Apple Picking Near Me in Grottoes
Wayland Orchard
6474 Apple Green Lane, Crozet, VA
Chiles Peach Orchard and Farm Market
1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA
Henley's Orchard
2192 Holly Hill Farm, Crozet, VA
History:
Henley's Orchard is located in beautiful Crozet, VA, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just west of Charlottesville. The orchard was established in 1932 by Joseph T. Henley, Sr. He earned a degree in agriculture from VPI&SU and was Virginia’s first fruit inspector. Joe originally purchased the land, 5 acres, for use as an apple orchard and, over the next 28 years, he was able to purchase and lease more acreage to expand the apple orchard, establish a peach orchard, start a herd of cattle, and grow many acres of hay. The farm and orchard was passed on to Joe’s son, Joseph T. Henley, Jr., who further expanded the operation, and then it passed on to his grandson, Tim Henley.
Today, Tim and his wife, Sarah, run the orchard with their children, Jacquelyn, Brook, and Steele. Tim and Sarah expanded the wholesale market to Richmond and Harrisonburg and have upgraded their retail sales location, which is known as “The Shed.” They have continued all aspects of the family farm operation, and proudly serve Crozet and the surrounding counties.
Peaches, nectarines, and apples are picked fresh, from the middle of June until the end of October. Late-season apples are kept in cold storage and are available throughout the winter until April. Henley’s Orchard uses low-spray practices, and Henley fruit is carried by local markets all over Central Virginia. Caterers and restaurants with the highest standards of quality prefer Henley's Orchard fruit, the finest in Virginia.
Critzer Family Farm
9388 Critzer Shop Road, Afton, VA
Goals
- Provide for you the freshest, best tasting and healthiest produce that you can find.
- Provide a friendly down home atmosphere for you and your family to enjoy.
- Stand behind a five generation commitment to leave the land and community better than when we found it! (Using methods that are environmentally friendly).
- Although we don't have kids, we love kids and want them to grow up understanding the value of hard work and integrity. We also want them to experience a bit of farm life so they can know and see where their food actually comes from, and to see some of the work behind what it takes it to get there.
- Finally on a personal note...To be able to pay our bills when all is said and done.
Showalter's Orchard and Greenhouse
17768 Honeyville Road, Timberville, VA
Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Family Owned and Operated, we've been in business since 1965. Our Orchard is located on approximately 40 acres with breath taking views of the Valley. We grow over 26 varieties of Apples and we press and bottle Our Famous Apple Cider on the premises. It is available in our market from mid September thru Christmas each year. You can also find it in a number of local shops and groceries. The apple harvest season generally begins in early August and continues thru November.
After a brief rest, Greenhouse Season gets underway in early April. We feature plants that are grown with tender loving care in our greenhouses. We offer a wide selection of vegetable plants, bedding plants, patio planters and perennials. We take pride in the care our plant material receives. In the spring, we offer numerous seminars featuring our highly popular Make it, Take it Container Class. Whenever you choose to visit, be sure to bring your camera so you will be able to capture the beautiful sights of the season!!!
Davidson's
8977 Irish Road (Route 6), Faber, VA
Carter Mountain Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, VA
Just minutes from downtown Charlottesville and Monticello, visitors overlook lush groves and breathtaking views of the valley below. Against this stunning backdrop, families and friends pick sun-ripened peaches and crisp apples while breathing in the fresh mountain air. From season to season, there’s always something fun!
Fitzgerald's Orchard
301-715 Harpers Creek Ln, Tyro, VA
Paugh's Orchard
5591 Senedo Road, Quicksburg, VA
Silver Creek and Seamans Orchards
5529 Crabtree Falls Highway, Tyro, VA
In 1959 Silver Creek Packing Shed was started as a packing facility for Silver Creek Orchards and Lea & Seaman Orchard. The founding families were John T. Morton, Silver Creek Orchards; and Alton R. Seaman & Joyce Seaman, Lea & Seaman Orchard. The packing facility became Flippin-Seaman, Inc. in 1974. At that time, the families involved in the packing process were the George Flippin and Alton Seaman families. Eddie Seaman was in charge of the packing shed, while Bill Flippin (Silver Creek Orchards) and Richard Seaman (Seamans' Orchard) were involved with the day to day operations of their orchards.
In 2012 Flippin-Seaman, Inc. changed its name to Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchards, Inc. The owners wanted to incorporate both Orchard names in the business name. Today, John & Ruth Saunders, Richard Seaman, and Anne Kidd run the operations at Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchards, Inc. (SCSO). Richard is in charge of the packing shed, as well as his own orchards. Ruth Saunders, and her husband, John Saunders, run Silver Creek Orchards. Richard has his nephew, Carter Parr, his son-in-law, Brian Kidd, and his daughter, Anne Kidd helping with Seamans' Orchard. Over the years the family members operating SCSO, Inc have changed, but the great pride in providing our customers with the finest apples remains the same.
