Hey Food Finders!

I just got back from a Fall Fun Day of apple and pumpkin picking with friends. It’s mid-October and the apple trees and pumpkin patches are overflowing at our local orchards. It’s the perfect season for a healthy and festive foodie adventure.

When we arrived at the Orchard…

When we arrived at the orchard, we bought a large bag to fill with apples, and picked up our apple-picking-pole. Then we were off to see what we could find. This year we went to two vast orchards with a huge selections. The apple varieties seemed endless. We spent hours walking through the rows of trees scouting for the ripest apples. Sometimes that even meant a little tree climbing (see in pics below)! It also meant a lot of taste testing. I think we all ate our weight in apples and filled our bag until it was overflowing!

Apple Tips and Varieties

These orchards had Cortland, Macintosh, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, Rome, Red Delicious, Winesap, Empire, Jona Gold (my favorite!), Macoun, Fuji, and more! Looking forward to making more of my Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with all of these apples! I found a great chart from the U.S. Apple Association which included the types of apples in season, when they ripen, the flavor and texture of each, and if they go best in a salad, sauce, pie, baked, or just eaten right from the tree (see pic in slideshow below)! They also have a picture of each apple type so you can tell them apart. I was also informed that apples should be kept in the coldest part of your refrigerator and kept damp with a wet paper towel or sponge. For best results, do not store apples on the counter.

Off to the Pumpkin Patch…

Next we were off to the pumpkin patch. There were pumpkins are far as they eye could see. They came in all different shapes and sizes. Some were far too large and heavy for us to carry! The children there with their families were all happily running through the pumpkin patch trying to pick out just the right one. I kept thinking about my friend Linda who makes pumpkin pies from real fresh pumpkins, and how many Roasted Pumpkin Seeds I could make with all of these. YUM!

As we Continued to Walk….

As we continued to walk, we came across cows! This was an unexpected surprise. There was even a wooden cow with rubber udders for people to try their hand at milking without actually having to disturb an actual cow. The cows were so beautiful and sweet. I saw that fresh cow’s milk was also being sold there.

Fall Festivities

Clear across to the other side of one of the orchards was an area with all sorts of fun activities for the children, as well as face painting, hayrides, painted pumpkins, concessions, fresh popcorn, blooming flower pots, and a giant inflatable Jack-o-lantern for Halloween. We finally got to sit and have lunch and enjoy all the hustle and bustle of this section of the orchard.

Last Stop!

The last stop of our Fall Fun Day was to my favorite roadside nursery and country store. I make a trip here at least one a year. I love to look at the blooming flower pots, all their seasonal fresh produce, and their Halloween decorations. Inside the store is so much fun, filled with jams and jellies, all different varieties of mustards, fresh maple syrups, dried beans and soup mixes, vintage memorabilia, an endless variety of incense, and fresh hot apple cider!

Foodie Confessional

Ok now, confession time...The biggest reason I stop here once a year in October is because they make the BEST cider donuts. I try to take my own advice and I always split one with my friends.

Have a Festive Fall Adventure of Your Own!

If you live anywhere near an apple orchard lined with ripe trees and pumpkin patches, as well as all those fun activities for the kids...GO! It is such a blast to spend the day in such a beautiful outdoor environment. If you can bring some children with you, they’re never too young to start learning about healthy eating and healthy living!

And for your Fall Fun Enjoyment…

And for your Fall fun enjoyment… here’s a cute cow video from my day!

IMG_2812 from D P on Vimeo.

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