It's apple picking season, Ohio! Here are places to pick the fall treat near Columbus

It's apple time in Ohio again. Whether you'd like to pick your own or grab a pre-picked bag, orchards in Greater Columbus will have you covered.

Early varieties are out now, with other types arriving every week through October.

Make a game of finding as many obscure types of apple as possible around the area, or check out the other options some orchards offer: apple cannons, other fruit and vegetables, cider, food trucks and more.

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As always, be sure to check an orchard's website or Facebook page before you head out, particularly if you are planning to pick your own fruit. Weather conditions, varied ripening schedules and crowds all affect whether an orchard will offer picking. Also check websites and social media to see what varieties of apple are currently available.

Fairfield County

Hugus Fruit Farm

1960 Old Rushville Road NE, Rushville

Open: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays

You pick? No

Highlights: Third-generation farmers growing dozens of varieties of apples as well as Asian pears and producing homemade cider treated with UV radiation rather than heat pasteurization.

Information: 740-536-9590, hugusfruitfarm.com

Ochs Fruit Farm

2161 Pleasantville Road, Lancaster

Open: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays

You pick? For flowers, not for apples

Highlights: Family-run since 1872, the farm produces more than 100 varieties of apples, along with other fruits and vegetables, and has a well-stocked farm market.

Information: 740-652-5758, ochsfruitfarm.com

Paige's Produce

7975 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road SW, Amanda

Open: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays

You pick? Yes

Highlights: Farmers are happy to give you a ride out to the orchard and offer advice on apple varieties. The farm stand offers other homegrown fruits and vegetables.

Information: 740-601-8419, www.paigesproduce.com

Licking County

Branstool Orchards

5895 Johnstown Utica Road NE, Utica

Open: You pick, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; market, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

You pick? Yes, for apples, peaches and flowers

Highlights: Though specializing in peaches, the orchard also branches out into apples. Look for a farm market loaded with sweet, fruit-based treats. Dogs welcome for the you-pick experience.

Information: 740-892-3989, www.branstoolorchards.com

Charlie's Apples

1740 Sportsman Club Road, Newark

Open: Late September or early October; check website for details

You pick? Yes

Highlights: A certified-organic offering a small but tasty selection of apples. Also offers “U-Pick-Up,” where apples can be ordered to be picked up at the farm or local farmers markets.

Information: 740-350-4270, www.charlies-apples.com

Legend Hill Orchards

11335 Reynolds Road, Utica

Open: Market, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. You pick, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. through 3:45 p.m. Sundays

You pick? Yes, peaches and apples

Highlights: A fifth-generation farm offering peaches as well as apples, with a farm market selling cheese, jam, candy, vegetables and more.

Information: 740-892-2498, www.legendhillsorchard.com

Lynd Fruit Farm

Apple picking locations vary. Farm market located at 9399 Morse Road SW, Pataskala

Open: Market open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Apple picking times vary: check hotline for information

You pick? Yes

Highlights: Large numbers of a variety of apples, a huge market with new offerings weekly and the opportunity to shoot an apple cannon (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at 9851 Morse Road SW, Pataskala)

Information: 740-927-8559 for market, 740-927-1333 for apple hotline, lyndfruitfarm.com

Madison County

The Orchard and Company

7255 Route 42 South, Plain City

Open: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

You pick? Yes

Highlights: If you still have energy to burn after picking apples, the orchard offers a “farm yard pass” for $5 (kids 2 and younger free), which includes an animal barn, pedal-cart track, “moo moo express” and much more.

Information: 614-873-0510, www.theorchardandcompany.com

Union County

CherryHawk Farm

16220 Springdale Road, Marysville

Open: Check website or Facebook for times

You pick? Yes

Highlights: A wide variety of apples, including some unusual ones, as well as local honey.

Information: 937-642-6442, cherryhawkfarm.com

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It's almost apple picking season, Ohio! All about the Buckeye State's apples

The Ohio Apple Marketing Program (www.ohioapples.com) has a website with a map of apple orchards around the state, recipes and information about many of the major varieties of Ohio apples and their uses. For example:

· McIntosh: “Sweet and juicy with tart tang. Good for eating, salad and pies.”

· Honeycrisp: “Complex, sweet-tart flavor and amazingly crisp. Best for eating, salads and baking.”

· Gala: “A mild, sweet flavor for picky eaters. Great for eating or salads.”

· Rome: “Mildly tart and firm, excellent for sauces, baking and pies.”

· Fuji: “Super sweet, wildly juicy, extremely crisp and ideal for snacking and sauce.”

· Ida Red: “Sweetly tart, juicy and firm. Good for eating, salads or freezing.”

· Golden Delicious: “Mild, sweet flavor with juicy bite. Ideal for eating, salads, pies and baking.”

· Jonagold: “Honey sweet with a touch of tartness. A cross between mellow Golden Delicious and tart Jonathan apples. Best for eating, baking, pies and freezing.”

The websites of many of the orchards have information about the varieties they offer. Farmers are often happy to talk about the qualities and uses of their apples, while farm stands and markets frequently list the characteristics of various apples and sometimes offer samples.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Apple picking in Columbus: Ohio orchards, farms open for 2022 season