Many people despise fall because it marks the end of the summer. But with that comes a variety of new activities to try, like picking apples. When we first arrived at Organic Breezy Hill, we were tired from the long drive. It was an hour out west, just for some organic apples.

After picking up a basket, a farmer showed us where different types of apple trees were. We had never heard of most of the varieties, and as soon as our “apple tour guide” left, we immediately forgot everything he had told us. So, we were left alone to explore the forest of weird-sounding apples. Honestly, our expectations were low — if we hadn’t heard of these apples, they couldn’t be any good, right?

Luckily, we were proven wrong. We began with some Snowsweet apples (we think). These are typically hard to find because they don’t stay fresh in grocery stores. Fortunately, they still had a large supply of them. They were sweet with an amazing crunch. It felt like a hybrid between the sweet and tangy Honeycrisp and a crunchy Macintosh. Next were the Honeygolds. Without the same sweetness or crunch, they were lower on the list for us. Then, we had the Macoun and Regent apples, each with a little bit of sweetness and tang, but not as much as the Snowsweet. Finally, the hallmark: Honeycrisp. It did not disappoint in flavor or juiciness.

Aside from the fruits themselves, visiting an orchard was a good way to relax and spend time with friends. We had plenty of fun running around and jumping to see who could get the highest apples on the trees. On top of that, it was a beautiful day and the orchard gave us an excuse to spend time outside.

The apples and the experience exceeded our expectations, but one downside was the price. For around 10 pounds of apples, we dished out $30. Being on a relatively tight budget, that was not insignificant; upon closer inspection, though, it wasn’t unreasonable. While some apples sell at the store for as low as $1 per pound, more expensive varieties, such as honeycrisp, can sell for about $3 per pound. On top of that, the organic production of the apples, which involves avoiding herbicides and protecting the environment in other ways, certainly added to the price. We were happy to pay a couple extra bucks to make sure the apples were grown the right way, as this was the only organic orchard we could find. That being said, there are more price-effective options for students just looking to have fun with their friends in the fall.

Overall, the day was a blast. We enjoyed hanging out in the nice weather and getting some delicious fruit out of it too. While the price might mean it’s not a feasible everyday activity, it was a fun way to treat ourselves. As far as fall activities go, it’s hard to beat the classic apple orchard.

Organic Breezy Hill Apple Orchard: ★★★★☆