Drumheller's Orchard
1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane, Lovingston, VA
History
Drumheller's Orchard was established in 1937, when Everette (E.O.) and Eva Drumheller purchased the property from the Horsley Family; once an unattended farm with abandoned fruit trees.
The land was then cultivated and new orchards were started which included peach and apple trees. The original packing shed was built in the early 40's and would undergo expansions three times. Darrell Drumheller started working the farm with his parents in 1957, playing major role in the orchard's history with the design of a 110 gallon apple butter kettle with an electric stirrer. Darrell's three sons worked on the farm after they finished school. His daughter helped out at different times. Kevin remained on the farm and began to manage the farm with his mother Doris, after Darrell's death in 2005. Kevin's daughter Morgan joined the family operation in 2008, and has contributed by developing the website and other marketing tools. She also helps with sales, festival, and school groups in the fall.
The fall festival began in the 70's with apple butter making and selection of apples. Todays festivals include hayrides to the pumpkin patch and corn maze, 2 apple sling shots, crafter, food vendors, live music, fresh cider, apple pies, cakes, and a good family atmosphere.
By continuously planting more varieties of peaches and apples each year it has allowed us to expand our harvest and distribution seasons. A new sales area and kitchen has been added where pies, cakes, jams, jellies, ice cream, cobblers, and more will be made.
Seamans Orchard
415 Dark Hollow Road, Roseland, VA
History
In 1933, the Lea brothers began farming in Nelson County, Virginia. Their hard work created a family agricultural business, Seamans' Orchard. The farm was managed by them until the second generation assumed responsibilities. By 1945, Alton R. and Joyce Lea Seaman ran the farm operations. Together, along with their children the Seaman family managed Seamans' Orchard until 1980 when it passed to the next generation.
Today, Seamans' Orchard LLC is still a family-owned and operated business. Grandson of the original founder, Richard Seaman oversees farm operations. Carter Parr (top photo), one of the great grandchildren, and Brian Kidd, Son-In-Law of Richard Seaman are involved as fourth generation farmers. Anne Seaman Kidd, another great-grandchild is part of the operation as well.
In addition to apples and beef cattle, pumpkins, cherries, blueberries, and strawberries are also grown at Seamans’ Orchard.
Little has changed over 81 years and the Seaman family remains steadfast in its commitment to provide the finest products Mother Nature will allow.
Dickie Brothers Orchard
2685 Dickie Road, Roseland, VA
About:
Dickie Brothers is one of the oldest SAME family OWNED and operated farms in the u.s.a.
Dickie Brothers Orchard has been in our family since England's King George II sold three tracts of land to our Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather James Dickie in 1752, 1758 and 1760. Grandpa James was required to begin working the land within 3 years. Our family has been farming this land ever since... 265 years and 8 generations. Now, that's sustainability!
Brothers, Tommy and John Bruguiere are members of the seventh generation to manage Dickie Bros. Orchard and the eighth generation help out on the farm, too.
We owe our ability to continue farming to our parents, Tom and Emilie Dickie Bruguiere. Thankfully, Tom and Emilie decided this farm was where they wanted to raise their children. Emilie inherited about 100 acres when her parents passed away and the farm was divided between Emilie and her three sisters. Emilie and Tom bought their house from Uncle Herbert Dickie and then began the long process of purchasing hundreds of acres from various family members. After forty years, they had purchased over 500 acres of the original lands and we are forever grateful for their dedication to our family.
We have never received or asked for a subsidy from taxpayers to help us run our farm. We grow a quality product and sell at the lowest price we can in order to help our customers have quality food at a fair price.
When mother nature decides to allow us to grow a full crop, we harvest 70,000 bushels of apples per year! But, we don't just grow a few varieties of apples... we grow 20 different varieties of apples as well as peaches, nectarines, plums, blackberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and much more.
We also raise beef cattle, have Saddlebred horses and various colors of Labrador Retrievers running around the orchard.
Alongside Little De Priest Mountain on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains (near Crabtree Falls), the cool mountain air gives our apples great color and excellent flavor. The view from our orchard is the envy of almost anywhere in the United States, especially when the Fall foliage is in full color and the apples are fresh on the trees.
We invite our customers to "Pick Your Own Apples" all season and experience nature's beauty here with our family at Dickie Brothers Orchard.
Graves Mountain Lodge
205 Graves Mountain Lane, Syria, VA
About:
At Graves’ Mountain Lodge, making folks feel welcome is more than just our job, it’s a time-honored tradition established over the last 135 years. Our family-owned and operated rustic mountain retreat is well known for its down home hospitality, not to mention all the home cooked food you can eat, unrivaled for natural beauty, and a wide range of outdoor activities sure to please every member in your family.
Kipps Grapes
6943 South Blue Ridge Turnpike, Rochelle, VA
History
In the mid 1950s, Ward Kipps set out four grape vines and a fruit tree or so for family use. Well, the soil was great, his thumb was green, and things just took off! More vines and trees were propagated and acquired over the years. At one time, when he was participating in a grape development program run by Virginia Tech, he had more than 150 different varieties of vines!
