Apple Jack Orchards sits along the Crow River in Delano, Minnesota. It has grown from a small apple-growing venture into a fall destination with an apple market, bakery, café, pumpkin patch, and family activities. Before planning a picking trip, there is an important crop update to know.
Apple Jack’s U-pick apples are finished for the 2026 season. The orchard reports that a late spring frost damaged its blossoms. Bagged apples remain available, including fruit from partner Minnesota orchards, and the bakery and other fall attractions continue to welcome visitors. Check the orchard’s current announcement before you go.
The People Behind the Orchard
Apple Jack’s official history traces the business to “Apple” Jack Kelly and an initial planting of 250 trees in 1983. His daughter Kit and her husband, Mike Dekarski, helped turn those beginnings into a larger orchard business.
The early operation focused on growing and selling apples. Over time, a visit became about more than taking home fruit: food, shopping, and family activities became part of the experience.
For even more fall fun, explore the 23 Best Apple Orchards in Minnesota!
The History of Apple Jack Orchards
Apple Jack began with those 250 trees and roadside apple sales. Its history page describes an orchard that eventually grew to about 10,000 trees and more than 29 Minnesota apple varieties.
That growth helps explain why visitors can plan very different outings here. Some come to buy apples and bakery treats; others make time for the Fun Farm and seasonal events.
Humble Beginnings
Roadside sales were an early part of the orchard’s story. A 2013 interview with Mike and Kit Dekarski describes the progression from a small planting to a farm with thousands of trees and a much wider range of visitor activities.
From Apples to Family Outings
As the business grew, family attractions became an important part of a day at Apple Jack. Today, it helps to plan your visit around the people coming with you: a quick shopping stop and a full afternoon of activities are different experiences.
Growth of an Orchard
The farm’s visitor offerings include a bakery and gift shop alongside outdoor play areas. The gift shop stocks items such as jams, jellies, sauces, candles, books, and toys, so there is more to browse than the apple harvest alone.
If you are visiting with children, check which attractions will operate on your chosen day. Leave room in the schedule for a snack and a stop at the market, especially if you want to take treats home.
Planning Your Visit
An orchard’s apple harvest and its activity season do not always end together. Apple Jack’s current picking closure is a good example: you can still plan a visit for food, shopping, and fall activities without expecting to pick apples.
Make the visitor FAQ your first stop for admission rules and activity details, then check the hours page for the day you plan to visit.
The Apples of Apple Jack Orchards
Apple Jack lists a broad range of apple varieties, with different ripening times and uses. A variety appearing on its website is not a guarantee that it is in stock or available for U-pick.
Apple Varieties
- Cortland
- Duchess
- Fireside
- First Kiss
- Gingergold
- Haralson
- Honeycrisp
- Honeygold
- Keepsake
- KinderKrisp
- SnowSweet
- B-51
- Sweet 16
- SweeTango
- Zestar
Crabapples
Chestnut Crab is also included in the orchard’s published variety list. Ask about availability if you are looking for this smaller apple.
Choosing Apples to Take Home
Tell the market staff whether you want apples for fresh eating, pies, sauce, or another recipe. They can help you choose from the fruit actually available during your visit.
The apple variety page gives general ripening information. Use it as a seasonal guide, and check the orchard’s current crop announcement before making picking plans.
What You Can Buy Besides Apples
A fall stop can include pumpkins, a bakery treat, or something from the gift shop. The selection changes through the season.
Other Produce
Apple Jack advertises a pumpkin patch as part of its fall offerings. Check the current schedule and pumpkin availability before making that the main reason for your trip.
Attractions
Admission depends on how you plan to spend the day. The orchard’s FAQ explains the difference between shopping areas, general admission, and premium activities.
Areas You Can Visit Without a Ticket
- Café
- Bakery
- Apple market
- Gift shop
These areas do not require an admission ticket. Food, apples, gifts, and other purchases cost extra.
Ticketed Activities
- Fun Farm: General-admission activities include options such as the corn maze, jumping pillows, cow train, corn pit, and play areas.
- Weekend offerings: Additional attractions operate on weekends; check the schedule for hayrides and the mega slide.
- Premium activities: Apple cannons and paintball carry additional charges.
- Young children: Children ages two and under enter free.
Compare the current ticket options before buying. Attraction availability can vary, and a ticket does not change the current U-pick closure.
Special Events
Apple Jack schedules seasonal events and live music. Check its official website and Facebook page for upcoming dates rather than relying on an event from a previous season.
What You Can Buy At Apple Jack Orchards
Bagged apples are the practical choice while U-pick is closed. Apple Jack says it is also sourcing apples from partner Minnesota orchards after frost affected its own crop, so ask the market staff about the available varieties and where a particular batch was grown.
Products Apple Jack Orchards is Known For
Browse the gift shop for pantry items and gifts, then stop at the bakery for one of the orchard’s familiar treats:
The Apple Cinnamon Donuts!
You’ll want to be certain a bag (or two) of these go home with you…provided they don’t get eaten during the car ride home from the orchard.
Make It a Fall Outing
A little planning makes it easier to enjoy Apple Jack at your own pace. Decide whether you want a short market visit or a longer day of ticketed activities, and check the schedule before setting out.
Bring home apples or donuts to stretch the outing a little further. If picking is the most important part of your plans, check current crop conditions at another orchard before traveling.
Where to Find Apple Jack Orchards
We hope this article has inspired you to visit Apple Jack Orchards this apple season.
Apple Jack currently lists daily seasonal hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for its market, gift shop, café, and Fun Farm. Check the hours page for changes, holiday arrangements, and the end-of-season schedule.
Visitor rules: Pets and outside food or drinks are not permitted. Parking is free; contact the orchard ahead of time if you have accessibility questions.
Use the following contact details to plan your visit:
Address: 4875 37th Street SE, Delano MN 55328
Phone: 763-972-6673
Website: www.applejackorchards.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/applejackorchards
- About the Author
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Bree is a wife, mom to a silly pitbull, and a writer for Minneopa Orchards. She lives in Oregon where she works as a freelancer and spends her free time cooking or crafting.
She began gardening when she became a homeowner — whenever she moved into a new home, a garden was one of her first priorities. She enjoyed creating beautiful outdoor spaces in whatever growing zone she lived in and says her southwest gardens were the most challenging!
Bree currently lives in a downtown urban setting, so she’s making good use of indoor gardening methods. Writing for Minneopa Orchards also inspires her to experiment in the kitchen with fresh herbs and seasonal produce. Infused oils, fruit syrups, and dried fruits are some of her recent successes.