Central Virginia orchards are the best places to find fresh fruit in season. From spring through fall, there's always something fresh growing at our local orchards. Plan a visit to your favorite orchard, try somewhere new, or visit them all in 2024!
Whether picking berries or cherries in spring and early summer or apples and pumpkins in the fall, the time is now to start planning for family fun at one of these local orchards. Fruit is a treat parents can feel good about sharing with their kids. Strawberries, apples, and other fruit is packed with vitamins and fiber, but low in calories.
Hours may vary throughout the season due to weather, limited supply, staffing, or other concerns. For most recent updates, check each website before you visit or find updates on each orchard's Facebook page.
You can also find fresh fruit, vegetables, and much more at local farmers markets in Lynchburg, Forest, Bedford, and Amherst! You'll find more information about each of these markets below.
Updated for Spring 2024 season, including local farmers markets!
Lynchburg Area Farmers Markets
Lynchburg Community Market, located at 1219 Main Street in Lynchburg, is open year-round from Tuesday through Saturday. The Farmers Market (indoor and outdoor vendors) is open Saturdays from 8 AM - 1 PM. The Artisan Crafters Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM - 2 PM and Saturdays from 7 AM - 2 PM. There's also a Wednesday Farmers Market from 9 AM - 1 PM seasonally from mid-May through late September.
Forest Farmer's Market, located at 15583 Forest Road in Forest, is open seasonally on Saturdays from late April through October from 8 AM -12 PM. In addition, Forest Farmer's Market offers winter markets one Saturday per month during February, March, and April and holiday markets in November and December. Forest Farmer's Market opens April 27 for the 2024 season.
Bedford Farmers Market, located at 220 W. Washington Street in Bedford, is open on Saturdays from May through October from 9 AM - 12 PM. Bedford Farmers Market also offers winter markets one Saturday per month during January, February, March, and April and holiday markets in November and December. Bedford Farmers Market opens May 4 for the 2024 season.
Rustburg Farmers Market, located at 200 Colonial Highway in Rustburg (Rustburg Ruritan Club), is open seasonally on Thursdays from mid-April through fall from 3 PM - 6 PM. Rustburg Farmers Market opens April 18 for the 2024 season.
The Market at Second Stage Amherst, located at 194 Second Street in Amherst, is open on Tuesdays from late May through late September from 4 PM - 6 PM. The market features local producers, bakers, makers, and crafters. The Market at Second Stage Amherst opens May 21 for the 2024 season.
Four Seasons Farm Market, located on S. Main Street in Amherst (parking lot across from Hill Hardware), is open on Thursdays from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Online only from November - March with pick up at 206 S. Main Street. In person and online from the first Thursday in April through the last Thursday in October in the parking lot on S. Main St across from Hill Hardware. Four Seasons Farmers Market opens April 4 for the 2024 season.
Lynchburg Area: Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Pittsylvania County Orchards
Morris Orchard is located at 226 Tobacco Row Lane in Monroe. Morris Orchard is open from spring through late fall. Morris Orchard offers many varieties of apples from late spring or early summer through late October including several varieties of pick-your-own apples in season. During apple season, Morris also has apples and fresh pressed cider available at the farm store. They offer pick your own apples on select weekends during the season please call ahead to check availability. Check the apple schedule for pick-your-own apple availability.
Morris offers pick-your-own blueberries from mid-June to early July and pick-your-own blackberries from mid-July to late August. In addition, you can purchase pre-picked peaches from mid-June - mid-August, sweet corn and summer vegetables from mid-July to late August, and Morris Orchard is open in season on Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Yoders' Farm, located at 1134 Browns Mill Road in Rustburg, offers pick-your-own strawberries, starting in late April or early May. In addition, Yoders' offers hydroponic tomatoes from late fall until mid-summer. You'll also find jams, jellies, apples, and seasonal baked goods at the Farm Store. The Farm Store is open year round. Yoders' closes in August following the spring and summer seasons and reopens in late September for the fall season with a pumpkin patch and corn maze. Yoders' Farm hours vary seasonally, but they are generally open Tuesday through Saturday.
Johnson's Orchards is located at 1218 Elmos Road in Bedford. Johnson's offers nearly 200 varieties of apples at their family owned and operated farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Apples are available from June through October. Choose from U-pick or U-select apples with picking hours daily in August through October from 10 AM - 5 PM. Johnson's Orchards and sister business Peaks of Otter Winery are open daily from 12 PM to 5 PM from April to December and weekends from 12 PM to 5 PM from January through March.
