Crisp air, vibrant golden, orange and red leaves, and the crunch of fresh-picked apples -- fall in Minnesota doesn't get much better than this. And now, one local orchard has been named among the very best in the entire country.
Much like watching the Vikings play football (or in my case, the Packers), or putting something hearty like a pot roast in the crock pot, heading to an apple orchard during the autumn season is a yearly tradition for many of us here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
If you're going to take part in this autumnal rite of passage, there are a lot of choices here in the North Star State. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service, there are roughly between 115-140 retail apple orchards operating across the state.
And apple picking and apple sales is a big business here in the Bold North. Apples are a $14 million dollar industry in the North Star State, according to the University of Minnesota, with commercial apple orchards currently operating in 78 of our 87 counties. All those orchards producing roughly 16 million pounds of fruit annually, the USDA says.
ALSO INTERESTING: Iconic MN Brand Has Now Vanished From the State
And now, *one* of those orchards has just been highlighted as being one of the best not only here in Minnesota, but across the entire country. That's the word from USA Today's 10 Best series - Apple Orchards. Their expert panel nominated Pleasant Valley Orchard near Taylors Falls, Minnesota as one of the top 10 orchards in the U.S.
Here's what USA Today said about Pleasant Valley Orchard, located in Shafer, Minnesota, overlooking the scenic St. Croix Valley:
Around 20 different types of apples can be found here, ranging from the super-sweet Frostbite to end-of-season Keepsake apples, and they can self-picked on weekends. They also have a pumpkin patch (reached by a hayride) in the fall, an Anniversary Fair in September with music and food, and live music played on weekends. Don't miss the hand-dipped caramel apples or apple turnovers at the bakery.
Pleasant Valley Orchard has been around for 35 years, having been established in 1990. Its website notes that in addition to apples, it also offers a pick-your-own strawberry season runs from mid-June through mid-July. Its apple season officially opened over the Labor Day weekend. You can check out all of the events and activities going on this fall HERE.
Voting in USA Today's 10 Best Apple Orchards contest has already concluded, and we'll find out if Pleasant Valley Orchards is *THE BEST* in the entire when the results are announced on Wednesday, September 17th, 2025.
Another cool (literally!) tradition that many Minnesotans like to part in during the fall season is checking out a corn maze. Luckily, our fair state has more than its share to satisfy your corn curiosity! Keep scrolling to check out some of the best in the Minnesota this autumn.