Apple orchard guide: Where to go for your cider fix in Southeast Michigan
Apples, doughnuts, hayrides and cider. Fall has officially arrived and that means Michigan’s apple season is well underway. A trip to area apple orchards can mean fun apple picking amid beautiful views of sprawling orchards.
Area apple orchards and cider mills are geared up for this season and many stay open well into November.
This year's harvest is a strong one. The Michigan Apple Committee pegs this year’s apple crop to come in at a whopping 32 million bushels, nearly as much as last year's record bushel buster.
Here's a sampling of area apple orchards and cider mills. Many of the area cider mills are historic and date back more than 100 years. For more apple orchards throughout the state, visit michiganapples.com.
Be sure to check websites and Facebook pages for opening days, hours of operations and product availability. Some farms and apple orchards have already picked apples and others offer U-pick. If you're after a favorite apple like the much-loved Honey Crisp, be sure to check with the individual orchards for apple variety availability and, if available, picking times.
Livingston County
Grainger's Orchard & Cider Mill
Where: 2588 Pinckney Road, Howell
For info: 517-242-3902
Markillie Orchard
Where: 5200 N. Latson, Howell
For info: 517-546-3485 or markillieorchard.com
Parshallville Cider Mill
Where: 8507 Parshallville Road, Hartland Township
For info: 810-629-9079 or parshallvillecidermill.com
Spicer Orchards
This long-time family-owned Spicer Orchards has a variety of apples, farm activities and events. Its market and winery are open year-round.
Where: 10411 Clyde, Fenton
For info: 810-632-7692 or spicerorchards.com
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Macomb County
Big Red Apple Orchard
This orchard is under new ownership and opens this weekend for the season. They will have a kids zone, cider, doughnuts and a Michigan Market.
Where: 4900 W. Thirty-Two Mile, Washington Township
For info: 586-752-7888 or bigredorchard.com
Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill
A family-run operation Blake's has more than 40 varieties of apples, makes hard cider and has a tasting room. They also operate nearby Blake's Backyard Almont, 5600 Van Dyke (at 38? Mile) in Almont.
Where: 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada
For info: 586-784-5343 or blakefarms.com
Blake's Big Apple
This Blake's outpost is known for its orchard and pure apple cider, a children's play area and other activities.
Where: 71485 North Ave., Armada
For info: 586-784-9710 or blakefarms.com
Brookwood Fruit Farm
This 6th generation farm grows more than 50 varieties of apples, according to its website. The family-run farm also makes fresh cider weekly.
Where: 7840 Bordman Road, Almont
For info: 810-798-8312 or brookwoodfruitfarm.com
Hy's Cider Mill
Open weekends only, Hy’s also offers a variety of u-pick apples. Check its website for a pick-your-own variety schedule.
Where: 6350 37 Mile, Romeo
For info: 810-798-3611 or hyscidermill.com
Stony Creek Orchard & Cider Mill
Offers pick your own apples and raspberries on weekends only.
Where: 2961 W. 32 Mile, Bruce Township
For info: 586-752-2453 or stonycreekorchard.com.
Verellen Orchards
Where: 63260 Van Dyke, Romeo
For info: 586-752-2989 or verellenorchards.com
Westview Orchards & Winery
There is a wide variety of activities on this family-owned farm that has apples for u-pick and cider. Westview also has a winery offering many events into wine tastings along with a food menu that includes a selection of boards from charcuterie to cheese to butter boards.
Where: 65075 Van Dyke at 30 Mile, Washington Township
For info: 586-752-3123 or westvieworchards.com
Monroe County
Bennett's Orchard
Where: 5647 Consear, Ottawa Lake (between Dundee and Toledo, off U.S. 23, Exit 3)
For info: 734-854-2523 or bennettsorchard.com
Erie Orchards & Cider Mill
Where: 1235 Erie Road, Erie
For info: 734-848-4518 or erieorchards.com
Oakland County
Ashton's Orchards & Cider Mill
Where: 3925 E. Seymour Lake Road, Ortonville
For info: 248-627-6671
Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill
Where: 1479 Ranch, Holly
For info: 248-634-8981 or diehlsorchard.com
Blake’s Lyon Township
Formerly Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill, the orchard is now owned and run by the Blake family of farms. Along with apples, doughnuts and cider, there are activities for kids.
