Find Apples and Pumpkins Galore at Weaver’s Orchard This Fall

Is there any better place to spend a crisp, sunny autumn day than Weaver’s Orchard? Between the pick-your-own apples, pumpkin patch and bustling farm market, there’s tons of fun to be had. Read on to learn how you can enjoy the harvest season at Weaver’s Orchard.

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Apple picking is a cherished fall tradition at Weaver’s Orchard. Pick-your-own is open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m.–5 p.m. On Saturdays, pickers can fill a 10-pound bag for $19 and a 20-pound bag for $27, with a $3 discount on both sizes other days of the week.

Weaver’s Orchard grows over 30 distinct varieties of apples, so there’s a favorite fruit for every palate. Through October 14, visitors can find Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Shizuka, Blushing Gold, Empire, Stayman, Suncrisp, Crispin, Gala and MacIntosh apples in the orchard. In terms of late bloomers, Fuji, Cameo and Braeburn apples are popping up around now, while Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples will be available by early November.

Did you arrive too late or too early in the season to find the type of apple you’re looking for? Not to worry: the Weaver’s Orchard farm market is likely to have it on hand. The farm market has cold storage facilities, so apples from the orchard are available all year round. While you’re stopping by, be sure to pick up some freshly pressed apple cider and homemade apple cider donuts.

Fun fact: Weaver’s Orchard grows all its apples on dwarf trees, so they’re easier to reach—especially for kids!

Peruse the Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin patch at Weaver’s Orchard is bursting with pumpkins just waiting to be picked. Not sure if a pumpkin is ripe? Here’s how you can tell:

• Ripe pumpkins will be surrounded by yellow-green leaves.  
• Drum on the pumpkin lightly. If you hear a hollow sound, the pumpkin is ready to be picked. (Sound familiar? This is the same strategy for picking out ripe watermelons at the grocery store.)
• The skin of a ripe pumpkin feels like a hard shell when pressed upon.

Now that you’ve found the pumpkin of your dreams, what are you going to do with it? Sure, pumpkins look great as decorations, and pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving classic. But if you’re looking for more creative uses for this spectacular squash, be sure to obtain an edible variety and consider making one of these recipes:

Aunt Deb’s Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 15 ounces of homemade pumpkin puree (or 1 15 ounce can)
• 1 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Cream Cheese Icing:

• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar (or less, if you prefer your icing less sweet)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix sugar, pumpkin, oil and eggs together. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cloves; gradually add to pumpkin mixture. Mix well. Pour into greased cake pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes.
3. To make the icing, mix together cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Gradually add sugar; mix until desired consistency. Spread over cake and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Pumpkin Spice Maple Latte Syrup

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree, juice of butternut squash or cooked butternut squash puree
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom or ginger
• 1 cup maple syrup

Method

1. Bring pumpkin puree, water, vanilla and spices to a boil; simmer for 30 minutes until cooked down.
2. Run through a cheesecloth to remove excess chunks of spices. You should be left with about a cup of liquid. If you have less than this, measure the amount left so that you can use equal parts maple syrup.
3. Transfer mixture to a glass pint jar, add maple syrup and stir until mixed. If you prefer to go totally sugar-free, you can omit the maple syrup (or use sugar-free maple syrup), or add your preferred sweetener to your coffee separately.
4. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of this mixture per cup of coffee or latte. Top with steamed milk or whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg.

But Wait …There’s More

Weaver’s Orchard hosts Fall Family Fun Days every Saturday through the end of October. Kids’ activities include pumpkin painting, an inflatable obstacle course and a barrel train, while those of all ages can enjoy hayrides and live music. And of course, there’s tons of delicious homemade treats, including caramel apples, apple cider donuts, apple fries and homemade French fries.

Can’t get enough of Fall Family Fun Day? You can buy a season pass at the ticket booth—just $7 for adults and $15 for children for admission to all fall festivals.

Find Weaver’s Orchard at 40 Fruit Ln. in Morgantown; phone: (610) 856-7300.

• Pumpkin photo: Pexels
• All other photos: Weaver's Orchard