Are you looking to pick apples from a farm in Alaska? Alaska does have apple trees and there are a few farms or places you can go to pick this fresh fruit!
Are you hungry for something crisp and seasonal for fall? Pack up the family or take your loved one on a fun date for a day of apple picking!
Apple picking is a beloved autumnal activity for many, but you might be surprised to hear that it is possible even in America’s northernmost state of Alaska. Despite its frigid climate, Alaska boasts a number of apple orchards that produce a variety of apples that thrive in our cool temperatures and long days of summer.
From the Matanuska Valley to the Interior and beyond, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the crisp air and stunning views while picking apples straight from the tree. Whether you are a seasoned picker or a first-timer, apple picking in Alaska is a unique and unforgettable experience.
To help you find the best apples for some fall baking, we have compiled the best apple picking farms in Alaska!
Best Varieties Of Apples To Grow In Alaska’s Climate
If you want to go apple picking in Alaska, you might be wondering what varieties are grown in the state’s unique climate. While it is true that apple trees require a certain number of chill hours to produce fruit, there are several hardy varieties that can thrive in Alaska’s cool temperatures and short growing season.
- Haralson apple: A cultivar that was specifically developed to withstand cold temperatures. This variety produces tart, firm fruit that is great for baking and cooking. Haralson apples are also resistant to common apple diseases like scab and fire blight, making them a reliable choice for farmers in Alaska.
- Honeycrisp apple: A popular choice for growers in recent years, this variety is known for its sweet, juicy flesh and crisp texture, making it a favorite for snacking. While Honeycrisps do require a longer growing season than some other varieties, they can still do well in Alaska’s cooler climate with proper care and attention.
- Alaskan Splendor: This variety was developed in Alaska specifically for Alaskan growers, and is known for its excellent cold hardiness and disease resistance. Alaskan Splendor apples are medium-sized and have a slightly tart flavor, making them a great all-purpose apple.
- Dolgo crabapple: While not typically eaten raw, these small, tart apples are great for making jams, jellies and other preserves. Dolgo crabapples are also particularly well-suited to Alaska’s climate, as they are extremely cold hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -50°F.
That means you will probably find these varieties at Alaskan orchards for picking!
The 8 Best Apple Orchards In Alaska That We Have Found
The best places to go apple picking in Alaska are truly all over the Last Frontier.
Located all around the state in Fairbanks, the MatSu Valley and Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, and even Hoonah, Alaska!
1.) All About Apples
Who knows all about apples? The All About Apples farm!
This great farm in the MatSu Valley offers organic apples from Wasilla. Boasting over 120 different varieties of apples, perfect for pies, sauce, snacks, or cider, they definitely know what they are doing!
Horticulture expert Dan Elliott has grown prize-winning apples in Alaska for 25 years at this popular farm, so you know what you get is going to be really good. And their apples are sold without the wax coatings and chemical usually used in an industrial agricultural business.
They also offer their apples for wholesale for market sellers, and offer other fruit trees like cherries to enjoy, too!
Need some horticultural services? They also offer pruning and grafting! They have all of the in-depth knowledge you need to grow apple trees in Alaska.
All About Apples
- Address: 950 E Fairview Loop Rd (Mile 4.8) Wasilla AK 99654
- Phone: (907) 376-5196
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: elliottsapples.blogspot.com
2.) Alaska Apple Farm
You may know about the plethora of apple orchards in the Matanuska Valley, the Interior, and even the Kenai Peninsula. But did you know there is an apple farm in Hoonah? It’s true!
Alaska Apple Farms operates their five acre farm out of Hoonah and is home to ten different types of apple trees that thrive in Alaska!
They sell apples by the pound, a variety of different fruit tree including apples, cherry, and plum, and even tree cutting services. Their fruit by the pound service is coming very soon!
Right now visiting the farm is available by appointment only, so make sure to call and check in on when you would like to swing by! Prices are still to be determined, so ask them their prices when you give them a call.
Alaska Apple Farm
- Address: By Appointment Only
- Phone: (907) 723-8457
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: alaskaapplefarms.com
3.) Northern Fruits Nursery
If you are looking to pick apples in Palmer, then head to Northern Fruits Nursery! They offer a variety of different apples including fan favorites like Parkland, Zesta, State Fair, and Norland varieties.
Beyond delicious apples, they also offer fruit trees, berry bushes, and ornamental trees and shrubs. All of their produce is grown organically, so you don’t have to worry about any pesticides.
They open their u-pick every summer, so make sure to check out their Facebook page early July for dates of when to go and pick fruit including raspberries, dates, cherries, and their crisp and delicious apples.
Northern Fruits Nursery
- Address: 16042 E Ptarmigan Rd Palmer AK 99645
- Phone: (907) 982-9761
- Social Media: Facebook
4.) Friends of Boyer’s Orchard and Greenhouse
This unique orchard and greenhouse is filled with hundreds of Alaska hardy fruits, including delicious apples. This one acre farm in Anchorage, Alaska was run by the late Bob Boyer. It is now run by a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Friend’s of Boyer’s Orchard.
They manage the space and open it up to u-pick each summer and early fall, as well as promote local and sustainable food crops with education, sales, and experimentation.
