The brilliant leaves and brisk October mornings signal to Michiganders that it is time to visit local apple orchards for the freshest cider.
Our college’s location makes visiting two fantastic orchards with incredibly tasty cider possible. Both are stocked with bags of apples, fresh produce, and best of all, fresh cider and baked goods
Glei’s Orchard and Greenhouses
Only ten minutes away, Glei’s Orchard and Greenhouses presses its own cider and treats it with UV light to preserve the crisp taste. The orchard, which has been open since 1918, now boasts more than 300 acres, two acres of greenhouses, and 30 varieties of apples. Glei’s cider is crisp and fresh, and so close to Hillsdale that it easily beats out any supermarket’s cider. They sell both Honeycrisp-only cider and regular cider that blends together a variety of apples from their general store, where you can also pick up inexpensive 3 to 5 pound bags of apples that may not win any beauty contests but still taste great. In addition, they recently expanded their business to include a bakery in nearby Coldwater, which regularly supplies them with fresh donuts (including apple cider donuts), quick breads, and pies. Bring friends for a fun time scoping out the farmer’s market style general store, with fruits, vegetables, squash, greenhouse plants for sale, local and kitsch food products, and Halloween decorations.
Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm
Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm is 25 minutes away on a scenic drive through the Michigan countryside, which boasts a larger-than-life deer roadside attraction, brilliant fall colors and, of course, cornfields. A lively orchard with more than 375 acres, an artisan hard cider taproom, and general store, the farm attracts thousands of people every weekend for fresh-pressed cider, hard cider tastings, and piping hot baked goods.
This farm is family-friendly, with hayrides, pumpkin patches, games, and live music, as well as ridiculously large pumpkins.
Although slightly overwhelming to a newcomer, it is easy to tell what is the most popular: the cider and the donuts. Lines stretch out the door as people wait for their cider or donuts, which are bottled or fried right in front of them.
The lines are definitely worth the wait.
The unpasteurized apple cider made with old school technology, the “rack and cloth” press, a method that is more than 100 years old. The press takes at least three individuals to operate and creates small batches of cider. People wait in line to buy their cider and watch the production of their quart or gallon, as the apples get pressed and the cider piped into jugs.
With a variety of sweet and tangy apples, the cider is crisp, flavorful, and addictive, and watching the process rounds out the experience.
The donuts and other baked goods are made to order: fresh, warm, and delicious, they perfectly complement the cold-pressed, unpasteurized cider, and make a great snack to eat on site.
Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farms is worth the day and the drive needed to experience the freshest cider and baked goods in an environment that perfectly captures Michigan autumns and apples. But, for a fun study break after a day of classes, Glei’s Orchard and Greenhouses boasts the best bang-for-your-buck and the chance to stock up on cider. True fans of the season owe it to themselves to taste both before it is too late.
