It was a little soggy, but our annual Fall into Fun Festival this past weekend brought in plenty of smiles and creativity, not to mention FRESH apple butter! The event may be over but it’s not too late pick your own apples and pumpkins or get a jar of tasty homemade apple butter in our Farm Market!
Video courtesy of NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA
Orchard visitors are invited to pick your own apples and pumpkins now through November or stop by the Farm Market for fresh, ready-picked fruit. Have a craving for a specific variety? Be sure to check our fruit availability guide.
Apple and pumpkin picking is the perfect family outing and a relaxing way to enjoy some fresh air with a group. Take in the scenic views while exploring the Orchard and be sure to to collect enough apples for everyone- trust us, they’ll go fast!
With “pumpkin spice” mania all around us, get back to basics with an old fashioned pumpkin or gourd. Pick a pumpkin to cook into your favorite treat or select a variety of specialty gourds for seasonal home decor.
The Orchard is overflowing with a bounty of all kinds of specialty pumpkins all grown at Chiles! Have you ever heard of Cinderella pumpkins, cheese pumpkins, or “monster” gourds? Come see them for yourself!
Fresh air never tasted so good! C’mon, get out of the house and enjoy a day at the orchard.
“Good” doesn’t even begin to describe the fresh, out of this world apple crop this year! “This year’s crop is among the best that state has produced in years,” according to the Virginia Agriculture and Consumer Services Department.
With cooler nights on the way, Carter Mountain apples will be crisp and better than ever.
Visit our Pick Your Own Fruit page for the 2015 apple harvest schedule.
Carter Mountain is your summer “staycation” destination!
Come pick your own fruit and enjoy a view that goes on for miles. Our tree-ripened peaches are still in season, and apple picking has just begun! Come pick your own Ginger Gold apples—sweet yet tart, crisp and juicy. Ginger Gold apples make a great fresh snack and also shine in salads, baking, and sauces.
Learn more about our apple varieties and apple availability at Carter Mountain.
Join us for a Charlottesville summer tradition, the Thursday Evening Sunset Series! Each Thursday night, through September 24, we stay open til 9 p.m. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., with hayrides (weather permitting) from 5:30 p.m. til dusk, and live local music from 6 to 8:30 p.m. See who’s playing this week.
We’re also excited to announce our first ever BBQ challenge! The Thrill of the Grill: Mountain Top BBQ Cook Off will be held on Saturday, August 15th.
Prince Michel Winery and Bold Rock Hard Cider each have tasting rooms on Carter Mountain, and are open each day from 10 a.m. til closing for samples and sales. The wines and ciders are made with grapes and apples grown on our farm!
Video clip courtesy of Newsplex
January 2015
Virginia Agriculture Magazine features Carter Mountain Orchard in their article about Virginia Apples!
September 2013
Southern Living Magazine features Carter Mountain Orchard in their article about Virginia’s Apple Country!
January 2013
Growing Magazine featured Carter Mountain Orchard!
September 2011
Women’s Day Magazine names Carter Mountain Orchard as one of America’s Top 10 Places to Pick Apples!
May 15, 2011
The Examiner says that Carter Mountain makes a great day trip!
November 16, 2008
Daily Progress article: Carter offers trip that’s in very good taste.
October 5, 2008
Charlottesville Newsplex article: Carter Mountain Orchard is Celebrating Healthy Crop.
July 30, 2008
Daily Progress article: Albemarle Fair honors agricultural achievers.
October 3, 2006
Cavalier Daily article: How Do You Like Them Apples? – Carter Mountain Orchard offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of daily University life.
September 16, 2006
Daily Progress article: Seeds of Change – Apple growers adapt to survive.
Featured photo by Andrea Forcum from the 2011 Examiner article.
“As any grower could attest, producing a great harvest of apples in Virginia means knowing about weather, soil content and the number of growing days.
And more and more these days, it requires a sound knowledge of consumer trends. That’s how Cynthia Chiles sees it, and she knows something about apples. She and her family own Crown Orchard Company and Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, which have been in business since her great-grandfather first planted orchards in 1912. Chiles says that she, her siblings and their children are continuously striving to produce the best apples possible.
‘Lots of things have changed in the industry,’ she says. ‘There are so many varieties of apples being developed, and we have to understand customer demands and trends. Every time a new variety or strain of an apple is being developed, everybody jumps on the bandwagon to be the first to grow it.'”
Continuing reading the article by John McBryde at farmflavor.com/virginia/virginia-ag-products/apples-aplenty-virginia-apple-industry-heavy-fruit, or find it featured on page 30 of the Virginia Agriculture magazine embedded below.
Chiles Family Orchards - Since 1912