September is here and the seasons are changing, and apple picking is a #FallInCincy must.
This weekend, I took my kids to Peifer Orchards, a new-to-me apple orchard located in lovely Yellow Springs.
Peifer Orchards is a picturesque orchard located just minutes away from Yellow Springs’s bustling downtown. Family-owned and operated since 1994, Peifer Orchards is easily the most beautiful apple orchard I’ve ever been to. The staff are friendly, the farm is gorgeous — and right now, the apples are ripe and ready for picking!
While a late spring frost and ongoing pandemic have forced many local orchards to switch gears this fall, 
happily, Peifer Orchards is open and ready for fall. Right now, you’ll find a variety of apples for U-Pick, including Jonathan and Cortland.
Depending on when you visit, other varieties may be ripe and ready. (They have Honeycrisp for sale in the market barn — we got a bag and I daresay they are the best I’ve ever had!)
Peifer Orchards is open for U-Pick on weekends only. You’ll pay $2/person (kids 3 and under are free) to pick, and apples are $1.99/pound. To get to the orchard, you’ll stroll down a winding dirt-and-gravel road, which is all part of the experience. Ripe rows for U-Pick are sectioned off, and it’s easy to spread out and practice social distancing while you’re there.
2020 has been a tough one. Back in March, seemingly overnight, everything changed. Now more than ever, I treasure having fun traditions that that are safe and adaptable for this new normal. (Also: is there anything better than spending a day in the country?)
This fall, load up the car and spend an afternoon apple picking at Peifer Orchards. It will be a welcome tradition during a year that’s changed everything.Â
Peifer Orchards is located at 4590 US 68 N. in Yellow Springs, OH. Visit their website or call 937-767-2208 for more information and U-Pick updates.
