Beautiful fall colors, bountiful orchards and Mt. Baker beaming in the background – they all await people picking their own apples starting Saturday, Sept. 3 at Whatcom County’s Bellewood Farms & Distillery.
During the U-pick harvest that runs through Oct. 23, the public can choose from 22 varieties of apples at the 62-acre Bellewood Farms. U-pick hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Bellewood Farms is located at 6140 Guide Meridian, only 7 miles away from Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden.
“Picking your own apples is a fun way to experience fall,” said Eric Abel, president of Bellewood Farms. “It’s a great outing for families, couples and individuals that’s just minutes away and our apples are a delicious reward for your effort.”
During the harvest season, the free Bellewood Farms apple bin train ride will take people through the orchard whether they’re picking apples or just come to buy some. The day also can can include an educational component for youngsters.
“When children go through our free corn maze, they’ll see signs with answers to agriculture questions and will receive a prize when they return with the answers,” Abel said.
Schools, co-ops and homeschool families are welcome to bring children, although advance notice is requested for groups, he added. Culinary enthusiasts can learn about apple varieties at Bellewood Farms that are best suited for baking, sauces, storing and snacking.
“We also expect to deliver close to 1.7 million pounds of apples to local grocery stores,” Abel said. “While Honeycrisp is our most popular variety, people like to try other apples like Tsugaru, a sweet Japanese variety with almost no tartness that is great for desserts and snacking.”
Cider donuts and kettle corn will be available during weekends through Oct. 31 and a field full of pumpkins for sale will be open Oct. 1. Bellewood Farms also includes a pear orchard, a market and gift shop, café, bakery and distillery. For more information, call (360) 318-7720 or visit www.bellewoodfarms.com.
