Where To Go Apple Picking in the Toronto Area
Pick Your Own Apple Farms in Brampton, Milton, Stouffville, Uxbridge
Sep 3, 2009
Is an apple by any other name still an apple? Actually different varieties of apples are good for different purposes. For instance, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Gala, Cortland, Sunrise, Russet, and Fuji apples are great for eating. For baking, Macoun, Empire, Mutsu, Northern Spy and Jonagold are good choices due to their slight tartness while Macoun, Empire, Mutsu and McIntosh also make good applesauce.
Apple picking can make a great family or group event to celebrate the fall. There are several apple farms that are relatively close to Toronto that offer pick-your-own apples, and some include wagon rides and cider:
Stouffville and Uxbridge Apple Farms
- Applewood Farm Winery, 12442 McCowan Road, Stouffville, 905-642-4720 has apple orchards containing McIntosh, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Cortland, Royal Gala, Spartan and Paula Red varieties.
- Devins Orchards, 14847 Warden Avenue, Stouffville, 905-888-1637 has pick-your-own apples including Empire, Cortland, Ida Red, McIntosh, Royal Gala, Northern Spy, Wealthy and a few older varieties. The Orchard Store sells apple pies, cookies and pasteurized apple cider. Wagon rides are available. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon to Fri and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. weekends.
- Siloam Orchards, 7300 3rd Concession Road, Uxbridge, 905-852-9418 has Gravenstein, Novamac, Burgundy, Honeycrisp, Ginger Gold, Wealthy, Silken, Paula Red, Sunrise, Empress, McIntosh, Cortland, Snow, Empire, Macoun, Northern Spy and Russet varieties for picking. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except closed Mondays.
Milton Apple Farms
- Chudleigh's, 9528 Highway 25 North, Milton, 905-878-2725 has McIntosh, Wealthy, Spartan, Sunrise, Cortland, Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Northern Spy, Russet, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Mutsu, Creston, Ginger Gold, Tydemans and Silken varieties for picking.
- Willis Family Fruit Farm, 6063 Fifth Line, 905-876-2606 is open weekends in September and October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has Gingergold, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Mutsu, Empire, Red and Golden Delicious, Golden Russet, Wealthy, Northern Spy, Cox Orange Peppin, Spartan, Gravenstein, Snow, Royal Gala, Jonagold and Macoun varieties for picking.
King City Apple Farms
- Pine Farms Orchard, 2700 16th Sideroad, King City, 905-833-5459 have been in operation for 50 years selling Melba, Wealthy, Spartan, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Cortland, Northern Spy and limited quantities of other varieties. Open Tues to Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Brampton Apple Farms
- The Big'r Apple Farm, Heritage Road, 1 1/2 kilometres north of Steeles, 905-455-8414 is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has Ginger Gold, Gala and Wealthy apples ready for picking now.
- Al Ferri & Sons Orchards and Country Apple Store, 8605 Heritage Road, 905-455-8202 has Cortland, Empire, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jongold and Ida Red varieties for picking. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A great way to make use of freshly-picked apples and reap the rewards of labour is to bake an apple cake, a twist on the traditional apple pie. The recipe below produces a delicious moist and flavourful cake:
Apple Cake Recipe
4 apples (Spy or Golden Delicious)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2/3 cup oil
3 tbsp orange juice
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1. Preheat over to 375 F. Grease an 8 inch springform pan.
2. Peel, halve, core and then slice apples. Place apples in a bowl and toss with 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tbsp
cinnamon.
3. In separate bowl, mix 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt.
4. In separate bowl, blend 1 1/2 cups sugar with 3 eggs. Add 2/3 cup oil, 3 tbsp orange juice, 2 tsp vanilla
extract and 3/4 cup chopped walnuts if using. Add flour mixture to liquid mixture and stir a few times until all
ingredients are mixed.
5. Spoon a thin layer of batter on the bottom of the pan. Put a layer of apples on top. Spread more batter on
apples and repeat layers until apples and batter are used (end with a layer of batter). Bake for one hour.
Cake will be very moist. Cool cake before removing from pan.
Whether going apple picking in Stouffville, Brampton, Uxbridge or Milton, individuals and families will find there are several pick-your-own apple farms with numerous varieties of apples in the Toronto area, which will provide a rejuvenating escape to the country to enjoy fall's bounty.
For information on hiking in Milton, read here.
For information on fall hobbies in Toronto, read here.
For information on afternoon tea in Toronto, read here.
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