PickYourOwn.org
Where you can find a pick-your-own farm near you!
Apple Orchards and Roadside Stands in Georgia, Including Ellijay
Click here to add this page to your favorites list! - Updated daily!
This month's notes: July 2008: Summer is here!: Blueberries are here all parts of the U.S. Strawberries are declining or gone, except the far north. Don't miss them! Blackberries are here in the South and starting in the north. Find a strawberry festival or a blueberry festival near you! Organic farms are still not common, but any that are, have the word ORGANIC by their name! Check out my easy canning instructions / recipes, canning equipment guide or How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals
Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!!

Where, When and More to Find an Apples in the Ellijay, Georgia Area

Note: This page is NOT the Pick-Your-Own apple orchards page (although a couple on this page do PYO).  These are roadside stands and orchard markets. The PYO pages are here: North Georgia, Atlanta area and surrounding counties, Macon / Columbus area, Augusta area, Coastal Georgia area, Southern Georgia area

NEW! Please write me, if you know of any to add or have photos to share!

Also, see our pages on tips for picking apples at a farm, easy illustrated directions to make applesauce, apple butter, apple jelly and apple pie; and our guide to apple varieties!

Guide to Apple Orchards in Ellijay, GA with 2005 prices

You may want to print this page and take it with you when you go to the orchards! Be sure to click on the links for the reviews, photos and additional information. See this page for our guide to apple varieties.

Most of the orchards and their roadside shops are very close together on Hwy 52 on the east side of Rt 5/Rt 76 in East Ellijay. The order below corresponds to the order in which you will encounter the orchards when driving from east to the west. Click here for more maps and directions to Ellijay from Atlanta!

1. Hillcrest Orchards - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty; 2007 prices: $26/bushel.
   9696 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: 706-273-3838. (PYO only during the Apple Pickin Jubilee festival - call!) Pig races and more!
2. B.J. Reece Apple House - Apple varieties: Arkansas Black, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Jonathon, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Winesap, Yates; 2007 prices: $24/bushel (sold in half bushel bags at $12/bag)
   9131 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536. Phone: 706-276-3048. Fax: 706-276-3058. Email us at: jrreece@ellijay.com. 
3. Mack Aaron's Apple House - Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Mutsu, Rome Beauty, Jonagold. 2007 prices: $16 to $24 per bushel (depends on the variety and size of the apples).
   Near 8700 Hwy 52 East., Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 273-3180. Open: in season, 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday; 12:30pm to 5:30 pm on Sunday.
4. Aaron's Apple House - Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Detroit Red, Ozark Gold, Jonathon, Jonagold, Mutsu, Rome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, Fuji, Arkansas black, Granny Smith, Yates. 2007 prices: $16 to $24 per bushel (depends on the variety and size of the apples).
   Near 8245 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 273-3180. Open: August through December 8am-7pm. Directions: 8.5 miles East of Ellijay on Hwy. 52.  Mailing address: 355 Aaron Road, Ellijay, GA 30540.
5. Hudsons - Apple varieties: Golden delicious, Red delicious, Gala, Mutsu, Empire, Ginger Gold, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Fuji. 2006 prices: $14 to $20 for some varieties, up to $24/bushel for othershel.
   8036 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone 706-273-3160. Open 7 days, 8:30 am to 5 pm. 
6. Seller's Orchard - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Winesap; 2007 prices: $20 to $24/bushel
   Route 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 273-3026. Open: August through December 8am-7pm. Directions: 7 miles East of Ellijay on Hwy. 52.
7. R & A Orchards - Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Detroit Red, Ozark Gold, Jonathon, Jonagold, Mutsu, Rome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, Fuji, Arkansas black, Braeburn, Criterion, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Yates. 2006 prices: $24 per bushel. Like many orchards, you can also - sometimes - buy extra small grade apples for less - perfect for applesauce.
   5055 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: 706-273-3821. Directions: Located 4.5 Miles East of Ellijay On Hwy 52
8. Oak Hill Orchards - UPDATE 2007: Oak Hill CLOSED permanently! :(
   Apple varieties: Arkansas Black, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Yates;
   4986 Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 273-3644 Click here for more information, directions, photos and a review.
9. Panorama Orchards, Inc. - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty; 2007 prices: $24/bushel
   P.O. Box 157, East Ellijay, GA 30539. (across the street from Penland's, right on the Hwy 515 bypass). Phone: (706) 276-3813.
10. Penland's Apple House - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty; 2007 prices: $20/bushel
    Hwy 515 Bypass, Ellijay, GA 30540. They also have a location at Ga Hwy 282 and US 76, 8 miles west of Ellijay. Phone: (706) 635-5110. Open: August through December, 7 days a week, 9am to 6pm.
11. Red Apple Barn at Little Bend Orchard - Apple varieties: Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Winesap; 2007 prices: $24/bushel for all varieties. Note: they usually have some specials at $14 per bushel, which are just smaller sized apples - perfect for applesauce.
    3379 Tallscreek Road, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: (706) 635-5898 or (706) 635-7674. Directions: 3.5 miles west of Ellijay on U.S. Hwy. 76/Ga. 282 on left side of road. Open: Aug.15 through Dec. Monday to Saturday. 9 am-6 pm, Sunday 12:30-5:30 pm. Apples, cider, dried apples, apple pies, fritters, breads, candy apples, jams, jellies, honey, sorghum syrup, baskets.

