Sekapp Orchard in Rochester, Minnesota, has been owned by the Kappauf family since 1962. Its history goes back even further, and today it offers apples, seasonal produce, a farm store, and fall activities close to the city.
Read on to learn about this Minnesota orchard that should be on your list of must-visit places during the different harvest seasons.
Getting Its Start
According to the orchard’s history page, Ben Dunn bought the property in 1940. After World War II, he taught returning G.I.s about agriculture and orchard work.
Dunn worked with the University of Minnesota on grafting apple trees and introduced new varieties to the orchard. His horticultural work helped shape the farm’s varied plantings.
Alta Dunn sold the orchard to the Kappauf family in 1962. The new owners learned the business as they went, building on the orchard’s existing trees and history.
Decades later, apples and seasonal farm produce remain at the heart of Sekapp’s place in the Rochester area.
What’s Grown at Sekapp Orchard
Apples are a major draw, but Sekapp also grows other fruits, vegetables, and seasonal plants. Its produce calendar is a useful guide to what may be available at different times of year.
Spring brings asparagus and rhubarb, while raspberries are listed for July. These are seasonal crops, so a fall visit will offer a different selection from an early-summer stop.
Summer offerings can include sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, and other vegetables. Weather and harvest timing affect what is ready on any particular day.
Apples, pears, pumpkins, and mums are among the fall offerings. Contact the orchard if you need a particular item or a large quantity rather than assuming everything on the seasonal calendar will be in stock.
The Orchard
For a family that started out not knowing much about apples, the Kappaufs have expanded their knowledge. When they first started out, they joined the Minnesota Apple Growers’ Association to educate themselves on apple growing and keeping an orchard.
The orchard has thousands of apple trees and grows dozens of varieties, ripening at different points in the season.
Familiar names include Honeycrisp, Jonathan, and Cortland. The apple page lists varieties and approximate ripening dates, making it a helpful starting point for choosing when to visit.
Harvest dates are a guide rather than a promise. Call before traveling for a specific variety, and ask which apples are available pre-picked or in the U-pick area.
U-pick is offered Wednesday through Sunday while accessible apples remain. Every person entering the picking area must purchase at least a quarter-peck bag, including anyone who does not plan to pick. Large groups should call to arrange a visit. Pets are not allowed.
The Store
The farm store offers another way to enjoy the orchard without picking. Check the store selection for seasonal products and ask about current stock before making a special trip.
Offerings include jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, barbecue sauces, maple syrup, and honey. The selection varies, so it is a good place to browse for something to enjoy with your apples.
Sekapp’s honey comes from bees kept at the orchard. Its honey page describes light and dark honey, as well as comb and crystallized honey. Ask which options are available during your visit.
In fall, look for cider, pumpkins, gourds, and mums alongside the apples. The farm also advertises Christmas trees later in the year; check availability and hours before a holiday visit.
Events
Fall is a good time to combine shopping with outdoor activities. Sekapp’s Pumpkinland page highlights its seasonal corn maze and straw-bale maze.
Bring the family for the mazes and seasonal photo opportunities, then stop by the store for apples or a treat. Confirm the current activity schedule before visiting, especially if you are organizing a group outing.
Pumpkins and colorful gourds are available seasonally for taking home. If you also want to pick apples, plan around the separate Wednesday-through-Sunday U-pick schedule and check that picking is still open.
Visit Sekapp Orchard!
The Kappauf family has cared for Sekapp since 1962, continuing an orchard story that began before their arrival. A visit can be as simple as buying a bag of apples or as leisurely as a fall afternoon exploring the seasonal activities.
Find Sekapp at 3415 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN 55904, just east of Rochester Community and Technical College. Call 507-282-4544 for crop availability, group arrangements, or accessibility questions.
Check the orchard’s current hours before leaving home. Store hours and U-pick days differ, and off-season visits may require an appointment. The orchard does not allow pets and lists a surcharge for credit and debit card payments.
Looking for more fall fun? Discover more Minnesota Apple orchards to visit this apple season!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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.