Apple Picking Season: 4 Best Apple Orchards in the US

Looking forward to picking apple at this time of the year? USA Today released the best apple orchards in the country.

Most of the winners have been growing able for several generations. In the U.S., Apple orchards have gone a long way since the first apple orchard was planted in 1625 near Boston's Beacon Hill. According to the U.S. Apple Association, more than 7,500 growers are now producing apples in 50 states all over the country.

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Here are the top winners of the Best Apple Orchards:

Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards, Lafayette, New York

Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards has been growing apples for five generations. The family-owned orchard, established in 1911, has been through bouts of a dry year and big freeze that they have improved their agricultural technologies over the years to ensure that quality apples are produced from their farms.

In 1975, they opened their Apple Hill Country Store and bakeshop. They also began making apple cider in the same year and could "flash pasteurize" fresh ciders in the same year. Eventually, they innovated their ciders into hard ciders, and finally into spirits as they launched their premium vodka and gin.

Now on its fifth generation in the apple business, they have made advancements and improvements around the orchards; they have planted 15,000 new apples and renovated their Apple Hill Campus. They also built their 1911 Tasting Room Tavern.

Spicer Orchards Farm Market and Winery Fenton, Michigan

Spicer Orchards Farm Market and Winery are also owned and operated by the Spicer family, growing fruit for five generations. The orchard features a 10,000-bushel storage area, donut shop, bakery, a cider mill for its cider, and Spicer's Carriage House Cellars Winery and Tasting Room.

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Deal's Orchard, Jefferson, Iowa

The history of Deal's Orchard dates back 100 years ago. The 45-acre farm of apple trees has more than 25 varieties of apples in the orchard. In 1917, Frank moved into Illinois, where he and his sons Forrest and Lynn planted 16 hectares of apple trees and the small orchard that was already there.

Today, the orchard is managed by Jerald and Cindy, the grandson of Frank. But the Deal's Orchard has innovated from a fruit farm into a fall family fun where agri-entertainment activities were added.

Libby & Son U-Picks in Limerick, Maine

Libby and Son U-Picks, a family-owned and operated farm, have been growing fruits since the 1950s. The orchard takes pride in its more than 15 acres of blueberries and 12 acres of apple trees for picking. Fresh blueberry donuts, blueberry jams, blueberry honey, blueberry coffee, apple ciders are also available.

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