For more than 45 years, Valley Orchard, 811 E. State St., Cherry Valley, has been giving people a reason to celebrate fall with a wide variety of apples, other seasonal fruits, bakery items and home décor.
Each year, new apple varieties are introduced.
“It gives people a reason to keep coming back. Many people say visiting the orchard has become a family tradition,” says Brandon Bergersen, who works at the orchard with his brother, Bret, and their parents, Raoul and Jodie, who are the original owners.
Several apple varieties are new to the orchard this year. Summerset is a crisp, sweet eating apple made from Honey Crisp with Fuji varieties. Ludacrisp, available in October, is a firm, crunchy apple. Rosalee is a firm, sweet and tart apple with a good shelf life and will be available mid-season. Sweet Zinger comes along at the end of September and is a yellow sweet apple good for eating and baking.
It takes two years to produce fruit from newly planted apple trees, Bergersen says. This year, they planted peach trees in hopes that they will produce an abundance of fruit in a couple years.
Valley Orchard is a 35-acre family-owned business with about 5,000 trees producing more than 30 apple varieties. Visitors have a choice of picking their own apples or purchasing pre-picked apples in the store. The orchard also has a bakery, kids play area, props for photos, pumpkins and mums, and floral gardens.
The orchard makes its own 100% pure apple cider with no additives. For the first time, apple cider slushies are available for purchase. The bakery also sells apple cider donuts, apple pie, apple-cinnamon bread, caramel apples and fudge, as well as a variety of jams and jellies, salsas, honey, squash, pumpkins, gourds and more. Fall decorations, linens, candles and other unique seasonal items for the home are also for sale.
The orchard is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. It closes for the season in mid-November.
Valley Orchard is a dog-friendly orchard. Pets much be leashed, socialized, and up to date on their vaccinations.
For more information, call (815) 332-9696. ❚