Fireside Orchard and Gardens, located about 40 minutes due south of Minneapolis, is a gorgeous Minnesota orchard. They have several varieties of apples, as well as delicious apple products such as pies for sale. It’s a great destination for a fall fun day trip with the kids!
Keep reading to discover Fireside Orchard and Gardens!
The History of Fireside Orchard and Gardens
Fireside Orchard and Gardens was started in 1971 by Robert Harvey. In 1985, Harvey and his family bought a cornfield outside of Northfield and moved the Fireside orchard, eventually expanding it to over 40 acres of trees! Today, Harvey’s sons Todd and Doug help run the orchard.
In 1998, Mrs. Harvey contributed an apple crisp recipe to a regional cookbook. Now, the orchard and garden are a family-friendly treasure where you can go and spend time relaxing and picking fruit.
This family-run orchard also continually adds more apple varieties created by the University of Minnesota! Talk about a local champion.
Fireside Orchard and Gardens Apples
Most Fireside Orchard and Gardens apples are from the University of Minnesota’s apple breeding program, which created such stars as the Honeycrisp. That means you’ll find Honeycrisp along with Honeygold, Regent, Fireside, Keepsake, Haralson, and more.
If you’ve got a particular apple you hope to buy but don’t see it listed on the orchard’s website, give the orchard a call to see if they have any plans to plant and grow that variety in the future.
Fireside Orchard and Gardens Store
A major feature of the orchard is, of course, the store. You can go in person, or even shop online. There, you can choose from two different types of apples: bagged premium (“extra fancy”) apples, or loose apples that you can choose yourself but that may have some minor blemishes.
You’ll also find pies, cider, fudge, caramels, soup mixes, pickles, popcorn, sauerkraut, apple butter, muffin mixes, cheese, sodas, jellies and jams, and much more..
And if you’re starting to feel a little over-appled, the flavors of jams, muffins, and other products include pumpkin, pomegranate, raspberry, and other fruits. You can even get some funky savory items such as garlic-flavored cheese, bacon ketchup, and dilly beans.
The Gardens
So you’ve purchased your apples and pie and caramels – is that it? There’s plenty more to do at Fireside Orchard and Gardens than just buy produce!
There are beautiful gardens on the property, including a pond with benches nestled among greenery and a lovely rose garden complete with a pavilion. There’s also a lawn that’s perfect to play games, and other perennial plants for you to enjoy.
The Harveys specifically added these locations to give customers a nice place to sit, relax, and even have a picnic. The gardens have been the site of many weddings, and for those who like quirky family photos, there are two refurbished antique tractors onsite that make the perfect background!
Grab some cider and pie and enjoy a breezy autumn afternoon surrounded by the scents of apples and roses – you’ll remember that day forever.
The Farmer’s Market
Can’t make it out to the orchard? Fireside Orchard and Garden sells their produce at the Minneapolis Farmers Market between mid-August and early November.
Visit Fireside Orchard and Gardenz
Fireside Orchard and Gardens is more than just a place to see an apple tree and buy some fruit. This is a place where families can go for an affordable day out and be surrounded by nature while chatting, eating, and playing.
Excited to learn about more apple orchards? Discover more apple orchards in Minnesota!