Gross Orchard is located at 6817 Wheats Valley Road in Bedford. Gross Orchard offers pick-your-own or pre-picked apples from late spring or early summer to mid-September. Gross Orchard offers pick-your-own or pre-picked peaches from mid-June to August. The farm store also sells jams and jellies, country ham, bacon, cider, and a variety of other items. Gross Orchard is open year-round Monday through Saturday from 8-6. Special events at Gross Orchard are: Apple Blossom Festival on the second Saturday in April, Peach Festival on the fourth Saturday in July, Apple Harvest Festival on the third Saturday in October, and Apple Valley 5K on the first Saturday in November.
Motley's Strawberry Farm, located at 240 Steele Road in Gretna, is about an hour south of Lynchburg. It's easy to find Motley's right off the intersection of Route 29 and Route 40 in Gretna. Pick-your-own season begins in late April or early May and runs through mid-June. Motley's also offers some pre-picked strawberries. Motley's is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM and Saturdays from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Nelson County and Charlottesville Area Orchards
Saunders Brothers Orchard and Farm Market is located at 2717 Tye Brook Highway in Piney River. Saunders Brothers Farm Market is open from mid-April through November and there's also a Christmas tree farm from late November to mid-December. Apple season at Saunders Brothers is from August to October. Saunders offers a variety of fruit including: nectarines and peaches from June to September, pears from mid-August to September, and apples from July to October. Saunders Brothers is open in season Monday through Saturday from 9 AM - 5 PM.
Silver Creek and Seamans' Orchard has two locations: Silver Creek Orchard, located at 5529 Crabtree Falls Highway in Tyro and Seamans' Orchards, located at 1040 Dark Hollow Road in Roseland. Seaman's Orchard offers strawberries in spring and early summer. Silver Creek and Seamans' offers a variety of apples in September and October, including some pick-your-own days. In addition, you can pick-your-own pumpkins during October and enjoy the annual Apple Butter Making Festival, with festivals scheduled on Oct. 5 and Oct. 19 in 2024. Pick-your-own hours vary by location, so check before you go. Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchard is open in season on Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Drumheller’s Orchard, located at 1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane in Lovingston, offers a variety of peaches and pluots from late June to mid-September and a variety of apples from early July to early November. Apple Festivals are scheduled for the last weekend in September and the third weekend in October from 9 AM - 5 PM. Drumheller's is open in season on Monday through Saturday from 9 AM - 5 PM and Sundays from 12 PM - 5 PM.
Dickie Brothers Orchard is located at 2685 Dickie Road in Roseland. Dickie Brothers is open from early July through early November. Dickie Brothers has been in operation as a family farm since the 1750s. Dickie Brothers offers peaches, plums, and a variety of apples, including many varieties of pick-your-own, which are available from July to early November. Dickie Brothers is open in season from Thursday through Sunday.
The Chiles Family Orchards include Carter Mountain Orchard, located at 1435 Carters Mountain Trail in Charlottesville; Chiles Peach Orchard, located at 1351 Greenwood Road in Crozet; and Spring Valley Orchard, located at 3526 Spring Valley Road in Afton. Each location specializes in specific fruits. Spring Valley offers cherries, Chiles Peach Orchard offers strawberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins, and Carter Mountain Orchard offers peaches and apples. The Chiles Family Orchards offer pick-your-own peaches from mid-June to mid-September and pick-your-own apples from mid-August to late November. In addition, there's a wide variety of pre-picked fruits including: cherries from mid-May to late June, peaches from mid-June to mid-September, nectarines from late June to late August, apples from mid-August to late November, and pumpkins and gourds from mid-September to late November. Carter Mountain Orchard is open year-round with reduced hours in the winter. Chiles Peach Orchard is open seasonally from April to late December. Spring Valley Orchard is open seasonally from late May through June. Daily hours vary, so check the hours at each venue before you head out.
Why settle for store bought fruits and vegetables? With so many farmers markets and local orchards, fresh is best!
Check our event calendar for information about local events! Find Your Family Fun® this spring with our Lynchburg VA Spring 2024 Day Trips, Vacays, and Staycations and Lynchburg VA Area Spring Hikes guides!
Check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Guide in the fall to find pumpkin patch and corn maze fun for the fam!
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