Festivals

1. Georgia Apple Festival
   Ellijay, GA. The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay invite everyone to come and enjoy the 34th year of the Georgia Apple Festival. There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. This year promises many new crafts as well as favorites from past festivals. There is a parade and antique car show each year. The parade is on the second Saturday. 32th Annual Georgia Apple Festival  From the mountains of North Georgia  Event dates: October 8^th, 9^th, & 15^th, 16^th, 2005 (Second and third weekends). Producing 600,000 bushels of apples each fall, Ellijay/Gilmer County is Georgia's Apple Capital, so it's only natural that the second and third weekends of October each year, people from all over the nation come to Ellijay to celebrate the apple. Handmade arts and crafts, homegrown entertainment, and plain old fun, combine with every apple product imaginable to make the weekends a family adventure. Throw in the colorful fall leaves, crisp mountain air, sky-blue days, and star-studded nights and you'll want to visit again and again. Sponsored by the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce and the Ellijay Lions Club, the festivities include a car show and a parade. Call the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce office for more information (706) 635-7400. Also see ELLIJAY CELEBRATES 34 FUN-FILLED YEARS!

   ---

    

Closed or erroneous

Other websites list these as apple orchards, but they are either permanently closed or not even an orchard.

• Country Apples/Country Hearth  - This is a gift shop, not an orchard
  Phone: (706) 276-6541. P.O. Box 603, Ellijay, GA 30540.  

• Little Bend Orchards - No answer - May be closed / out of business
  3385 Tails Creek Road, Ellijay, GA 30540
  Phone: (706) 635-5898 

• Pat-A-Cake Bakery - it is a bakery! Applejournal.com lists them as an orchard!
  1075 Old Hwy 5 South, Ellijay, GA 30540. Phone: 706-636-3917 Fax:706-636-3917. 
  They do have fresh apple bread, fried apple pies and other treats! 

Ellijay Apple Varieties

Below is a listing of the main varieties grown in the Ellijay area. Ellijay Apple season is approximately: August to December. The apples are listed in approximate order of ripening and harvesting.

Apple Variety	Photo	Usually start harvesting	Flavor	Best uses
Gala		August 1	Very sweet	Eating, applesauce, apple butter, pies
Ginger Gold		Early	Sweet	Eating
Detroit Red	Got a  photo to share?	August 1	Tart	Cooking
Ozark Gold	Got a  photo to share?	August 1	Tart	Cooking
Jonathon		August 15	Tart	Cooking
Red Delicious		August 15	Sweet	Eating, good to blend with other apples in applesauce and cooking
Golden Delicious		August 15	Sweet	Eating, good to blend with other apples in applesauce and cooking
Empire		August 20	Tart	Cooking
Honey Crisp		August 20	Sweet, Crisp, Juicy	Eating, Applesauce, Apple Butter, Pies
Mutsu		September 1	Sweet / Tart	Cooking / Eating
Jonagold		September 1	Sweet / Tart	Cooking / Eating
Rome Beauty		September 15	Slightly Tart	Cooking / Eating
Stayman - Wine sap		September 15	Tart	Cooking / Eating
Fuji		October 10	Very sweet	Eating, applesauce, apple butter, pies, cooking
Granny Smith		October 15	Tart	Cooking / Eating
Yates	Got a  photo to share?	October 20	Sweet	Eating
Brae burn		October 20	Sweet	Eating
Arkansas Black		October 20	Tart	Baking, Eating (very hard apple)
Pink Lady		October 20	Sweet	Eating

Home Canning Kits This is the same type of  standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce!. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars and lids (and the jars are reusable). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here! Average Customer Review: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Remember to ALWAYS call the farm or orchard BEFORE you go - weather, heavy picking and business conditions can always affect their hours and crops!

PYO Farms in Other Countries: [ Australia ] [ Canada ] [ South Africa ] [ New Zealand ] [ United Kingdom ]

Our other free, informative sites you may like:

• EHSO.com- Environmental health and safety information and guidance for the home
• ConsumerFraudReporting.org - Information about identity theft, frauds and scams; how to report them and how to protect your identity.
• FitnessAndHealthScience.org - Practical fitness, health and diet information that works.
• And our other related websites!

  ---

  Care to Donate to help me keep the website going? Donate to me at Benevia here: