Orchards across Pennsylvania blossom and bloom in a rainbow of colors nearly all year long. Spring greens and ripe, red strawberries turn to tart black berries, peachy stone fruits and pastel melons before the final flare of deep greens, reds, rusts and oranges of apples, pumpkins and squash. Besides their markets, many orchards offer pick-your-own throughout the summer, which kicks into high gear in autumn with pick your own apples, hot cider and all the gourds.
Orchards that accept SNAP help to make the seasonal bounty more affordable and accessible to all Pennsylvanians. SNAP EBT cards can be used to pay for fruits, vegetables, seeds, plants and edible roots, bushes and bulbs. At orchards, this includes pick-your-own fruit, bakery items, cider and pumpkins you plan to eat… we’ve got ideas!
To get your fall fix with SNAP, check out these 11 orchards across Pennsylvania:
Highland Orchards
In the Chester County suburbs of Philadelphia, Highland Orchards is abuzz from spring through fall, and beyond. In the market you’ll find its famous apple cider donuts, grocery staples, and fresh fruit of all kinds. Just outside the market is a little wonderland of activity including goats you can feed, a playground for the kids, and seasonal food trucks for a casual bite.
For a real hands-on experience, try berry or apple picking. At Highland Orchards, this is an especially fun time that includes a scenic little ride out to the fields, pulled by a tractor, and tons of trees or plants to pick from. It’s prime for family photo ops as you select the just-right produce to bring home. If you go for apples, figure out the various flavor profiles through posted signage or just asking your driver, who likely has a favorite to suggest. Once you get home with your apple haul, we’ve got tons of tasty, affordable recipe ideas to put those beauties to good use.
The orchard is also supporting Philabundance in 2024 through a food drive and with proceeds from its corn maze, so be sure to get lost in there for a great cause!
Highland Orchards is open Tuesday through Sunday, with pick-your-own hours ending about 2 hours before close. 1000 Marshallton-Thorndale Rd., West Chester; (610) 269-3494.
Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden Orchard
The orchard of Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden is located in southwest Philadelphia inside Bartram’s Garden. It has over 120 fruit and nut trees that are harvested and distributed to the community. Sankofa Community Farm staff and volunteers lead the orchard’s care, harvest and product distribution, with additional support from Philadelphia Orchard Project.
A great way to enjoy the farm and orchard’s bounty is through the affordable Sankofa Farm Stand, accepting SNAP, cash, senior vouchers and WIC Farmers Market vouchers. Find it at Bartram Village, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia on Thursdays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. and at the Clark Park Farmers Market at 43rd St. and Chester Ave., Philadelphia.
You can also volunteer at the Farm, and help care for the fruit and nut trees and other crops. Volunteers work alongside the Farm staff on seasonal planting, harvesting, weeding, invasive species removal and orchard support. There are typically a couple every month on Saturdays, starting promptly at 9:30 a.m. Registration is required, and waitlist or other inquiries can be sent ato Kimani Keaton at [email protected].
The historic Bartram’s Garden is free to the public and open every day, so head on over to see the farm and orchard yourself, and enjoy all that this sprawling horticultural hub has to offer.
Stay tuned to all the happenings by following Bartram’s Garden on Facebook and Instagram and Sankofa Community Farm on Facebook and Instagram.
Bechdolt Orchards
Bechdolt Orchards in the Lehigh Valley offers beautiful seasonal crops and products, both on-site and at places like The Saucon Valley Farmers Market and Peddlers Village.
The orchard grows a range of fruit and vegetables with cherries, plums, corn, peaches and apples being top picks. Try tart, tender McIntoshes or the bright, honey taste of Pink Lady, among many apple varieties. It also makes its own apple cider in flavors like peach, blueberry and plain old apple in addition to goodies like fresh-baked fruit pies, apple cider donuts, peach melba loaf cake, apple butter and cider applesauce.
Bechdolt also taps into the Pennsylvania community of makers, offering products like Aw Shucks Roasted Corn Spice, Kutztown Soda Works soft drinks, Uncle Henry’s pretzels and Longacre’s ice cream for one-stop Keystone shopping.
You’ll find Bechdolt Orchards at 2209 Leithsville Rd., Hellertown; (610) 839-8522.
Beechwood Orchards
Beechwood Orchards in the Adams County fruit belt is a fifth generation, family-run farm with tons to offer. You can visit its market, or shop its produce and products at numerous markets, Wednesday through Sunday. These include the year-round, tri-weekly appearances in Philadelphia at University Square Farmers Market on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Rittenhouse Farmers Market on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Headhouse Farmers Market on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’d like to visit the farm itself, it’s open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 pm., and weekends by appointment only.
Beechwood’s produce includes berries, cherries, peaches, apples, plums, pears and greens like broccoli, asparagus and leaf lettuce. 984 Carlisle Rd., Biglerville: (717) 677-6536.
Brecknock Orchard
Get the full orchard experience at Brecknock Orchard in Lancaster with its pick-your-own crops, family-friendly fall festivals and farm market. Pick-your-own is a must, with no entrance, admission or parking fee and an incredible harvest selection. PYO rhubarb and asparagus kick off the season in April, followed by strawberries, berries, peaches, peppers, eggplant, corn, tomatoes and much more. Simply show up, sign up and gather your goods. Wagons are available for pulling your crop. You pay for what you pick and nothing else.
Brecknock’s Fall Festivals include apple, pumpkin and gourd picking, make-your-own caramel apples and wagon rides (free rides for kids under two). Brecknock’s Farm Tours include a wagon ride, snack, apple picking and goodie bags for all ages. For just $3, add a half hour in the play area where the kids will love a straw maze, games and corn box in the big barn. Grab a coffee and apple dumpling or pumpkin whoopie pie at the bakery and make it a PA orchard day for the books!
