Pick Your Own Fruit at Sunshine Orchard's Family Friendly Farm

Introducing Sunshine Orchard

Nestled among rolling green hills and sunny skies, Sunshine Orchard is a slice of paradise. This charming family-owned orchard has been growing fresh, delicious fruit for decades and welcoming visitors to share in the bounty. Spend a day wandering tree-lined rows heavy with ripe, juicy apples, pears, peaches and more. Meander through the fragrant lavender fields in full bloom. Enjoy picnic areas perfect for relaxing with loved ones under majestic old oak trees. Sunshine Orchard is the ideal destination for making memories that will last a lifetime.

Pick Your Own Fruit

One of the highlights of visiting Sunshine Orchard is picking your own fruit right from the tree. Feel the sun on your back as you stroll through the orchard, selecting the plumpest peaches, sweetest cherries and crisp apples. The friendly staff will provide you with empty buckets or bags, ladders and helpful tips on how to pick properly so you can fill up on farm-fresh goodies. Kids love scampering up and down orchard rows, discovering hidden ripe treasures. Nothing beats the flavor of fruit picked at peak ripeness and devoured right in the field.

The pick-your-own season starts in early summer with luscious strawberries and continues into fall with apples and pears. Sunshine Orchard grows dozens of varieties, from heirloom apples ideal for baking to super sweet miniature pears perfect for snacking. Try types you won't find at the grocery store and discover new favorites. Staff members happily share recipes and storage tips so you can enjoy your hand-picked bounty for months.

Family Fun

In addition to pick-your-own fruit, Sunshine Orchard offers a wide range of family-friendly activities. Kids can burn off energy in the playground and cool off running through the splash pad's sprinklers. Families can play a round of mini-golf on the whimsical farm-themed course, complete with barnyard obstacles. Try your hand at the corn hole and ladder ball games set up alongside picnic tables. Little ones love visiting the petting farm to feed fuzzy rabbits, climb aboard the pony for a ride, and giggle as roly-poly piglets snuffle their hands looking for treats.

When you work up an appetite, grab a hot apple cider doughnut fresh from the orchard's bakery or indulge in a fruit dessert like peach cobbler or a slice of apple pie. Shop for jams, honey and other orchard-made goods in the farm stand to take home. Don't miss special events like the harvest festival with hayrides, live music and pumpkin decorating. With so much to see and do, you'll make treasured memories at Sunshine Orchard.

Growing Practices

At Sunshine Orchard, generations of family farmers have focused on growing fruit sustainably and responsibly. All the orchard's fruit is certified organic. They use natural solutions like ladybugs for pest management and avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Farm employees hand thin blossoms and young fruit to naturally maximize quality. The orchard's healthy soils, proper pruning and careful attention enable trees to thrive year after year.

The orchard has robust Integrated Pest Management systems and always strives to use the most environmentally sensitive techniques. For example, when apple maggot flies posed a threat, the orchard released predator wasps rather than spraying. Rows of flowering cover crops provide pollinator habitats around the orchard. Sunshine Orchard takes a holistic, eco-friendly approach in all aspects of fruit production.

You can tour the orchard with the farmer to learn more about their growing practices. Sunshine Orchard loves educating visitors about responsible farming. When you choose fruit from Sunshine Orchard, you can feel good knowing your food was grown with the utmost care for the land.

Plan Your Visit

Sunshine Orchard is open for picking daily from early summer through late fall. The farm stand and other activities are open on weekends year-round, with expanded days during peak harvest seasons. You'll want to check the orchard's website for exact dates and times for your favorite fruits and events.

The orchard offers free admission Monday through Friday. On weekends and for special events like the harvest festival, there are reasonable entry fees to enjoy all the farm has to offer. Season passes are also available if you plan to visit frequently. Be sure to look over the orchard rules before your visit to have the best experience.

Sunshine Orchard is conveniently located just 30 minutes from downtown and easy to reach by car or public transportation. Bring sunscreen, hats, reusable water bottles and containers for bringing home fruit. Leashed dogs are welcome in outdoor areas. For a wholesome, fun-filled day your whole family will love, make happy memories at Sunshine Orchard.

FAQs

How much does it cost to pick fruit at Sunshine Orchard?

Picking your own fruit is free Monday through Friday. On weekends and for special events, there is a reasonable entry fee to access all the farm activities.

When is the best time to visit Sunshine Orchard?

The picking season runs from early summer through late fall. Check the orchard's website for dates and times when your favorite fruits are at peak ripeness for picking. The farmstand and activities are open year-round on weekends.

What should I bring for a day of fruit picking?

Bring sun protection like hats and sunscreen, closed toe shoes for walking in the orchard, reusable containers for gathering fruit, and water bottles. Feel free to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy under the oak trees after picking.

Are dogs allowed at the orchard?

Leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners in the outdoor areas of Sunshine Orchard. Make sure your pup has plenty of water on a hot day.

What kinds of fruits can be picked at the orchard?

Sunshine Orchard offers pick-your-own strawberries, cherries, peaches, apples, pears and more. Over a dozen varieties are grown to enjoy from early summer into fall.