Plymouth Orchards Primed for Fall Season

With fall in full swing, Plymouth Orchards & Cider Mill is already producing more than 1,100 gallons of cider a week. 

Starting Oct. 1, that amount will triple as more people flock to the orchard, according to Mary Krause, the orchard's manager.

Plymouth Orchards opened for the season on Aug. 31 to a surprisingly large crowd for the warm weather. As of last weekend, the orchard sold 17,000 donuts and 1,200 gallons of cider on Sept. 22, according to its Facebook page. 

Krause said people thought there wouldn't be any cider because of the apple crop last year.

"It's a bumper crop this year, meaning we have lots of apples in the state of Michigan," she said.

The orchard typically produces about 40,000 gallons of cider each season. The cider, which is produced by an all woman team, is all natural and gluten free. It takes a day to make, starting bright and early at 6 a.m.

"We let it agitate overnight because we use different apples, you want to agitate it so they blend, they marry - they marry together is what Food Network says," Krause explained. "So they have to marry overnight and the next day we'll bottle."

There's more than just cider and donuts at Plymouth Orchards. There are farm animals such as cows, pigs, a donkey and even peacocks. The orchard also features wagon rides and plenty of photo opportunities for parents with a variety of fun cutouts. 

"We make sure the public has a great experience and that's what it's all about - the family time and enjoying nature," Krause said. "We're only about 5 minutes out of the suburb. If you've never experience farm life, this is the place to come."

While Plymouth Orchards is not a u-pick location, it still offers the same variety of apples that people love.

"A lot of your older generation remember the McIntosh and that's what they prefer, whereas the younger generation - it's all about the Honeycrisp," Krause said about the favorite types of apples. "Those two are right up there and following right behind that would be the Gala."

For convenience, Plymouth Orchards also offers a roadside stand on Ann Arbor Road, between Napier and Gotfredson Roads, which is open until the day before Thanksgiving.

For more information, visit plymouthorchards.com.