Apple Annie's Orchards in Wilcox, Arizona

Many of us cannot or don't have a garden due to lack of time, space, or even due to a black thumb. Located in southern Arizona, Wilcox to be exact, is an apple orchard and produce farm called Apple Annie's Orchards where you can get a chance to reconnect with nature by picking your own fruits and vegetables.

Started in the early 1980's by John and Anne Holcomb, Apple Annie's originally was to be a commercial apple farm. Instead it turned into a you-pick-it orchard as they invited people to come pick their own apples.

Apple Annie's now has two farms; one for apples, pears, and peaches. There is a huge variety of apples to choose from including: Macintosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith just to name a few. The other farm includes: pumpkins, corn, bell peppers, chili peppers, tomatoes, squash, eggplant, green beans, navy beans, cucumbers, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, and onions amongst others.

They usually open for the season in July and close around the end of October. On their website at http://www.appleannies.com you can find a harvest calendar that gives estimated dates of when each fruit or vegetable will be ready to harvest. Though you may just find yourself having to make several trips there throughout the harvest season to make sure you get a bit of everything.

Apple Annie's is great for school field trips, church groups, Boy/Girl Scouts, or just a fun day with family and friends. It's great for kids that have never had a chance to pick their own produce or see where fruits and vegetables actually come from.

While there make sure to visit their bakery for apple pies, apple nut bread, apple cider, apple butter, and in my opinion the best of all: fudge! They also have a gift shop with lots of other goodies.

To me the main attraction is picking your own produce and at cheaper prices than found in the stores. But for those who'd rather not, they have produced already picked on hand.

On weekends apple-smoked burgers are available as are homemade pie and ice cream!

Picking your own produce can prove to be rather addicting and you might find yourself with more than you could possibly eat before it goes bad! Remember you can always cook it up in muffins, pies, freeze it, or spread the bounty by sharing with your friends and family! Of course, my horses are always ecstatic whenever I go as they too get to share in the bounty, especially the apples.