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Updated: September 19, 2025

Friday Food Insider: How about them apples? Season offers mixed crop for Maine orchards

Photo / Courtesy Jack McAdam McDougal Orchards in Springvale offers apple and berry picking, wagon rides and other activities throughout the week.
By Alexis Wells

This season is proving to be a mixed bag for Maine-grown apples, as fluctuations in temperature and rainfall have led to varying crop quality and harvest outcomes across the state.

The growing season started with incessant rain and ended in a drought. 

After an "epic" 2024, "this year's crop is down a bit, but [the] color of the fruit is fantastic and size is great, in spite of the lack of rain," Ellen McAdam, co-owner of McDougal Orchards in Springvale, told Mainebiz.

The apple-picking season runs from August through most of October — "or until we're picked out," McAdam said. 

While the family-owned business left prices unchanged this year, McAdam said that may change next year with the minimum wage set to rise again "and the cost of everything going up."

Renae Moran, a tree fruit specialist with the University of Maine, described the growing season as "OK."

"The lack of rain has had only a small impact on the apple crop and, thankfully, there's been little hail damage," she said. "However, the drought is expected to affect the 'return bloom,' because apple trees form flower buds during late summer and fall. These buds stay dormant through winter and bloom in spring, but with less rain, fewer buds may develop."

Kelly Orchards apple trees with apples on them.
Photo / Kelly Orchards
Kelly Orchards in Acton is a family-owned fruit farm founded in 1982.

Moran added that the bloom phase earlier in the season was challenging due to cold weather, which limited bee activity and hindered pollination. As a result, some growers are seeing below-average yields, though others have not been significantly affected.

At Kelly Orchards in Acton where some orchards are reporting lower yields and the overall crop is down from last year, picking activity has been strong.

"We’ve had more sales than usual, and the crop is of excellent quality," Art Kelly said. "We are concerned, though, that continued drought conditions could cause apples to drop prematurely."

Other activities 

Beyond picking, orchards earn revenue from a range of agritourism offerings including hayrides, corn mazes, petting zoos and live entertainment. 

Many also sell fresh produce, homemade goods and apple cider donuts and offer eating options from on-site eateries to visiting food trucks. 

Pick your orchard

Take your pick of apple orchards across the state: 

  • Bailey's Orchard, 55 North Hunts Meadow Road, Whitefield
  • Berry Fruit Farm, 361 Crash Road, Livermore
  • Boothby's Orchard, 366 Boothby Road, Livermore
  • Brackett's Orchard, 224 Sokokis Ave., Limington
  • Cayford Orchard, 99 Hilton Hill Road, Skowhegan
  • Chick's Apple & Berry Farm, 571 Main St., Monmouth
  • Cooper Farms, 27 Bethel Road, West Paris
  • Doles Orchard, 187 Doles Ridge Road, Limington
  • Elwell Farms, 50 Elwell Road, Monroe
  • Five Fields Farm, 720 South Bridgton Road, Bridgton
  • Gathering Winds Farm, Poland Corner Road, Poland
  • Giles Family Farm, 149 Shaker Hill Road, Alfred
  • Greenwood Orchards, 174 Auburn Road, Turner
  • Hansel's Orchard, 44 Sweetser Road, North Yarmouth
  • Hardy Farms, 106 Church St., Hope
  • Hazel Hill Orchard, 59 South Livermore Road, Turner
  • Hope Orchards, 434 Camden Road, Hope
  • Kelly Orchards, 82 Sanborn Road, Acton
  • Kents Hill Orchard, 1625 Main St., Kents Hill
  • Lemieux's Orchard, 210 Priest Hill Road, Vassalboro
  • McDougal Orchards, 201 Hanson Ridge Road, Springvale
  • McElwain's Strawberry Farm, 711 Sweden St., Caribou
  • Morrison Hill Orchard, 272 Morrison Hill Road, Farmington
  • MSAD1, 340 State St., Presque Isle
  • Mullis Orchards, 270 Dexter Road, Corinna
  • North Chester Orchard, 460 North Chester Road, Chester
  • North Star Orchards, 97 Orchard Road,  Madison
  • Orchard Ridge Farm, 236 Sebago Lake Road, Gorham
  • Peaked Hill, U.S. Route 2-80 Gilead Road, Gilead
  • Pleasant Pond Orchard, 430 Brunswick Road, Richmond
  • Randall Orchards, 1 Randall Road, Standish
  • Ricker Hill Orchards, 295 Buckfield Road, Turner
  • Rocky Ridge Orchard, 38 Rocky Ridge Lane,  Bowdoin
  • Rollins Orchard, 262 Dexter Road, Garland
  • Romac Orchards, 1149 H Road, Acton
  • Rowe Orchards, U.S. Route 7, Moosehead Trail, Newport
  • School House Farm, 1171 Atlantic Hwy, Warren
  • Snell Family Farm, 1000 River Road, Buxton
  • Spiller Farm, 85 Spiller Farm Lane, Wells
  • Sparrowhawk Orchard, 684 Grover Hille Road, Bethel
  • Stukas Orchard, 144 Ferry Road, Lewiston
  • Sullivan Orchard, 356 Puddledock Pond, Charleston
  • Sweetser's Orchard, 19 Blanchard Road, Cumberland
  • The Apple Farm, 104 Back Road, Fairfield
  • The Lion's Farm, 230 Main St., Corinth
  • The Orchard at Chase Farms, 1396 North Berwick Road, Wells
  • Thompson's Orchard, 276 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester
  • Treworgy Orchards, 3876 Union Street, Levant
  • Vista of Maine Vineyard and Cidery, 146 N. Hills Ridge, Greene
  • Wallingford's Orchard, 1240 Perkins Ridge Road, Auburn
  • Willow Pond Farm, 395 Middle Road, Sabattus. 

What's your go-to spot for apple cider donuts? The Friday Food Insider wants to know where you get your autumnal sweet fix! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz

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