While Ward hadn't planned to sell fruit (he repaired and sold radios and TVs), things evolved that way when the hobby outgrew the needs of the family. He started the PYO business to handle the excess. Today, Ward's wife, Beth, and their sons, daughter, and grandchildren continue the business, turning it into a three-generation affair! Like Ward, we established other careers before getting into fruit. Maybe you'd like to take guesses as to who works with livestock, computers, plants, learning, or cell cultures.
Ward had a great memory, and knew nearly every vine and tree by heart. We have done a lot of guesswork, but some plantings remain unidentified. We welcome you to taste a grape or two from several vines before choosing which you wish to pick. Enjoy the scenery while you make your selection.
Most vines are Concords and similar-tasting varieties. Fredonias ripen about two weeks before the Concords. Another early grape is the Moored - developed here in Virginia by the folks at Virginia Tech. It is a red slip skin and very sweet. We have a small section containing French hybrids.
Saunders Brothers Inc
2717 Tye Brook Highway, Piney River, VA
History
The date was 1915. Five brothers from a family of eleven children decided to form a partnership and share the money that had been made trapping rabbits, and Saunders Brothers was born. With the coming of the Great Depression, money became tight. Although most were forced to take jobs elsewhere, three brothers maintained the family farm through farm helpers and sharecroppers, pitching in themselves during harvest time. They shipped apples in three-bushel barrels overseas, and when a neighbor received an unheard-of price of $1.00 for a bushel of peaches, they planted around 70 acres of peaches, almost overnight!
After World War II, prices of peaches fell, and expenses soared. As demand for more green Elberta peaches declined, the brothers began planting newer red varieties. They also expanded the cattle herd. The original Saunders Brothers declined to only two brothers, Sam (my father), and Dick (my uncle) - they were full partners until my father's death in 1967.
I propagated my first boxwood in the spring of 1947. A multi-talented science teacher and my mother showed me how to make cuttings for propagation. Intrigued, I chose the north side of the red clay, piney-thicket hillside as my propagation site. An 11-year old friend helped me with the project. We stuck 77 slips into the red earth, which was cooled by its northern exposure, and the pines kept off the hot sun. we watered them every few days from the little spring branch that was at the bottom of the hill. From this almost impossibly primitive beginning, 25 of the plants rooted. I was truly excited, and at the age of 13, bought out my partner.
Encouraging my interest, my father fenced off a corner of the barn lot near an old woodpile for my nursery. The manure that had accumulated for years in the milk cow lot, plus organic matter from the woodpile, provided a nearly ideal environment for my venture. This boxwood money helped pay for my wife's engagement ring and my first Ford car. I became very busy running a surveying business to make money to feed a house full of boys. Needing room to expand, I chose to plant the boxwood on the fertile river bottom land. Then I made the observation that people were beginning to grow plants in containers. My wife, Tatum, helped out driving around in a pickup truck full of children to county schools and the local pie factory, picking up discarded gallon tins.
On August 30, 1969, Hurricane Camille dumped more than twenty inches of rain on our countryside in one horrible night of destruction and loss of life. Almost all of our ten acres of plants on the river bottom were destroyed, along with the container nursery on the riverbank. Only a few plants near an old orchard reservoir in a grove of pines survived. With this as a nucleus, the container nursery was re-established. Eventually our customers wanted our boxwoods in plastic containers and we changed to suit their needs.
As time passed, my seven sons went away to college. Then, one by one, several of them returned. Tom and his wife, Lyn, both horticulturists, came home to work in the nursery. Bennett took over field production as well as the peach orchards, most of which he converted into more productive apple orchards. Robert returned to help us with our construction program of new plastic houses, then later became our salesman. Next, Jim, who began as a county extension agent, returned to help with our cattle, and has taken over our personnel duties. Two other biological sons, Massie and Sam worked in the business at one time. Each chose to leave and now have their own businesses and both live in Nelson County. Sam is a landscaper and Massie is a Land Surveyor and Engineer. Along the way, Frank, a French-Canadian by birth and a master mechanic, became another member of our family team. These four sons, my wife, Tatum, Frank, and Lyn are the team today. Along with many valuable workers, customers, and friends, we have created memories for the past 90 years, and continue to do so today.
Honey Hill Farm
14412 Senedo Road, Mount Jackson, VA
Crump's Little Orchard
2150 Indian Creek Road, Amherst, VA
Thornton River Orchard
11587 Lee Highway, Sperryville, VA
We are a family owned and operated business, with 3 generations in the fruit production industry. We offer fresh fruits grown on site and other various produce items, as well as locally sourced market items. We have a large variety of canned goods ranging from jams, jellies, salsa, pickles, and beets. On our shelves you will also find 5 brands of local raw honey.
Jenkins' Orchards
355 Yancey Road, Woodville, VA
We are a family owned orchard since 1954. Our season begins in mid June till Mid December. We are growers of peaches, plums, apple and pears.