Photo courtesy Flinchbaugh's
1. Abundant Apricots
Most people know the chewy tang of a dried apricot, but not as many have savored the juicy aromatic flesh of a fresh one. Flinchbaugh’s grows six varieties of these velvet-skinned, pale-orange beauties, all at peak season by mid-month.
Flinchbaugh’s / Hellam, PA / flinchbaughsorchard.com
Photo courtesy Strite's Orchards
2. Just Peachy
Strite’s Orchard is brimming with peaches by mid-July. One of their most popular varieties, Red Havens, are coveted by canners because of the attractive red tint to the fruit’s flesh. A new variety added to their fields is the “donut” peach. These unique fuzzy fruits have a flat shape resembling an inner tube; they’re an instant hit with kids due to their unique shape and extra sweet flavor.
Strite’s Orchard / Middletown, PA / stritesorchard.com
Photo courtesy Brecknock Orchard
3. Rare Raspberries
Brecknock’s yellow raspberries are very similar in shape and texture to their red or black counterparts, but possess a decidedly sweeter flavor with a hint of another beloved summer fruit—the apricot. Yellow raspberries add something unique to traditional preparations such as jams, tarts, or fruit salads.
Brecknock Orchard / Mohnton, PA / brecknockorchard.com
533340696
4. Better-for-You Blueberries
At Weaver’s Orchard, an emphasis on reducing pesticides produces a healthy blueberry yield with fewer chemicals. They monitor crops to make wise decisions about pest and disease control, which limits the need for pesticide use. Pick your own blueberries and more at this progressive orchard throughout the month.
Weaver’s Orchard /Morgantown, PA / weaversorchard.com
5. Raspberries Rule
Brown’s Orchards has recently added red raspberries to its fields, offering a lovely pick-your-own experience that lasts a few weeks into July. You are advised to select plump berries that easily detach from the vine and not to pile them too high in containers, as ripe berries smash easily. Refrigerate the raspberries for up to three days, or pop them into the freezer to extend their life for months.
Brown’s Orchards /Loganville, PA / brownsorchards.com
6. Something to Celebrate
Paulus Orchards grows six different varieties of blueberries to ensure a long picking season through July and beyond. A blueberry festival Saturday, July 14, from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. includes all-you-can-eat blueberry pancakes, a live band, more than 30 craft vendors, tractor-pulled wagon rides, and pick-your-own berries, plus Paulus PlayLand is open for little ones.
Paulus Orchards / Dillsburg, PA / paulusorchards.com
7. Sweet as Cherry Pie
There’s something satisfying about spending an afternoon picking your own fruit. Cherry Hill has an abundance of the fruit that inspired their name this month, with its tart cherry crop ready for picking by the 4th of July. Although they may not sound as appealing as their sweeter cousins, they’re plenty popular for their tangy flavor, which is perfect for baking. Also good to know: The high melatonin content in sour cherries can help ease aches and pains and induce restful sleep.
Cherry Hill Orchards /Lancaster, PA / cherryhillorchards.com
