Things to Do
Where to Pick Apples Around Springfield
These local southwest Missouri orchards offer pick-your-own apples and more throughout the fall season in the Ozarks.
By Katie Pollock Estes
Sep 2021
Photo by Vivian WheelerGrab some of your fall favorites at one of southwest Missouri’s local orchards. Red Delicious, Fuji or Granny Smith?
1. Sunshine Valley Farm
8125 E. Highway AD, Rogersville
Picking apples at Sunshine Valley Farm is a fall must-do. The farm offers numerous varieties of apples and updates its Facebook page often to let you know which ones are ready to pick. Personally, we can’t enough of the Mutsu.
Bonus for next summer: They have blueberry picking in June and July, too.
2. Murphy Orchard
255 N. Highway 60, Marionville
At Murphy Orchard, we love to visit the farmstand to get super-fresh apples. In addition to being able to choose between several varieties (try the unusual Arkansas Black when you can get it!), you can also grab some of the other goodies the farm offers while you’re there, like preserves, dried fruit and peanut brittle.
Bonus for next summer: This farm is known for its incredible peaches and nectarines.
3. Gardener’s Orchard & Bakery
https://g.page/Gardenersorchard?share
Gardener’s is another great spot if you want to pick your own apples. When the season is in full swing, the farm is open for picking until it runs out of apples. You can also get products like raw apple cider vinegar, fresh apple cider by the gallon and lots of goodies from the bakery.
Bonus for next summer: Pick strawberries and enjoy strawberry slush and donuts.
4. Purple Gate Farm
416 Poplar Dr., Highlandville
This little farm located in Highlandville raises several free-range animals and grows a ton of herbs—alongside an orchard filled with apples, of course. You can stop by to pick your own from a handful of varieties. The farm also produces a ton of other stuff, like lotion bars and duck, quail and chicken eggs that you can find at Well N Good Health Market in Nixa.
Bonus for next summer: The farm offers herbal classes, so you can learn from a master herbalist.
5. Farmers Market of the Ozarks
2144 E. Republic Road, Springfield
If you can’t make it out to a farmstand or to pick your own apples (or just want something a little more convenient and one-stop-shop-ish), try a weekend visit to Farmers Market of the Ozarks. The market stocks locally grown apples from several nearby farms, such as Sunshine Valley and Murphy Orchard (mentioned above), and A&A Orchard based in northwest Arkansas.
Bonus for next summer: The market has every single fruit and veggie you could ever want.
