Fall is a season of sensory delights. The satisfying crunch underfoot, the scattered acorns on the forest floor, and that first bite of a crisp, juicy Michigan apple.
Michigan has recently climbed to become the nation’s second-largest apple producer, according to data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in August 2024. This marks a shift from its previous position as the third-largest producer. With 17.6 million apple trees in commercial production, the state spans 38,000 acres of orchards, making it a hub for apple cultivation.
For locals, the good news is that 50% of all apples grown in Michigan are sold fresh and ready to eat. As the apple season winds down, it's the perfect time to take advantage of the vibrant yellows, reds, and greens that make their way into pies, sauces, and crumbles.
And don’t forget to leave some apples in the bushel to enjoy on your way home. This weekend is ideal for a scenic fall color tour in the Lower Peninsula. Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa from MLive predicts that October 24–26 will be peak viewing along the shorelines of northern Lower Michigan.
The forests around Lakes Michigan and Huron are currently at their most colorful, according to Torregrossa. On the west side of the state, Crane’s Orchard has introduced its final variety of the year—Braeburn. Other available options include Empire, Jonathan, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, and Cameo. The orchard is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, October 26, before closing for the season.
On the east side, Blake’s Farms is wrapping up its U-Pick season with Customer Appreciation Week from October 27 to November 2. Visitors can enjoy deals on bushels, donuts, cider, pumpkins, and more.
Farmhaus Farms in Grand Rapids offers Fujis for U-Pick this weekend, along with 20 varieties in its market, including popular choices like Honeycrisp and McIntosh.
Down near the Ohio border, Erie Orchards and Cider Mills remains open for U-Pick until November 15. The orchard has posted on Facebook that it still has Red and Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Fuji, Winesap, Jonathan, and Spies available.
If you're driving along M-22, there are only two more weekends left to take home a piece of orchard history.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore allows visitors to take home one bushel of antique apples found in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, but only during the month of October.
Friske Orchards, a beloved spot in northern Michigan, has extended its U-Pick season through Saturday, October 25. The Antrim County orchard has the versatile classic Ida Red ready for your fall cooking and baking recipes.
Looking for more options? Here are ten farms across the state that should be on your bucket list—or bushel list—for fall U-Pick season. You can also find a statewide map from the Michigan Apple Committee, here.
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