INFORMATION | If you go

ORCHARDS IN N.C.
For more details on picking season in Henderson County, call the Blue Ridge Farm Direct Market Association at (828) 697-2775, Ext. 8.
Sky Top Orchard: On Pinnacle Mountain Road, off U.S. 25 east of the town of Flat Rock. There's a U-pick orchard, cider and pumpkins, and tour groups are welcome. The phone number is (828) 692-7930.
Grandad's Apples 'n' Such: On the main strip of Henderson County apple country, on U.S. 64 between Hendersonville and Edneyville. They also have a U-pick orchard, cider and pumpkins, and welcome tour groups. The phone is (828) 685-1685.
Brown's Honey & amp; Apple Farm: Tours by advance arrangement only. Call (828) 693-3093.
Tips: Always call the orchard you plan to visit a few days before you go. Weather conditions and other factors can drastically affect crop availability, sometimes forcing orchards to close to the public on short notice.
ORCHARDS ELSEWHERE
Check the Apple Journal Web site, which has state-by-state listings for orchards around the country at www.applejournal.com/trail.htm (telephone: [231] 599-3486), or call your local tourism office or state Department of Agriculture to find a pick-your-own orchard near you.
Here is information about apple-picking in the country's top apple-producing states and several other regions:
California: www.pickyourown.org/california.htm or the California Apple Commission at (559) 456-0900.
Massachusetts: www.state.ma.us/ dfa/massgrown/apple--pyo.htm or contact the state Department of Agriculture at (617) 626-1700.
New Jersey: www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/searches/apple.htm or contact the New Jersey Apple Industry Council at (609) 292-8853.
New York: www.nyapplecountry.com/ pick.php or call the New York Apple Association at (585) 924-2171.
Michigan: www.mda.state.mi.us/market/u-pick/index.asp or call the Michigan Apple Committee at (517) 336-4680.
Pennsylvania: www.pickyourown.org/ PA.htm or call the Apple Marketing Association at (717) 783-5418.
Virginia: www.vdacs.state.va.us/vagrown/index.html or www.virginiaapples.org/pick-your-own/index.html. The Virginia Apple Growers Association is at (434) 984-0573.
Washington: Contact the state's Apple Commission at www.bestapples.com/planningavisit.html or call (509) 662-3090.
Wisconsin: www.wisconline.com/attractions/orchards.html or www.waga.org/orchards.html. The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association can be reached at (920) 478-4277.