2024 West-Central Michigan Apricot U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
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Apricot U-Pick Orchards in West-Central Michigan in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for apricots that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have apricots orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
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Mason County
Christofferson Farms - apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), U-pick and already picked 3441 South Morton Road, Ludington, MI 49431. Phone: 231-845-5831. Email: hattrickred@gmail.com. Open: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: From the city of Ludington: Head south on the Old PM Highway to Chauvez Road. Turn left \(east\) on Chauvez Road, and follow it to Morton Road, approximately 2 miles. Turn right \(south\) on Morton Road. We are the second house on your right \(west side\), a large brick house with black shutters. Go up the driveway and park. Honk the horn if no one comes out - we are probably out in the orchards. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Christofferson Farms Alternate Phone: 231-233-5281 From the city of Ludington: Head south on the Old PM Highway to Chauvez Road. Turn left (east) on Chauvez Road, and follow it to Morton Road, approximately 2 miles. Turn right (south) on Morton Road. We are the second house on your right (west side), a large brick house with black shutters. Go up the driveway and park. Honk the horn if no one comes out - we are probably out in the orchardsPlease call for specific availability of varietiesIf you would like to visit the farm outside of our normal business hours, please call to make other arrangements. For more specific information on varieties and types of fruit available, please call us and we will be happy to answer your questions.
Ottawa County
DK Orchards - apricots, blueberries, peaches, winter squash, strawberries, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food 18203 - 8th Avenue, Conklin, MI 49403. Phone: 616-899-5400. Email: dkorchards@gmail.com. Open: Fall Hours: M,W,F 9-7pm Sat 9-5pm. Directions: North of I-96 on 8th Avenue about 5 miles. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. the farm's own page says "Hope to see you soon. Please call before coming out - don't rely on the internet because I don't always have a chance to update it".NEW Hours: Mid June - Labor Day: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 5pm; Labor Day - Halloween: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm; Halloween - Christmas: Wednesday 10am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm; After Christmas call for appointment; Always Closed on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday We offer free wagon rides for u-pick. Corn maze for kids 12yrs & younger. A giant chair in front of the old farm house for pictures. Picnic area. Restrooms, Fresh Cider during apple time. No additional fees. Please call ahead for a U-pick schedule. All Apples are Pre-picked; apple varieties: Paula Red, Ginger Gold, Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, Jonalicious, Jonagold, Ida Red, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Spigold, Northern Spy, Fuji, Honeycrisp and many more available in the fruit stand already picked. Other Fruit: U-pick strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, raspberries and peaches. We also grow Apricots, Stanley Prunes, Pears, Nectarines and many types of vegetables. (formerly Vince Brown Farms) (UPDATED: September 19, 2019, JBS) A visitor writes on August 26, 2013: "This is regarding the, formally Vince Brown Farms. We go there every year for the tractor ride to the u-pick apples and were very disappointed to discover that they no longer offer U-pick apples. You can only buy them from their front bins. Thought people might want to know. Love your site - very helpful! :)" Comments from a visitor on July 13, 2011: "The other comment about them no longer offering u-pick apples is wrong. Only near the end of the season do they stop..I was just there picking raspberries today and she confirmed it.Thanks! Comments from a visitor on October 07, 2010: "According to the answering machine, this farm no longer offers u-pick apples. Too bad :( Our family really enjoyed the orchard last year. " Comments from a visitor on July 25, 2010: "We visited in Michigan (northwest of Grand Rapids) and had a great time. We were first-timers and the woman there was very helpful and patient. The store there has samples and great produce for sale. The farm is out in farmland and not right off the highway, which made it a nice drive and good for kids to see other farms nearby."
Apricot
Apricot Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
In the U.S., Apricots typically peak from June through July in the South, and July and August in the North. In order to produce good local apricots, producers
depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts.
If you want to know
which are the best varieties of
apricots for home canning, see this page!
Before you leave to go to the farm:
Always call before you go to the farm - Apricots are affected by weather
(both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are
in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL
first!
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
Most growers furnish picking containers designed for apricots, but they may
charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to
bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Apricots on top of
each other will bruise the fruit on the bottom.
Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large
pots make good containers, so you can spread them out.
Bring
something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up
a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs
usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it
has been rainy.
You might want to ask whether the apricots are! There are two major types of
apricots: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone apricots and nectarines
have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain,
because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most apricot
varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending
upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are
freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in
June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone.
How to tell if the apricots are ripe!
Attached to the tree: Apricots are best picked when the fruit
separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it
isn't ripe! Apricots will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they
only "soften")
Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as
an indicator of how ripe a apricot is. Different apricot varieties have
differing amounts of red blush in their natural coloring. Pick them when the
ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red (or a combination).
The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the
skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish- to yellow-white.
Softness: unless you
like your apricots very firm, pick your apricots with just a little "give"
when gently pressed. Apricots at this stage are great for eating, freezing,
and baking. Apricots won't ripen very much after picking!
Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!
Tips on How to Pick Apricots
A
apricot is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a apricot gently, with
little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to
avoid bruising. Grab the apricot firmly and pull it straight off the branch.
DON'T drop the apricot into the basket, but set it in gently!
Marks on the Apricots: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs)
bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the
apricot. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit. These
look like dents in the apricots if the apricots were bitten by a bug when they
were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle
in the apricot. There's nothing wrong with these apricots. They may look funny, but
they will taste just as good as blemish-free apricots, and it's better not to
have the pesticides!
When you get home
Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or
damaged fruit to use immediately.
Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and
freeze them up!
Even under ideal conditions apricots will only keep for a week in a
refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible
after purchase
Now, get ready to make Apricot jam or canned apricots - It is VERY easy -
especially with our free directions and recipes: