Apple Picking Guide to U-Pick Farms

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Apple Picking Guide to U-Pick Farms

Take a bite out of the 'U-Pick' experience.

Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala

Apple Picking Guide to U-Pick Farms

By Anietra Hamper

Posted On: Sep 12, 2021

As we stroll through the sprawling apple orchards at Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala, Kaylyn Stallings remarks that the smell of the orchard is nostalgic. Her father reminds her of the times they used to pick apples together when she was a child and that's likely why the scent is so familiar.

While the acres of orchards ripe with apples seem to be the perfect way to usher in the change of seasons, visitors walk away with more than just bags of Gala or Honeycrisp, they walk away with family memories.

young girl reaching up to pick red apples at Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala Ohio

The Lynd U-Pick orchard is comfortably busy as families with children, couples and even solo apple pickers. Everyone peruses the ripe selection of apples. More than 50 varieties of apples grow in Ohio, each with their own peak time for picking. So what's ripe this week, may be a different variety than what's ripe next week.

We're handed a bag and set off into the orchard. Though the varieties are marked with colored ribbons and explained when we first arrive, it's easy to forget as my eyes get lost in the sea of apple abundance. Fortunately, the farm allows and even encourages a little sampling along the way straight from the branches.

After picking apples, we head to the main section of the farm where a large market is bustling with people buying fresh Ohio produce, jams, peaches, popcorn, cider and beef jerky. As fall draws near, the farm will offer a corn maze and pumpkin picking in the fields.

There's something special about visiting an Ohio farm and taking part in the U-Pick experience. Even if your children are too young to remember the outing today, you can bet that someday - when they do it again - the fragrance of the orchard will bring warm memories of a family tradition and an iconic Ohio experience.

There are dozens of U-Pick orchards throughout Ohio. Remember to check with individual farms to see U-Pick schedules and find out what's in season before your trip. Here are some other apples farms you can visit to get your fall fix:

*Updated Sept. 2021 (this piece was originally published in Sept. 2017)

About the Author

Anietra Hamper

For Anietra Hamper, writing is a passion. Anietra spent nearly 20 years as a top-rated television news Anchor telling thousands of stories that impact people's lives. Now, away from the spotlight, Anietra is a published travel writer. In fall 2013, Anietra was honored to be selected as a member of the prestigious Society of American Travel Writers.

Anietra's zest for exploration and photography has taken her to untouched regions of Vietnam and tribal territories of the Philippines, sharing those journeys along the way through articles and blogs. Anietra is also a correspondent for Child Fund International; one of the largest non-Government Organizations in the world.

Anietra graduated Cum Laude from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio and studied journalism at American University in Washington D.C. She enjoys fishing, photography, fitness and playing with her rescued dog Sunny. You can follow Anietra online at ThreeWordPress.com.

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