This fall, support our local community farmers by visiting local pumpkin patches and apple orchards. This is even more important with increased costs for labor and the early freeze and the drought that affected our state.
Please be understanding of your local famers if the usual apple varieties and quantities are limited. Most of our readers are familiar with south metro orchards of Emma Krumbees and Minnesota Harvest, but here are some others you and your family may want to check out, all within driving distance of our Montessori school & child care centers in Lakeville and Prior Lake!
FAMILY OWNED SOUTH METRO ORCHARDS
18605 Biscayne Ave W, Farmington
Open Daily from 10am-6pm
U-pick apples and pumpkins, hayrides to the orchard and pumpkin patch on the weekend (free with he purchase of a U-pick bag). Farm store with salsas, jams, apple cider, donuts, apple cider slush and much more. Plus the sunflowers are currently in bloom and the field is open for pictures!
5531 205th St E, Prior Lake
Open 10am-7:00pm
Family owned U-pick orchard, quiet and quaint. Wagons to pull your kids (and apples) through the orchards.
22702 Hamburg Avenue, Lakeville
Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-6pm
U-pick apples, hedge maze, pedal tractors for kids, playground with slides and climbing walls, photo ops on the antique John Deere tractor. (Corn maze closed for 2021.)
26205 Fairlawn Ave, Webber
Open Fridays-Sundays
This is NOT a u-pick location, but you can visit the 20-acre orchard and purchase apples from their store. Consider reserving a tasting kit (which accommodate up to 6 people), packing a picnic lunch, and buying some fresh-pressed cider, hard cider or apple cider donuts! Visit the chickens, pigs and Greg the turkey. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
TWIN CITIES METRO DESTINATION ORCHARDS
14421 90th St S, Hastings
Open daily, 10am-6pm
U-pick apples, pumpkins, 15-acre corn maze, sweet corn, squash and gourds, blackberries, raspberries (seasonal), sunflowers and zinnias. Admission is $7 for 5+ and $5 for 4 and under. Includes orchard access, huge playground, petting farm, straw mountain, barnyard, giant rocking chair, giant swing, hay rides (10am-6pm on weekends and 12pm-6pm on weekdays). Ticketed activities include jump pad and cow train (open weekends 11am-4pm). Visit the retail store filled with frozen unbaked pies and crisps, jams, fresh local honey, baking supplies, gifts and more.
2755 Rose Avenue, Watertown
Open Wednesdays-Sundays
155 rolling acres along the Luce Line State Trail, this orchard has a 30 acre corn maze, u-pick apples, pumpkin patch and educational nature trail. Available for purchase: honey, maple syrup, apples, pumpkins, gourds, squash. Foods available onsite include apple fritters, mini donuts, burgers, brats, cider and more. Hayrides and kiddie train on the weekends. For kids: sunflower forest, apple slingers, face painting, rock painting, little tot zipline, giant hay mountains, farm animals, corn tent, tire tower, playground and more. Leashed dogs are welcome.
345 County Road 30 SE, Montrose
Open Thursday-Sunday 10am-6pm
U-pick apples and pumpkins, food trucks, live music, Fall Harvest animals, live music, food trucks, new attractions and more! Ticketed activities include: wagon ride, pony rides, corn maze, red train ride, cow train ride, giant corn
28186 Kettle River Blvd, Wyoming
Open Weekends 10-6pm and select weekdays
U-pick pumpkins and apples. Purchase tickets ahead of time to guarantee entry (ages 2 and under are free). Zipline, super slides, cluck truck, swings, tractors, tug-o-war, corn pit, pedal trikes, barrel broncos, corn maze, jumping pillow, giant chair, chatty chickens, ladder ball, pirate band, slide, grain train, spider climber, play area, round bale maze, pumpkin cannon, trolley rides, pumpkin-eating dragon, petting zoo, teepee and more. Ticket attractions: gem mining, pineducky derby, corn cannon
ORGANIC ORCHARDS
3994 Iresfeld Ave NW, Maple Lake
Open Weekends from 10am-6pm and Weekdays by Appointment
If you are in the market for organic apples, visit Breezy Hill. U-pick or pre-picked apples, winter squash, pie pumpkins, and pumpkins.