Find Brecknock Orchard at 390 Orchard Rd., Mohnton; (717) 445-5704. Follow its Facebook and Instagram pages for updates and events.
Weaver’s Orchard
There are so many reasons to love Weaver’s Orchard. The extensive orchard and year-round farm market offer fresh produce, baked goods, deli products and memorable experiences. Weaver’s puts on festive, family-friendly events throughout the year, like Peach and Pear Palooza, Fall Family Fun Days, Johnny Appleseed Day and the Spring Blossom Experience.
We’d also suggest Weaver’s epic pick-your-own experiences, starting in June and going through October with strawberries, sugar plums, donut peaches, apples and pears to name a handful of the ripe fruit you can harvest. PYO is available Monday through Saturday, with prepaid containers and wristbands for picking. You’ll find tons of great recipes on Weaver’s blog, perfect for making use of bulk produce.
If you’re on-the-go or staying home, Weaver’s has curbside pickup and delivery options for you. Preorder from a wide array of foods and groceries, like PA-made chicken pie, farmhouse brioche bread, mango Greek yogurt or apple cinnamon streusel bundt cake.
Find Weaver’s Orchard at 40 Fruit Lane, Morgantown; (610) 856-7300 and on Facebook and Instagram.
Boyer Nurseries and Orchards
Boyer Nurseries and Orchards, located in south central PA, is in its second century of service. Guests will enjoy the farm market full of goodies. Find fresh fruit starting with June’s cherries and blueberries, stone fruits in August and crisp apples in late summer and fall. You’ll also find fresh veggies and jams, jellies and pickles.
You can also pick-your-own fruit, starting with sweet and tart cherries, then blueberries and, finally, apples. There’s no entry fee and no appointment needed. Sign-up in person or preregister, then grab a bag or bucket and go! Boyer U-Pick is pay by the pound, seven days a week.
The Boyer Cellars tasting room, while not eligible for SNAP payment, does have revolving trivia nights, live music, a variety of wines and cider and lovely farm views to enjoy.
Stay in the loop through Boyer Nurseries & Orchards’ Facebook and Instagram pages, and find them at 405 Boyer Nursery Rd., Biglerville; (717) 677-8558.
Dries Orchards
Dries Orchards has over 200 acres of apple trees producing this orchard’s specialty. At its country market store, you’ll find said apples and its renowned fresh-pressed apple cider. You can also buy freshly baked goods like whoopie pies of all kinds, jams and butters, relish, salsa, pasta noodles, local honey products and other fruit grown in the orchard, including cherries, peaches, grapes and more.
Dries’ products are also available at the Lewisburg Farmers Market every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., year-round.
The Dries Orchards main store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s located at 506 W. Mountain Rd., Paxinos; (570) 286-6723.
Heller Orchards
Heller Orchards, a Luzerne County staple, has a beautiful array of fruits to choose from at its farmers market and at the Scranton Co-Op Farmers Market every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from spring through Thanksgiving.
Heller Orchards grows apples, peaches, pears and cherries. They’ve got an apple for everyone with over 20 varieties, plus Bartlett pears. Stone fruit-wise, there’s yellow, white, and donut peaches, nectarines and sweet and sour cherries.
Along the apple theme, Heller Orchards produces its own cider and throws an annual weekend-long Apple Festival in October with free entry, 100+ vendors that includes bakeries and food sellers, a fruit stand and fun for all ages.
Find Heller Orchards at Orchard St., Wapwallopen; (570) 379-3419 and on Facebook and Instagram.
Sturges Orchards
Sturges Orchards in Pittsburgh is a 65-acre, first generation fruit and veggie farm owned by Aaron Sturges, known locally as the “apple guy.” Sturges applies degrees in horticulture and cider production to keeping trees happy in Fombell and those at a second orchard in Nashville,TN, a source of fantastic peaches.
Sturges specializes in apples, peaches, plums, Asian pears and cherries, which he makes available at markets throughout the PGH area like the four season Bloomfield Saturday Market, Lawrenceville Farmers Market and Bellevue Farmers Market.
Find Sturges Orchards at 1738 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh; (724) 624-0383, on Facebook and Instagram, and at Bloomfield, Lawreneville, Bellevue and other PGH farmers markets.
Orton’s Fruit Market
Orton’s Fruit Market is a longstanding roadside fruit and vegetable market with fresh produce galore, baked goods, honey, cheese, cider, maple syrup, and jams and jellies. You can also purchase fruit trees here, and start an orchard at home.
Love fall apples? Orton’s is your spot for everything from Honeycrisps and Winesap to Ginger Gold, McIntosh and many more beauties. You can also tap into the Erie grape season with Fredonia blue grapes, Niagara, Caco and Concord grapes.
Orton’s also offers special fruit and specialty baskets, loaded with produce from the latest harvest. It’s a great way to bring home fresh bounty, particularly for holidays or get-togethers.
Find Orton’s Fruit Market at 5900 Station Rd., North East; (814) 725-9381.
We hope to see more orchards open up new payment pathways like SNAP and help make the seasonal fun something that everyone can comfortably enjoy!
To find more farm-fresh retailers accepting SNAP near you, use this retail locator. Join the conversation on our Facebook and Instagram pages and tell us which orchards you love, and which we should add to the list!
- Volunteers at Bartram's Garden: Steve Legato/Bartram’s Garden
- Feature photo: Bigstock
- All other photos: courtesy of the respective businesses
