It’s hard to think of a more resplendent season than autumn in Pennsylvania. Crisp and vibrant hues of reds, orange and yellow surround us as we dig into some of PA’s most beloved foods like apple cider donuts, dumplings, savory squash and pumpkin spice everything. PA Preferred® farms and orchards nearly burst at the seams in autumn, offering the year’s final harvests and inviting us to gather together and enjoy it all.
We’ve gathered up some of the state’s best to-dos for this fall season. Check out these PA Preferred spots for locally grown, locally produced autumnal experiences and tasty goods that you just can’t miss.
Apples Galore
There’s nothing like hopping on a tractor and heading into an orchard to meander the rows of fruit trees for apple picking, filling your bin or basket with the sweetly scented fruit as you go. Picking apples allows you to experience the full harvest process, from selecting the ideal varieties and plucking ripe fruit from the tree to hauling it all home to bake, simmer and snack.
Some of Pennsylvania’s most iconic foods are made with apples, like apple dumplings, apple butter (try this slow cooker recipe and never look back!) and Pennsylvania applesauce. We also love recipes like baked apple chips for a snack-able twist, savory cider-braised chicken and apples and cinnamon apple crisp for a simply scrumptious cobbler-like dessert.
Pennsylvania is home to one of the top apple-producing regions in the country. The “apple belt” of south-central PA spans Adams County and into neighboring York County with thousands of acres of orchards producing an astounding five million bushels of apples (over 600 million apples) every year.
Freshly picked Autumn Crisp apples at Beechwood Orchards
For apple picking in the famed apple belt, head to Boyer Nurseries & Orchards, Hollabaugh Bros. or nearby Orchard Valley Farm. Other orchards in the region sell their fruit at farm stands and farmers markets, like Beechwood Orchards, Hilltop Farm Market, Peters Orchards and Three Springs Fruit Farm, which has rare varieties like Ashmead’s Kernal, Newtown Pippen and Espopus Spitzenburg to try.
Guests enjoying u-pick apples at Boyer Nurseries & Orchards, Inc.
For pick-your-own experiences and farmers market apples at orchards throughout other parts of the state, check out the locations on our All Things Fall map below and search for an apple farm or orchard near you with PA Preferred’s member finder.
Of course, where there are apples, there’s cider. It’s a staple beverage in the Northeast, with orchards across PA pressing apples to create this crisp autumnal delight. You’ll find fresh cider at PA Preferred sellers like Orton’s Fruit Farm in northwest PA, Kristaco Farm in southwest PA, Marshalek’s Fruit Farm and Davis Grown in central PA, Kenny Stehr and Sons Farm in NEPA and sold by the jug at many of the orchards mentioned previously.
Grown-ups may wish to sample Pennsylvania’s renowned hard cider, which is fermented and buzzy with a 4 – 12% ABV range. Hard ciders span from light, dry and crisp to rich and velvety with concentrated fruit and honey flavors.
The state’s hard cider industry includes cideries of all sizes, with heavy hitters like Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar (Allegheny County), Wyndridge Farm (York County) and Laurel Spring Cidery (Centre County) offering extensive portfolios and immersive fall experiences. Arsenal Cider House has three PA taphouses to check out, including one at Soergel Orchards. Head to the beer garden at Wyndridge Farm to kick back with a crisp, semi-dry cider and bites like pit beef sandwich with crispy onions and beer cheese on a pretzel bun, and breathe in the fall air.
Laurel Spring Cidery’s line of cider wines made with heirloom apples might best be enjoyed at one of its special Fire in the Field evenings happening every Sunday in October from 1 p.m. to sunset. These fireside gatherings will be held at the base of the mountain orchard with live music and hearty chili to warm your body and spirit. Chief Operating Officer David All says, “Fire in the Field was inspired by our mission to help nurture a renaissance in American art and culture, creating a cultural hub on our 110-acre mountain farm where guests can revel in the pioneering spirit through shared experiences. We want guests to feel warmly welcomed in nature’s beauty, meaningfully connected to a vibrant community, nourished in soul, and inspired to toast new friendships amid the sunset over Mount Nittany—one sip, one story at a time.”
Cider wine at Laurel Spring Cidery
Find other spots to enjoy PA Preferred artisanal hard cider throughout PA on our All Things Fall map. From cider to snacking, Pennsylvania apples are a key ingredient for fall fun in the Commonwealth.
