These apple-picking orchards in North Carolina rank among nation’s best. Here’s why
North Carolina is home to two of the nation’s best places to go apple picking, a new report finds.
Justus Orchard joins Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard on a list of 20 places that offer top-notch apple harvesting experiences, according to results that review website Yelp published Thursday, Sept. 14.
The winning orchards are both in Hendersonville, roughly 25 miles south of the popular mountain travel destination of Asheville. That might not come as a surprise, as the Hendersonville area is known for boasting fruits that ripen each August through October.
“Henderson County grows more apples than any other in North Carolina and is one of the top 20 apple-growing counties in the nation...” the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority wrote on its website. “Cool nights and warm days, paired with great soil, make Hendersonville ideal for apple trees.”
To create its list of best orchards, Yelp said it focused on U.S. businesses that garnered several apple-picking comments between January 2022 and Aug. 23, 2023. The website “ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews.”
More about the top-ranked NC apple orchards
Between the two North Carolina destinations that earned spots on Yelp’s list, Justus Orchard ranked the highest at No. 11. Some customers who left online reviews reveled in the chance to pick their own apples — and enjoyed the treats made from them.
Justus Orchard’s menu features apple cider doughnuts, caramel apples and other fall-themed treats. The orchard also offers pre-picked apples, farm animals and a train for children, according to its website and Facebook page.
“The Justus Family has been growing delicious NC Apples in Hendersonville for more than four generations, with our fifth generation now taking an active part,” the orchard wrote.
Also making it onto Yelp’s list in the No. 18 spot was Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard. The business said it grows about two dozen apple varieties and allows customers to pick the fruit themselves.
Several Yelp users said they loved choosing their own apples, while others enjoyed pre-picked apples and desserts. Some praised the property’s family-friendly activities, ranging from wagon rides to a 5-acre corn maze.
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard grows its crops on a fourth-generation farm. It’s no stranger to being recognized, having earned a spot on Yelp’s apple-picking list in 2021, McClatchy News reported at the time.
This time around, Justus Orchard and Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard were named among the nation’s best after they earned more than four out of five stars on Yelp. Both businesses said weather may impact the availability or timing of their crops and have been posting this season’s updates on social media.
Overall, the nation’s top-ranking orchard was Apple Barn Orchard & Winery in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, roughly 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee.
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