varieties! Apple barn opens September 1 - December 20. Pre-picked and pick-your-own apples & pumpkins, apple cider. You don't have to bring anything but you and your family and friends to the orchard. All apples are within reach from the ground.

Scott County

  • Emma Krumbee's Orchard and Farm - apples, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), events at your location (call for info)
    311 Enterprise Drive East, Belle Plaine, MN 56011. Phone: 952-873-3654. Email: ekgeneralmanager@gmail.com. Open: Sunday to Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm, August 1 to October 31. Directions: South of Minneapolis 25 miles on highway 169, half way between Mankato and the Twin Cities. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
    Emma Krumbee's Orchard and Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 952-873-3006. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Scarecrow Festival: September 14 to October 27, 2013. Typical harvest dates are: Apples Mid August thru October; Pumpkins September thru October; Scarecrow Festival Mid September thru October;
  • Sponsel's Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard - apples, pumpkins, restrooms, picnic area, weddings and wedding parties
    8251 Old Highway 169 Blvd, Jordan, MN 55352. Phone: 952-492-2785. Email: info@225waterstreet.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: From the Twin Cities: Highway 169 South through Jordan. First left after Jordan stoplight on County Road 59. First right at stopsign on County Road 66 / Old Hwy. 169. You will see signs and take a left up the hill to the orchard. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
    Sponsel's Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard Facebook page. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Click here for a map and directions for a map and directions. Formerly known as "Sponsels" Also see our Pumpkin/Corn maze listing and our Christmas listing.
  • Thompson's Hillcrest Orchard - Apples, pumpkins, raspberries
    6271 250th St E, Elko, MN 55020. Phone: 952-461-2055. Email: barbara-a-t@hotmail.com. Directions: Located 15 minutes from Burnsville. Click here for a map and directions. . Friday and Saturday 9 am to 6 pm for 'We-Pick' or 'U-Pick'; Sunday Noon - 6 pm for 'We-Pick' or 'U-Pick'; You are welcome to call for appointments to pick on other days. Apples, raspberries U-pick & pre-picked, 8 varieties (including newest U of M varieties Honeycrisp & Zestar)! Conveniently . Go south on 35W to the Cty Rd 70 exit. Go right on 70. Go left on Cty Rd 27. Go right on 250th Street East. Tours and other group events by appt.

Washington County

  • Aamodt's Apple Farm, Inc. - apples, hayrides, pumpkins, cow train rides, pony rides, petting zoo, winery
    6428 Manning Avenue, Stillwater, MN 55082. Phone: (651) 439-3127. Open: Daily, From 10AM to 6PM, Seasonal hours, August to December . Click here for a map and directions. . Throughout the season Aamodt's takes on a festive atmosphere. Our turn-of-the century farm village comes alive with children's laughter rising from the pony rides & petting farm as fiddlers stroll the grounds. Take a hay ride, or sit back and relax in the pantry with homemade bakery goods & fresh pressed cider. Take a ride in Aamodt's hot air balloons. We added a winery, with apple & grape wines. Enjoy a walk through the orchard & pick your own apples. Visit our website full of info & coupons.
  • Fischer's Croix Farm Orchard - Apples, pumpkins, raspberries, corn maze, pumpkin patch
    County Road 21, Hastings, MN . Phone: 651-437-7126. Email: kjleadholm@aol.com. Open: daily, September to Nov 9:30 am to 6 pm. Directions: Located on the scenic Lower St. Click here for a map and directions.
    Fischer's Croix Farm Orchard Facebook page. . Call for harvest dates, weekend activities, directions or to schedule group tours. Apples, pumpkins, raspberries, corn maze and more. . Croix River, 1 mile north of US Hwy 10 on Wash County Road 21 just 25 minutes south of St. Paul. Over 20 varieties of apples pre-picked or pick-your-own available. PYO fall raspberries, cider, honey, maple syrup, PYO pumpkins and other fall vegetables available. September through October 31 corn maze, weekend hayrides, petting animals and picnic facilities. Enjoy our fall gardens and a stroll through the orchard.
  • McDougall's Apple Junction - Apples, pumpkins, hayrides,
    14325 110th St S, Hastings, MN 55033. Phone: 651-437-6794. Open: 10 am to 6 pm daily, September - December. Directions: Located just 20 minutes south of St. Click here for a map and directions. McDougall's Apple Junction Alternate phone: (651) 480-4701. Orchard . Paul. Four miles S of Afton Alps or 2 miles N of Carpenter's Nature Center on Cty 21 & Cty 78. Apples, honey, pick-your-own pumpkins, jams and jellies, fall vegetables, chrysanthemums, dried flowers, crafts & more. Straw mountain play area, goat mountain, petting zoo, weekend hayrides and a real farm windmill. Make a drive along the beautiful lower St. Croix River Valley an autumn tradition, and be sure to include a visit to McDougall's Apple Junction. Gary and Alice McDougall. (UPDATED: October 1, 2018, JBS)
  • Whistling Well Farm - pumpkins, fall raspberries and apples.
    8973 St Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN 55033. Phone: 651-998-0301. Email: charlie@whistlingwellfarm.com. Open: daily from 9 am to 6 pm; Pick your own apples start Saturday in early September. Click here for a map and directions. . 2 miles south of Afton Alps/Afton State Park on County Rd 21 (St. Croix Trail) and County Rd 76 (90th St). A variety of apples are now available in our market for sale. We grow over 20 of our regions finest varieties of apples.

Apple picking tips:

Apples ripen from the outside of the tree towards the center, so the apples out the outside of the tree will ripen first. Once they are picked, they stop ripening. Picking apples directly from a tree is easy. Roll the apple upwards off the branch and give a little twist; don't pull straight away from the tree. If two apples are joined together at the top, both will come away at the same time. Don't shake the trees or branches. If the apple you are trying to pick drops, (or others on the tree) go ahead and pick it up. They're perfectly fine! But do wash them before you eat them! More info: How to tell when apples are ripe

  • Once picked, don't throw the apples into the baskets, place them in gently, or they will bruise and go bad more quickly.
  • Don't wash apples until just before using to prevent spoilage.
  • For an explanation of why apple slices turn brown and how to stop it, see this page!
  • Keep apples cool after picking to increase shelf life. A cool basement is ideal, but the fruit/vegetable drawer of a refrigerator will work, too. A refrigerator is fine for small quantities of apples. Boxed apples need to be kept in a cool, dark spot where they won't freeze. Freezing ruptures all of an apple's cells, turning it into one large bruise overnight. The usual solution is to store apples in a root cellar. But root cellars often have potatoes in them: apples and potatoes should never be stored in the same room because, as they age, potatoes release an otherwise ethylene gas, which makes apples spoil faster. If you can keep the gas away from your apples, they will keep just fine. Just don't store them right next to potatoes.
    Prevent contact between apples stored for the winter by wrapping them individually in sheets of newspaper. The easiest way to do this is to unfold a section of newspaper all the way and tear it into quarters. Then stack the wrapped apples. See more here: How to store apples at home
  • Apples don't improve or "ripen" after being picked - this is an urban myth - see this page for the truth - with references!

Which apple variety is best?

There are tens of thousands of varieties of apples, developed over centuries. They vary in sugar, acoidity, flavors, storing, crispness and many other attributes. See our guides to apple varieties:

Canning apples - fully illustrated, with step-by-step instructions

Recipes, illustrated with step by step instructions

Using fresh apples and miscellaneous

Pumpkin recipes

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)