Pumpkin Patches & More
Picking out the perfect pumpkin is an annual tradition for many Pennsylvanians, and all the more fun when plucked straight from the patch. Many PA Preferred farms and orchards offer this exciting pick your own (PYO) experience, and some even specialize in it. In western PA, head to Harvest Valley Farm Market & Bakery (Allegheny County) to cast around. Central Pennsylvania is home to The Green Barn Berry Farm (Lycoming County) with a six acre pumpkin patch plus a four acre sorghum maze for added thrills, Paulus Farm Market’s PYO patch (Cumberland County) and Patchwork Pumpkin Farm, (Dauphin County) with pumpkins of all sizes in addition to hayrides, slides and lots of other fall fun. On the eastern side of the Commonwealth, Whistle Pig Pumpkin Patch (Wyoming County) offers PYO pumpkins plus hayrides and scarecrow-making at its historic farm, while Highland Orchards (Chester County) has pumpkin picking as part of its veritable one-stop-shop of seasonal offerings like hayrides, a corn maze and apple canyons.
Cozy Campfire Nights at Port Farms
A great place to nab not only gorgeous gourds but an immersive autumnal experience is Port Farms (Erie County), which offers Cozy Campfire Nights for parties of up to 30 people. Reserve a private seating area for three hours with a pre-lit campfire to gather around for just $75. Find a similar experience at Merrymead Farms (Montgomery County), where campfire sites hold up to 50 people for three hours ($399). Guests can toast s’mores (byo ingredients!), take a hayride and wander the five acre moonlight maze.
PA Department of Agriculture Pumpkin Palooza 2024 winners
Once you’ve got your perfect pumpkin home, it’s time to decorate. This year, join the PA Preferred® Pumpkin Palooza, a friendly competition of pumpkin painting and carving happening across the state. It kicks off on September 26 and runs through October 20th. Three age groups will go gourd-to-gourd: children 11 and under, youth ages 12 to 17 and adults 18 and older. All you have to do is beautify your pumpkin, snap a photo and email it to [email protected] with the subject “PA Pumpkin Palooza Entry.” Include your name, age, county, email address, phone number, photo and the name of the farm or seller where you got your pumpkin. The winner will be notified on Halloween!
All the Fall Goodies
From savory soups to sweet baked delights, fall is the time to dig into the season’s best. You’ll find delicious recipes throughout the PA Preferred series and in the annual Culinary Connection recipe book. For pre-made delights, head to your local PA Preferred farms, markets and orchards and peruse the offerings.
Nothing says fall in Pennsylvania like an apple cider donut. These round, warm, doughy icons make for a lovely breakfast, midday snack or any time treat and are found at many PA orchards. You’ll also find classic Pennsylvania apple butter from places like Gulick’s Fruit Farm (Northampton County) and Pennsylvania State Grange (Juniata County) to sweeten just about any dish.
Donuts and apple cider at Port Farms
Desserts like apple dumplings, pumpkin whoopie pies and artisanal pies also take center stage in autumn. Artisanal bakers like Pie Bird Farm (Bucks County) offer a range of pies to enjoy for dinner and dessert. Owner Jennifer Brodsky says, “Our Pennsylvania pumpkin pie is a classic fall favorite that is one of our most requested pies. We use heirloom PA grown winter squash, break them down, caramelize them in the oven and then make our filling using Pennsylvania organic cream, pastured eggs and fresh ginger. The most in-demand fruit pie is our salted caramel apple lattice. We make the caramel in house using only organic sugar and organic Pennsylvania cream. Savory handpies are so versatile and satisfying in the fall – some of our most requested are blistered shishito, chicken pot pie and spicy roasted sweet potato with feta and pepitas.”
Pennsylvania pumpkin pie from Pie Bird Farm
Also along the savory side, we suggest pairing a comforting bowl of butternut squash soup, either homemade or market-bought, with some chewy, freshly-baked bread like a baguette made with bolted hard red wheat from Ursa Bakery (Philadelphia County) or a sourdough loaf from Wild Yeast Bakehouse (Delaware County).
Don’t forget to brighten your stoop or garden with colorful mums from a PA Preferred nursery like Johnston’s Evergreen Nursery & Garden Center (Erie County), Peters Produce (York County) and Andes Nursery (Columbia County).
With so many incredible PA Preferred farms, markets and orchards across the state, you’re sure to find plenty of fall goodness at your fingertips. To search for particular produce or goods, use the PA Preferred member search tool. Make the most of your haul with scrumptious seasonal recipes found throughout our PA Preferred series and in the Culinary Connection recipe book. And, find and follow your local farms and makers on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about nearby festivals, food and fun!
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Photos: courtesy of the respective businesses
