Minnesota Harvest is one of the largest, and oldest apple orchards in Minnesota. Started back in 1971, the orchard now has 180 acres of apple trees. Interestingly, some of the apple varieties were created in partnership with the University of Minnesota, and some are ONLY grown here.
The orchard helps people connect to nature through locally-grown food. Since Skip and Teri Cook acquired the orchard in 2017, they have made it a priority to help area students with this connection. They offer tractor-drawn wagon field trips into the orchard where kids learn about the apples and sample some of the famous apple cider donuts and fresh-pressed apple juice. They have even partnered with local schools to provide apple chips (dehydrated apples seasoned with a special blend of delicious spices) as a school lunch side option.
The apple orchard has a special place in the hearts of many southern Minnesotans as they grew up coming here (myself included), and now relive the nostalgia by returning every year, often with their own kids. Crowds of people show up every August through November to take part in the wonderful outdoor activities such as hayrides, shooting apples out of cannons, visiting the barnyard, and of course picking some delicious APPLES! Many couples even opt to have their wedding ceremonies and receptions in one of the three orchard sites, and the event barn. Can you imagine a more gorgeous place to have your wedding?
A visit here isn’t complete without stopping by the bakery to grab a slice of apple pie with ice cream, or to take the whole pie home if that’s what you’re feeling! YUM! The general store offers even more Minnesota Grown products including the apple chips produced on site, and Ames Honey which is made by bees that pollinate the orchards’ trees each spring. The craft cider bar is a favorite of adults 21 years and older. The ciders are made from apples grown, pressed, fermented, and bottled all on-site. If you’d like to try a twist on these ciders, ask for the new special flavor shots.
I had the privilege of working at this incredibly special, and historic orchard in the fall of 2019. While there, I photographed the fall fun, produced social media content with the images, and was able to watch the seasons change at the orchard. Please enjoy this selection of my favorite images. And, if you’re ever in southern Minnesota, do yourself a favor and stop by the beautiful Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard and Event Center.
