2024 West-Central Michigan Apricot U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

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 any state, nor even every 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.

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 orchards. Please call for specific availability of varieties. If 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 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:

1. 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!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

1. Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
2. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
3. 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
4. Now, get ready to make Apricot jam or canned apricots - It is VERY easy - especially with our free  directions and recipes:

Apricot Canning, Freezing and Recipes

• How to make Apricot jam
• Canning apricots
• How to freeze apricots
• Here are some great and easy apricot desert recipes, like easy apricot cobbler.

How much do you need?

Raw measures:

• About 6 medium apricots = 1 cup sliced apricots.
• About 4 medium apricots = 1 cup pureed apricot.
• 1 pound fresh apricots = 8 to 12 whole fruits

Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)

• 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh apricots yields 1 quart canned
• 2-1/2 pounds fresh apricots = 2 to 3 pints frozen
• 1 lb of fresh apricots typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced apricots or 2 cups or puree.
• It takes about 5 good sizes apricots or nectarines (or about 10 plums) to fill one quart jar of canned apricots.
• An average of 17 -1/2 pounds of fresh apricots are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
• An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
• 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.

Apricots-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

Canned Apricots

• 16-ounce can apricots = 2 cups drained

Dried Apricots

• 6 pounds fresh apricots = 1 pound dried apricots
• 1 pound dried apricots = 2-3/4 cups
• 1 pound dried apricots = 5 cups cooked
• 6 ounces dried apricots = 1 cup
• 6 ounces dried apricots = 2 cups cooked

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers