Pick Your Own Apples as Harvest Begins at Bellewood Farms Orchard
The public can experience the joy of bringing apples from trees to their tables when the U-pick harvest begins Labor Day weekend at Whatcom County’s Bellewood Farms & Distillery.
During the U-pick harvest that runs from Aug. 30 through Oct. 31, the public can choose their apples from trees on the 62 acres at Bellewood Farms, enhanced by a beautiful view of Mt. Baker. U-pick hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Bellewood Farms is located at 6140 Guide Meridian, only 7 miles away from Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden.
“Apples like the sunshine and we’ve had a nice warm year,” said Eric Abel, president of Bellewood Farms & Distillery. “The apples in our orchard are looking amazing for what looks like an abundant year.”
The first fruit available are Tsugaru apples – a sweet, crisp and juicy Japanese variety. Also, Bellewood’s store begins in mid-August offering Gravenstein, Zestar and Tgusaru apples plus red and green Clapp pears. Gravensteins are popular for baking dishes and making applesauce. More of the 22 varieties, including the popular Honeycrisp apples, will be harvested when they are ready.
“We look forward to seeing families, couples and individuals of all ages enjoy an authentic farm-to-table experience,” Abel said. “We also enjoy answering questions about the apples best for snacking, baking, sauces and storing.”
The Bellewood Farms apple bin train ride will take people through the orchard during the harvest season for a small fee and a corn maze that also opens Labor Day weekend is free. Apple cider doughnuts are available Saturdays and Sundays and a pumpkin patch opens Oct. 1. The Bellewood Farms store offers fresh apples, baked goods, gluten-free products and fall gifts and décor.
Schools, co-ops and homeschool families are welcome to bring children, although advance notice is requested for groups, he added.
Bellewood Farms typically harvests around 1.7 million pounds of apples annually, selling many of them through local grocery stores, including Haggen Food & Pharmacy and Community Food Co-op locations in Whatcom County.
Bellewood Farms also includes a market and gift shop, café, bakery and distillery. For more information, call (360) 318-7720 or visit www.bellewoodfarms.com.
