Discover the Best Apples in PA at Barnard’s Orchard

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Visit Barnard’s Orchard in Kennett Square for the best apples in PA and family farming history. Experience personalized service with a smile!

Americans love apples; according to the USDA, we eat more than 26 pounds per person each year. Thanks to my extensive travels throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, I’ve found the best place to buy fresh apples.

Barnard’s Orchard has almost 300 years of family farming on their land near Kennett Square, PA. I found the orchard through a regional magazine story seven years ago and have been buying almost all of my fresh local apples from them ever since. Lewis Barnard is the current family member to watch over this 74-acre farm. He is one of the kindest farmers I’ve met. On most visits, I see Lewis lending a hand in the shop, helping customers pick the best apple for their needs, and carrying the load to the customer’s car if needed.

Lewis grows more than fruit, veggies, and flowers; he grows customer relationships. Many of Barnard’s customers have been coming for multiple generations, and I usually see families of two to three generations shopping at Barnard’s.

U-Pick

One of the most popular events that brings families to the orchard is the U-Pick season. It’s fun to see little kids carrying a basket of apples they helped pick. The big smiles on children’s faces make this a lifelong memory for most kids and their parents.

The U-Pick crops go beyond apples. In the early season, blueberries are available. Later in the summer, it’s time to pick apples, pears, and Concord grapes, and then pick pumpkins in the fall. Lewis uses Facebook to update customers on what’s in season in the shop and U-Pick orchard. I asked Lewis if U-Pick is worth the damage sometimes caused by customers picking their own, and he said, “Yes, there is some waste, but in the long run, it’s worth offering U-Pick.”

The Greenhouse

Another bit of information Lewis shares on Facebook is the farm’s history. I like his story about how his Uncle Sam Barnard started growing freesia in the greenhouse in the early 1970s. Nowadays, farmers commonly add fresh-cut flowers to the farm products they produce. I stop by for gorgeous freesia Lewis grows each spring. Snapdragons are another flower I look forward to buying. Lewis seems to grow the tallest and prettiest flowers I can find anywhere. There are few farms where you can buy flowers and fruit; I can confirm that both products are exceptional. The greenhouse is also helpful for growing greens and some veggies that Lewis sells in his shop.

Save the Farm

America is losing many of its small family farms, and Barnard’s was in danger of being sold. Across the road is a modern subdivision that used to be a farm, and Barnard’s could have ended up the same way. Thanks to the Land Conservancy of South Chester County, Lewis acquired the farm-saving easement he needed after his uncle/partner died.

The money from the easement allowed Lewis to pay off his uncle’s family, and he had enough left over to install deer fencing. Throughout most of the farm’s history, deer were not an issue. Lewis told me, “Not long ago, deer weren’t a problem until habitat loss forced them to eat many plants farmers and homeowners grow.” The tall fence keeps most of the farm’s crops safe from hungry deer as long as Lewis keeps up with repairs from falling trees after occasional hurricanes and storms blow through.

More on Apples

What I love best about buying my apples from Barnard’s is the mix of heirloom and hybrid apples Lewis grows. With over 7,500 types of apples grown worldwide, it’s hard to know even a fraction of the kinds available for consumers. Lewis and his shop crew are happy to help customers learn about the different apples available at the farm and how to use them. There are pie apples like Granny Smith, popular eat-out-of-hand types like Pink Lady, which are also suitable for baking; Smoke House apples are good for making applesauce, and Jonathan apples are delicious for snacking.

For most years, Lewis has had about 20 varieties of apples in the shop. I consult with him each year on which apples to use in my applesauce canning. With his guidance, I have made delicious applesauce with combinations of two to three apple varieties. I also love buying his pears and making a blend of pear applesauce.

Lewis occasionally attends farm conferences like the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers in Hershey, PA, to keep up with new and profitable varieties. Every season, new apple varieties are introduced, and at a grower’s conference, Lewis found the Crimson Crisp, a delicious hybrid apple.

Imperfect Looking Fruit

To save money, I buy the ‘seconds’ that are about half the price of the gorgeous #1 graded apples.  The seconds may not look pretty, but they make great applesauce or pies. Barnard’s farm shop sells local products like cheese curds, eggs, veggies, jam, jelly, and more. In the fall, I always buy apple cider Lewis has contracted to press offsite but uses Barnard’s apples. There’s nothing like apples and apple cider to signal the arrival of fall.

What’s Nearby

When you visit, check out Longwood Gardens, a world-famous attraction in Kennett Square. There’s more to Longwood Gardens than gardens. Visitors love the renovated central fountains and the spectacular water shows throughout the year. The fountains can be viewed with your general admission pass, but the best way to see them is during the ticketed shows held some nights throughout the warm season.

Downtown Kennett Square has several excellent restaurants, my favorite being Portabellos. Just outside of town is another favorite of mine: the Naked Olive, a BYOB restaurant serving excellent Mediterranean fare. My wife and I love the mushroom soup at the Naked Olive. Kennett Square is the self-proclaimed Mushroom Capital of the World. I encourage you to try some of the mushroom items on local menus.

I recommend the Kennett House B&B if you want to stay in a historic home within walking distance of downtown Kennett Square. The Hilton Garden Inn is a better-than-average corporate hotel about a mile from downtown.

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Summary

If you’re looking for a great family outing in the Pennsylvania countryside, come by to say hi to Lewis and his crew. A gem like Barnard’s is worth planning a day trip if only for the love of apples. Barnard’s Orchard is located at 1079 Wawaset Rd, Kennett Square.

We invite you to explore Wander With Wonder for more of our favorite Mid-Atlantic destinations, fun fall travel options, and suggestions for great family travel experiences.