Places to go apple picking in Toronto and the GTA

by Jeff Cottrill

Who doesn’t like apples? They’re yummy and healthy and a convenient snack. Even if you’re not a fan of them on their own, they’re still great for baking into pies or making juice or cider ... or you could always just give one to a schoolteacher. And they’re everywhere: the farmlands around Toronto are ripe this fall for apple picking. Note that it’s generally a good idea to call in advance before you go, in case the hours suddenly change or the supply is low, and bringing your own baskets and bags is also wise. Remember that farms are rustic, so leave the classy clothes at home. Here are some great places to pick your own apples in Toronto and the GTA.

Chudleigh’s
It’s the 50th anniversary of the year this Halton Hills farm first opened to the public for apple picking. Ginger gold, sunrise, tydeman and wealthy apples are available now, with Macintosh, delicious, gala and others to come. There’s also a play area with a hay maze, slides, swings, friendly farm animals and pony rides. $13 admission for one, $8 per additional person or $45 per family of four.

• Season begins: Late August
• Picking hours: Daily: 10 am to 5 pm
• More information

Dixie Orchards
This Caledon farm has more than twenty varieties of apples available for the picking until October 31, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own apple bags. You can also pick pumpkins and squash here, and the kids can enjoy the corn maze, straw jump, petting zoo and weekend wagon rides. Dixie also has a market rife with apple products, including pies, candy apples, cider and apple butter.

• Season begins: September 2
• Picking hours: Daily: 10 am to 5:30 pm
• More information

Downey’s Strawberry & Apple Farm
The farm formerly known as Berryview starts the picking season in Caledon with ginger gold, Macintosh and Cortland apples, with delicious, honey crisp and empire available later on. Supplies both plastic and cloth apple bags. While there’s no admission fee, there is a $5 minimum picking charge. Wagon rides happen on weekends, and an affiliated market and winery is right across the road.

• Season begins: Late August
• Picking hours: Daily: 10 am to 5:30 pm
• More information

Frootogo Orchards
Run by the Hekman family in Waterdown, near Burlington, Frootogo has Macintosh, gala, empire and other types in September, with delicious, ida red and fortune coming in October. Dwarf-sized trees make the picking job easier for kids. There’s also a Playland for the little ones, with swings, slides, a sandbox and a big and little corn maze.

• Season begins: August 1
• Picking hours: Daily: 9:30 am to 5 pm
• More information

Willis Family Fruit Farm
The Willis Family in Milton grows honey crisp, ginger gold, Macintosh and royal gala apples in early September, with delicious, Cortland, Spartan and others later on. There’s a minimum purchase of $6, or two pounds, unless you buy pre-picked apples at the fruit stand. Pumpkins are also available in the fall. There are also morning wagon rides for kids on days without rain. Check the website for apple recipes.

• Season begins: September 3
• Picking hours: Opens daily at 10 am: closing time varies
• More information

The Big’r Apple Farm
This Brampton-area farm offers royal gala, ginger gold, wealthy and paula red apples for the picking, as well as pears, strawberries and a variety of vegetables.

• Season begins: September
• Picking hours: Weekdays: 10 am to 6 pm, weekends: 9 am to 2 pm
• More information

Brooks Farms
If you don’t mind the drive to Mount Albert, you can come here to pick ida red, Macintosh, golden delicious and royal gala apples until the end of September. A great pick for parents who want to show the kids a good time – there’s a Barnyand Playland full of fun stuff, including animals, rides, swings, slides, a show and much more.

• Season begins: September 9
• Picking hours: Daily: 9 am to 5 pm
• More information

Carl Laidlaw Orchards
More than fifteen apple varieties are available at this orchard near Brampton, as well as three kinds of pears. There’s a tasting wagon where you can sample the different types of fruit, and kids can jump around in the hay barn or play with the toy tractors. Dogs are welcome as long as you keep them leashed and clean up after them. Admission charge not stated on the website.

• Season begins: September
• Picking hours: Weekends: 9 am to 5 pm
• More information

JC Agri Orchards
Formerly known as Country Apple Orchard Farm, JC Agri has MacIntosh, delicious, honey crisp, ambrosia, gala and more at its King City property, which has been family-run for three generations. Bringing your own apple bags is recommended, although the farm sells bags for 25 cents each. The Apple Road Cafe offers snacks and drinks. Season ends on October 31.

• Season begins: September 1
• Picking hours: Thursday to Sunday: 9:30 am to 5 pm, Thanksgiving Day: 10 am to 4 pm; expands to Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning September 19
• More information

Organics Family Farm
If regular apples aren’t up to your standards, come get a wide selection of organic apples at this Markham farm, which has been growing fruit in a more environmentally friendly way since 2001. Well more than a dozen types are available here, plus a number of other fruits and vegetables earlier in the year. You can also get naturally raised meats. $10 admission charge includes one five-pound apple bag.

• Season begins: Late August
• Picking hours: Weekdays, 9 am to 6 pm; weekends, 9 am to 5 pm
• More information

Pine Farms Orchard
Pine Farms in King City has twenty-one varieties of apples on dwarf-sized trees so the whole family can take part. Unlike on some farms, sampling apples “within reason” is permitted during picking here. There’s a bakeshop and cafe onsite as well. Admission is free on weekdays, $3 on weekends and Thanksgiving Day; bags are supplied, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own.

• Season begins: August 15
• Picking hours: Daily, 9 am to 5 pm
• More information

Applewood Farm Winery
The Passafiume family has been running this Stouffville farm for more than four decades, and it offers eleven varieties of apple, from Macintosh and red delicious to sweet sixteen and ambrosia. The winery offers wines and ciders, and there are ten-minute wagon rides by the orchard and pumpkin patch. Check Applewood’s website for its own apple-pie recipe.

• Season begins: September 9
• Picking hours: Wednesday to Friday: 12 pm to 5 pm, weekends: 9 am to 5 pm
• More information

Archibald’s Orchard & Estate Winery
Archibald’s in Bowmanville has been in the pick-your-own biz since 1983 and boasts nearly eight thousand trees with a variety of apples at different times, with Macintosh, honey crisp and Cortland available in mid-September and empire, ambrosia and ida red later on. Guests can drive their cars right onto the apple orchard, and bags are supplied. The onsite winery includes five types of cider.

• Season begins: September 9
• Picking hours: Weekends: 9 am to 5:30 pm
• More information

Pingle’s Farm Market
Apple types available for the picking at this Hampton farm include ambrosia, delicious, Macintosh, royal gala and more. Raspberries and pumpkins are also available in the fall. Bring the kiddies along so they can enjoy the corn maze, the straw maze, mini-golf, an animated farm show, bunnies and other farm animals, a sandbox and weekend wagon rides.

• Season begins: September 9
• Picking hours: Weekdays: 9 am to 6 pm; weekends and Thanksgiving: 9 am to 5 pm
• More information

Watson Farms
This Bowmanville farm greets visitors with a hay-bale sculpture with a happy face on it. The variety of apples available here includes jersey mac, ginger gold and Paula red. There’s also a farm market that’s open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, and tractor rides are available on weekends and Thanksgiving Day.

• Season begins: September 8
• Picking hours: Daily: 9 am to 6 pm
• More information