You can find tasty apple varieties grown organically such as:
- Alkmene
- Ambrosia
- Baldwin
- Cameo
- Chesnut Crab
- Fuji
- Ginger Gold
- Golden Sentinel
- Grimes Golden
- Honeycrisp
- Rosyglow
- Rubinette
- RubyJon
- Spizenburg
They sell their apples for $2.50 – $3.50 a pound, or you can volunteer at the orchard in exchange for payment in fruit. Follow their Facebook page for more information and their up-to-date u-pick events.
Boyer’s Orchard and Greenhouse
- Address: 645 East 81st Avenue Anchorage AK 99518
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: alaskaorchard.org
- Social Media: Facebook
5.) Clark’s Apple Orchard
Visit one of the most popular apple picking spots in Alaska!
Clark’s Apple Orchard isn’t just one of the most popular apple orchards in the state, it is also one of the oldest.
At only $2 per pound, you will be able to stock up on apples for all your autumnal baking and snacking needs. And if you want to stock up, they also offer cherries at $4 per pound.
Due to its extreme popularity, they only have one or two you-pick options each fall, and they sell tickets to reserve spots.
Tickets go on sale each year on August 1st, so mark your calendars and head over to their website to reserve your spot!
Clark’s Apple Orchard
- Address: 3200 Rabbit Creek Rd Anchorage AK 99516
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: clarksapple.com
6.) O’Brien Garden and Trees
Located in Nikiski, O’Brien Garden and Trees is a wonderful orchard celebrating 40 years on their 6 acre plot.
They grow almost 100 different varieties of apples on their orchard, and sell the delicious apples for just $3 a pound when you come and pick them.
When picking here, you will find mostly sweet eating apples, otherwise known as “dessert apples,” but you can also find a couple that would be great in pies or cider.
They also offer Alaska hardy fruit like sweet cherries, serviceberries, raspberries, strawberries, and different varieties of currants.
Starting the third Sunday in August and running all the way through October, every three weeks O’Brien Gardens and Trees hold apple tasting events with the apples from the orchard.
Visitors get a chance to pick their own and try them out. The orchard is open every Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but you can also find them on the Kenai Peninsula at local farmers markets nearby.
O’Brien Garden and Trees
- Address: 49240 Freda Dr Nikiski AK 99611
- Phone: (907) 598-1339
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook
7.) Arctic Organics
Arctic Organics is home to 20 acres of apples and vegetables in Palmer, right in the heart of Matanuska Valley. Their apples and produce are all grown organically without pesticides, GMOs, and any industrial agricultural chemicals.
They have eight different varieties of apple trees. They offer apples individually, by the bushel, in their CSA boxes, and at their farm stand and farmer’s markets. You can even purchase a tree if you have a hankering for growing one at home.
They sell apple trees that are 3 years old and usually these trees start to produce apples by their 5th year.
The husband and wife team, Sarah and River Bean, have been running Arctic Organics for over 35 years with love, and it shows!
Arctic Organics
- Address: 1305 N Smith Road Palmer AK 99645
- Phone: (907)746-1087
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: arcticorganics.com
- Social Media: Facebook
8.) Fire Apple Orchard and Gardens
Fire Apple Orchard and Gardens is a pick your own apples adventure! Located in Big Lake, this young orchard has been around for just over 20 years. Dan and Nancy Moore run this orchard of 58 different apple varieties.
You can also find 12 different cherry tree varieties, too!
This orchard also offers berry picking, which is always a family fun thing to do here in Alaska!
In the springtime they offer grafting classes, and they will sell fruit trees during the growing season. Call ahead of time to make sure they are open when you want to swing by! Visitors are welcome.
Fire Apple Orchard and Gardens
- Address: 4214 S Andrea Wasilla AK 99654
- Phone: (907) 373-6317
- Email: [email protected]
Apple picking in Alaska is a one-of-a-kind experience that is not to be missed!
If you are looking for things to do in Alaska in August or September – check out some of these orchards and go apple picking!
Despite the state’s frequent freezing temperatures and unique climate, there are plenty of hardy apple varieties that can thrive in Alaska’s unique growing conditions, and there is nothing quite like biting into a crisp, fresh-picked apple while taking in the stunning Alaskan scenery.
Whether you are a seasoned picker or a first-timer, there is no shortage of orchards to explore in the Last Frontier. So if you find yourself in Alaska during apple season, be sure to put apple picking on your to-do list. You won’t be disappointed!
One of the other incredible things you can do in the cooler months is an Alaskan classic: spotting the famous Northern Lights. Learn the best times and places to see the aurora during your visit.
After living over 14 years in Alaska, Megan McDonald can confidently state that there’s not much of the state on the road system that she hasn’t visited. From the Brooks Range to McCarthy, Homer, and everywhere in between, every nook and cranny of Alaska is always her new favorite place.
As President and co-founder of Alaska-based boutique media agency HuMu Media, she spends her work time writing, photographing, and traveling, and her off time writing, photographing, and traveling. They say do what you love, and she is lucky enough to do so!
You can follow her travels on Instagram at @theitinerantginger