Welcome to Heath Orchard! A beautiful family orchard to visit for a day of apple picking in the Eastern Townships.
Current Status: Winter
Current Hours: Closed for the season
U-Pick Price: $1.25/lb, $20 for 20lb, $36 for 40lb
Apples Available: n/a
Tucked between Stanstead and Ayer’s Cliff in the Eastern Townships, Heath Orchard is a two-century-old, family-owned heritage farm and apple orchard that provides an ideal apple picking experience.
Spend hours wandering through thousands of full-grown standard apple trees and dwarf trees in dozens of classic and hard-to-find varieties—including MacIntosh, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Shamrock, Empire, Sunrise, Golden Russett, Kerr Crabapples, Wolf River, Lobo, Wealthy and Bancroft and more —all surrounded by sunsets atop rolling hills. After a leisurely day of picking apples, visit the kiosk to peruse handmade pottery, fresh veggies from the garden, jams and jellies, maple syrup, honey.
We also produce the most popular varieties of squash and U-pick pumpkins. When available, be sure to purchase local Shiitaki mushrooms, produced by the Heath/Smit family in Ways Mills, and the famous Heathen Hot Sauce (if you dare!).
Call ahead to meet the orchard owners, potter Lynn Heath, and renowned Canadian folk singer, Chris Rawlings. Perfect for an authentic afternoon of apple picking and a wonderful Eastern Townships experience.
More About Heath Orchard
Heath Orchard is located in the scenic hills of Dufferin Heights near Stanstead in the Eastern Townships. Pick your own apples in our 15-acre apple orchard or choose pre-picked from one of the over 30 varieties starting mid-summer.
Early heritage apples, starting early August, include Yellow Transparent, Vista Bella, and Duchess and are followed by summer favourites like Melba, and newer varieties like Jersey Mac, Sunrise and Paula Red. These, in turn, overlap the early fall keepers – Lobo,and MacIntosh – which transition to Spartan, Cortland and Empire. We also have rare specialty apples: Wolf River, Duchess, Golden Russett or Summer Granny. Our prices for both pre-picked and pick-your-own apples are very competitive.
Heath Orchard apples are graded “Eco-Apples” and are the non-organic apple of choice at several major natural health food stores located in the Eastern Townships. For over 25 years, we’ve used integrated pest management to control harmful pests on our apple trees with minimal spray, while encouraging beneficial insects. Our apples are not waxed, and are stored by refrigeration – not nitrogen. Every apple you pick is grown with love and care.
Along with our prize-winning apples, the orchard produces fresh-pressed, non-pasteurized apple cider. Local honey from wildflowers, blueberry, clover, buckwheat and apple blossoms, as well as maple products and vegetables are available. We also feature beautiful, functional ceramic pottery by potter Lynn Heath. Each unique piece is dishwasher, oven, and microwave-safe and is great for gifts or everyday use.
The Heath family settled in the Eastern Townships over 200 years ago and have farmed this land ever since. Come and celebrate our 3rd century of high quality and low prices. We look forward to meeting you and your family!
When Is Apple Season?
The season varies slightly every year but our earliest apple varieties tend to ripen in early August. Throughout the season, we offer both pre-picked and pick-your own apples.
You can always find the most recent updates on how the orchard season is progressing, and what apples are available that week, on our Orchard Updates page. As long as we have ripe apples on the trees, visitors will be able to explore the orchard and pick them — or purchase them at the kiosk.
The orchard season hits its busiest point from mid-August to the end of October. At that time, we often have a dozen varieties of apples available for you to pick at any time. Some of these will be familiar (McIntosh, Cortland etc.) but most of our visitors will find a new apple variety to discover (Duchess, Sunrise, Lawfam, Wolf River).
That being said, some of the nicest times to visit the orchard are at the very beginning of the season (to discover the world of summer apple varieties) or at the end of the season (when things are a bit quieter, the apples and cider are at their sweetest, and the Eastern Townships is looking majestic).
The orchard is also open for pottery viewing by appointment in the off-season depending on availability. Call for an appointment. 1 819- 876- 2817
What Kinds of Apples Do You Have?
Heath Orchard has a commitment to planting and providing a wonderful diversity of apple varieties for our visitors to pick and enjoy. The orchard currently has more than 30 different apple varieties and we are adding more.
You will find many varieties here that are difficult to find elsewhere in the Eastern Townships including eating apples, cooking apples and crab apples. We have also recently planted our first block of varieties specifically suited to cider-making. Our current (but perhaps non-comprehensive list) of varieties is as follows:
- Yellow Transparent
- Melba
- Jersey Mac
- Summer Granny
- Shamrock
- Duchess
- Joyce
- Vista Bella
- Sunrise
- Paula Red
- Lobo
- Kerr Crabb
- Dolgo Crab
- MacIntosh
- Spartan
- Cortland
- Empire
- Lawfam
- Golden Russet
- Honeycrisp
- Wealthy
- Wolf River
- Golden Delicious
- Summer Red
- Lawrence
- Amer de Bethcourt
- Goodland
- Gala
- Yarlington Mills (not yet producing)
- Kingston Black (not yet producing)
- Muscadet de Dieppe (not yet producing)
- Porter’s Perfection (not yet producing
- Dabinette (not yet producing)
Do You Provide Group Tours & Fundraising?
We often have requests for group visits from schools (Daycare – University), seniors, and tour groups in the Eastern Townships to come to the orchard and pick apples. All are welcome! We also sponsor various events and help raise funds for schools and community groups. You can realize a “healthy profit” fundraising with Heath apples, juice, or family concerts by Chris Rawlings. Contact us to find out more. 1-819-876-2817