All About Apples

The Mighty Apple

Henderson County grows more apples than any other in North Carolina and is one of the top 20 apple-growing counties in the nation. Hendersonville and apple harvest season go hand-in-hand. Cool nights and warm days, paired with great soil, make Hendersonville ideal for apple trees. They bloom every April, grow all spring and summer, then ripen for harvest from August through October — each variety on a  different schedule. Some early varieties are Honeycrisp and Jonagolds, while mid-season apples include Golden Delicious and Rome. Final apples to ripen each year are Granny Smith, Pink Ladies and Arkansas Black.

Many orchards in Hendersonville and Henderson County are open for U-pick, while others offer roadside stands. Explore the list below to find the apple orchard (or orchards) with just what you are looking for this fall harvest season. The orchards embrace agritourism with activities like corn mazes, wagon rides, apple cannons, cider doughnuts, apple slushies and more.