A bountiful harvest amid beautiful fall foliage with Mt. Baker gleaming in the background await people picking their own apples at Whatcom County’s Bellewood Farms & Distillery.
During the U-pick harvest that runs Sept. 2 through Oct. 23, the public can choose their apples from the trees at the 62-acre Bellewood Farms. U-pick hours are 10 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.
“Families, couples and individuals of all ages come out for a leisurely farm-to-table experience that’s just minutes away,” said Eric Abel, president of Bellewood Farms. “Whether people pick their own apples or buy them in the store, they can choose from varieties that will be ready at varying times during our harvest season. We’re happy to help people find apples best for snacking, baking, sauces and storing, including our popular Honeycrisp variety.”
The free Bellewood Farms apple bin train ride will take people through the orchard during the harvest season. The day also 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.
If a trip to Bellewood Farms isn’t convenient, people may still buy local at Whatcom County grocery stores. “We typically deliver close to 1.7 million pounds of apples to local grocery stores,” Abel said.
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.
