James MartinWinter is coming! But before the leaves fall off the trees, it’s our tradition to go on an apple-picking adventure to the more rural counties nearby.
Like many apple-loving Haligonians, we drive an hour or more to reach these orchards, and it’s worth it every time. These U-pick farms have all the classic fall activities like petting zoos, corn mazes, and fresh cider pressing that the entire family can enjoy.
Here, we’ve made a list of the best apple farms near Halifax so you can get a jump start on apple picking and other fall activities.
Willowbank U-Pick Farm
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Website: http://www.willowbankupick.com/
Location: Starr’s, 110 Starrs Point Loop, Port Williams, Nova Scotia
Phone: +1 902 542 1999
Business hours: Daily 9 am to 5:30 pm (Sept-Oct)
Rate: Medium bag: $15 (10 lbs.), Large bag: $20 (25 lbs).
Around an hour’s drive from Halifax, you’ll find the Willowbank U-Pick Farm and Equestrian Stables. They have a growing variety of apple trees, many of which are just beginning to bear fruit, so be extra gentle when you’re out there.
The farm is open to the public only during apple-picking season. However, it’s always worth the long wait because of their delicious apples and fun fall activities, such as their pet zoo, corn maze, and pumpkin patches.
We like that they’re wheelchair-accessible and pet-friendly, so everyone in the family can be part of your apple-picking squad.
Noggins Corner Farm
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Website: http://www.nogginsfarm.ca/
Location: 9969 Evangeline Trail, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Phone: +1 902 542 5515
Business hours: Mon-Thu 11 am to 4 pm, Fri-Sun 10 am to 6 pm
Rate: Small bag: $7, Medium bag: $12, Large bag: $18
The Noggins Corner Farm is located in Greenwich, an hour from Halifax. It’s a great place to bring the entire family because they’ve got all the quintessential fall experiences, such as apple picking, pumpkin patches, and a corn maze.
During the fall season, it can get very packed here. To keep the crowds at bay, they might limit the number of people in the orchards per hour, so if you come late, you’ll have to wait in line.
While you’re still waiting for apple-picking season, you can get their produce closer to home at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market.
Daniel’s U-Pick
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Location: 4499 Highway 14, West Hants, Nova Scotia
Phone: +1 902 798 5432
Business hours: Daily 10 am to 5 pm
Rate: Honeycrisp: $3 per lb.; Other apple varieties: $2 per lb.
Daniel’s U-Pick is a long-time favorite, where you can get the best apple varieties for snacking. Whether you prefer sweet, tart, or something in between, they’ve got it for you—Honeycrisps, Gravensteins, Cortlands, and more.
What we like about this farm is that they’ve got cows and horses, which you can say hi to while you’re picking apples. You can even bring your own furry travel companions with you so they won’t miss out on all the fun.
Johnson’s Stonehenge Farm
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Website: https://www.johnsonsstonehengefarm.ca/
Location: 2399 Harmony Road, Aylesford, Nova Scotia
Phone: +1 902 844 1451
Rate: $75 per tree
Nestled in the South Mountain of Annapolis Valley, Johnson’s Stonehenge Farm has the most unique apple-picking experience we’ve seen by far. Here, you can adopt a tree for $75 around June, and they’ll give you a certificate of adoption.
They do all the backbreaking farm work for you, but you get to reap the fruits of their labor. When it’s harvest time, all you have to do is show up and pick the apples from your tree.
We also like that they grow a variety of apples on their farm. From Gravensteins and Cortlands to McIntosh apples, they’ve got everything for cooking, baking, and eating fresh.
Dempsey Corner Orchards
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Website: http://dempseycorner.com/
Location: 2717 NS-221, Aylesford, Nova Scotia
Phone: +1 902 798 5432
Business hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am to 5 pm
Fri 10 am to 7 pm
Sat 10 am to 5 pm
Sun CLOSED
Admission fee: $2
If you’re looking for variety, the best place to visit would be Dempsey Corner Orchards in Aylesford. Aside from having 50+ different apple varieties, they have grapes, pears, pumpkins, and more!
After picking your apples, enjoy the fruits of your labor and picnic on the farm. You can buy savory homemade meals and freshly baked goodies from their shop so you won’t have to pack a lot of stuff on this trip.
They also have a bunch of activities that families can enjoy. From scavenger hunts and wagon rides to live music, don’t miss out on the festivities and soak up the last weeks of fall.
FAQs
When is the best time to go apple picking in Halifax?
The best time to go apple picking in Halifax is from late September to early October when all the apples are ripe.
If you have a favorite variety, you can schedule a trip based on its ripening date. For example, Honeycrisp apples, ripen during early to mid-September and often don’t last into October.
How do you remove apples from a tree?
Pick apples that feel firm and crisp to the touch. Once you’ve found a perfectly ripe apple, lift it slightly upwards and twist it to remove it from the tree.
Never yank the apple or shake the tree’s branches. The snapped-off twigs or branches might seem harmless, but they can make the tree vulnerable to fungal diseases, which can cause long-term problems for the farmers.