Where: 61475 Silver Lake Road, South Lyon
For info: 248-437-0150 or blakefarms.com
Franklin Cider Mill
This popular, long-time cider mill also features an open-air market and the Apple Shack with a selection of seasonal apples and its Franklin Tent with homemade jams, maple syrup, honey meats and cheeses. There’s also a monthly book hour in collaboration with the Franklin Village Library on Saturday mornings. On Saturdays and Sundays, there’s mellow jazz and guest vocalists and musicians.
Where: 7450 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills
For info: 248-626-2968 or franklincidermill.com
Goodison Cider Mill
This cider mill is home to pistachio nut bread. The cider mill is open daily until Thanksgiving Eve. After Thanksgiving, they are open on weekends only until Christmas Eve.
Where: 4295 Orion Road, Rochester
For info: 248-652-8450 or goodisoncidermill.com
Long Family Farm and Cider MillThe cider mill is now open, according to a recorded message at the farm. Long Family Farm takes credit cards only as payment.
Where: 1540 East Commerce Road, Commerce Township
For info: longsorchard.com
Paint Creek Cider Mill
Here, the cider is made from apples picked at its family-owned farm in northern Michigan, according to its website.
Where: 4480 Orion Road, Oakland Township
For info: 248-656-3400 or paintcreekcidermill.wixitesite.com
Rochester Cider Mill
Established in 1981 by the Barkham family, Rochester Cider Mill produced unpasteurized cider. Using a variety of apples from area orchards, the cider is "never the same from week to week," its website says.
Where: 5125 N. Rochester Road, Rochester
For info: 248-651-4224 or rochestercidermill.com
Yates Cider Mill
Established in 1863, Yates is celebrating 160 years and six generations in 2023. Yates also has a store at Canterbury Village, 2375 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion.
Where: 1990 E. Avon, Rochester Hills
For info: 248-651-8300 or yatescidermill.com
Washtenaw County
Alber Orchard & Cider Mill
Where: 13011 Bethel Church, Manchester
For info: 734-428-9310 or alberorchard.com
Dexter Cider Mill
Family-owned and operated since 1886, this cider mill makes unpasteurized cider and bakes doughnuts daily. New this year is the opening of its hard cider tasting room. The cider mill makes unpasteurized cider and bakes doughnuts daily.
Where: 3685 Central, Dexter
For info: dextercidermill.com
Lesser Farms Orchard and Cider Mill
Where: 12651 Island Lake Road, Dexter
For info: 734-426-8009 or lesserfarmsdexter.com
Obstbaum Orchards & Cider Mill
Where: 9252 Curie, Northville
For info: 248-468-9180 or obstbaum.com
Wiard's Orchards & Country Fair
Wiard's boasts a Country Fair Wednesday-Sunday with plenty of attractions. There's a petting farm, wagon rides, corn maze, playground area and u-pick apples. Country Fair tickets sold online.
Where: 5565 Merritt, Ypsilanti
For info: 734-482-7744 or wiards.com
Wayne County
Apple Charlie's South Huron Orchards and Cider Mill
Where: 38035 S. Huron, New Boston
For info: 734-753-9380
Parmenter's Northville Cider Mill
Where: 714 Baseline Road, Northville
For info: 248-349-3181 or northvillecider.com
Plymouth Cider Mill & Orchard
This farm is now a certified working organic farm, according to its website. Many organically grown vegetables are offered. The farm is open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Where: 10685 Warren Road, Plymouth
For info: 734-455-2290 or plymouthorchards.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan apple orchard guide: Where to go for cider, doughnuts, U-pick
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