Mercier Orchards Guide: Apple Picking, Fried Pies & Hard Cider in Blue Ridge, GA
Updated: Oct 16
Mercier Orchards is the place most Blue Ridge visitors put at the top of their fall list, and for good reason. Family-run since 1943 and now in its fourth generation, the farm sits about eight minutes north of downtown Blue Ridge and covers roughly 300 acres of orchard. Apple picking usually runs from August into October, the bakery turns out fried pies and cider doughnuts every day, and the tasting room pours ciders the farm grows, presses and cans itself.
This guide covers how U-pick works, which apples ripen when, what to get at the bakery and market, the hard cider and winery, and the tips that make a visit easier, especially on a busy October weekend.
At a glance | |
|---|---|
Where | 8660 Blue Ridge Dr., Blue Ridge, GA 30513 |
Drive from downtown Blue Ridge | About 8 minutes north |
Apple U-pick season | Usually August into October, depending on the weather |
Store hours | Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri–Sun 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (U-pick hours are shorter) |
Closed | Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter |
Good for | Families, couples, foodies, groups |
Time needed | 2–3 hours with picking, bakery and a tasting |
Why Mercier is worth the trip
Bill and Adele Mercier bought a 27-acre orchard and its apple house in 1943, and Adele sold apples from that house while the family grew the business around it. Today it's one of the best-known farms in the Southeast: USA Today 10Best readers ranked it No. 3 among apple orchards in the country in 2024, and the farm reports a 2026 10Best honor as well.
What makes it more than an orchard is that everything happens in one place. You can ride a tractor-pulled wagon into the rows, pick your own apples, eat a warm fried pie, shop the market and finish with a cider flight, all without getting back in the car.
How apple U-pick works
U-pick at Mercier is simple once you know the routine:
Buy your ticket on-site. U-pick tickets are sold at the farm, first come, first served, and only while there's fruit in the fields.
Ride out to the orchard. Admission includes a tractor-pulled wagon ride from the farm area into the orchard blocks that are open that day.
Pick into the farm's bags. Containers are provided, and you can choose a larger bag size if you want to take home more. Ask about current prices at the ticket counter.
Ride back and pay for anything extra in the market.
To pick an apple without bruising the tree, roll it upward with a slight twist. A ripe one comes away easily.
U-pick hours are shorter than store hours and depend on weather and availability. Picking and tractor tours pause for lightning or heavy rain, and harvest dates are never guaranteed, so check Mercier's U-pick calendar before you drive up. If the ripe fruit is picked out, tractor tours often still run and the market usually has apples.
Local tip: Fall weekends in September and October are the farm's busiest days. Arrive at opening for the best fruit and the shortest lines at the bakery and the wagons.
Which apples ripen when
Mercier grows dozens of apple varieties (the farm lists more than 40), and they ripen in waves. The farm groups them into early, mid and late season. Exact timing shifts every year, so treat this as a guide and check the U-pick page for what's in the rows that week.
Season | Varieties Mercier lists | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
Early (late summer) | Gala, Ginger Gold, Blondee, Golden Supreme, Jonathan, Detroit Red | Sweet, crisp eating apples; Detroit Red for sauce |
Mid (around September) | Crimson Crisp, Ruby Rush, Ambrosia, Cameo, Jonagold, Mutsu, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, September Wonder | The widest choice; great all-purpose and baking apples |
Late (October and on) | Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, EverCrisp, Arkansas Black, Stayman Winesap, Suncrisp, Topaz, Ludacrisp | Firm, keeping apples; tart ones for pies |
For pies: Arkansas Black, EverCrisp and Granny Smith. For snacking: Gala, Crimson Crisp, Fuji and Ruby Rush. For sauce: Detroit Red and Rome Beauty.
Apples aren't the only crop. Depending on the month, Mercier also offers U-pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches and flowers, and runs blossom tours in spring.
The bakery and market
For many people, the bakery is the real reason to go. Everything is baked fresh daily, starting early in the morning.
Fried pies. The classic apple pie uses Adele Mercier's family recipe, with rotating seasonal flavors such as peach, blackberry and strawberry.
Apple cider doughnuts. Rolled in cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar, or plain old-fashioned cake.
Apple fritters, cookies and whole pies. Pies come ready to eat or ready to bake.
The market. Seasonal fruit and vegetables, jams, jellies, preserves, apple butter and fresh cider, plus a candy kitchen.
Bakery items freeze well. The farm suggests reheating fried pies and doughnuts in an oven or air fryer, which makes it easy to bring a box back to the cabin.
Hard cider, wine and the tasting room
Mercier says it's the only apple orchard in Georgia that grows, presses, ferments and cans its own hard cider. The tasting room sits right on the farm and doesn't need a reservation.
Ciders. Look for Mountain Apple (made from Gold Rush apples and originally called "Old #3"), Just Peachy and Sneaky Jack, which has a bourbon-infused finish. Some flavors use Georgia-grown strawberries and blueberries.
Wines. The farm makes apple, blackberry and strawberry wines and also pours wines from nearby North Georgia vineyards. Wine flights and wine slushies are on the menu.
Hours. Tasting usually starts late morning on weekdays and Saturdays; on Sundays alcohol sales start at 12:30 p.m. under Georgia law. Bring ID.
Dogs. Pets are welcome on the hard cider deck and around the pond, but only service animals are allowed in the market, orchard and cafe areas.
Other things to do at the farm
Tractor tours. Wagon rides through the orchard and countryside, with some farm history, usually offered when there's no U-pick fruit in the fields.
Fishing pond. Free catch-and-release fishing during business hours; the pond is stocked with bass, bream and carp.
Seasonal events. Santa at the Farm in December, blossom tours in spring and a Customer Appreciation Day each February. Check Mercier's events page for dates.
Tips for a great visit
Go early, or go midweek. Late September and early October weekends are the busiest. Monday through Thursday is calmer.
Wear closed-toe shoes. The orchard is unshaded and the ground is uneven; bring sunscreen and sunglasses too.
Bring a cooler. It keeps fruit from softening in a warm car on the drive home.
Parking is free in several large gravel lots.
Check before you go. U-pick availability changes weekly, and weather can pause picking.
Pair it with the train. Mercier and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway make an easy full day: orchard in the morning, train in the afternoon.
A perfect Mercier morning
Arrive at opening and head straight for the U-pick ticket line. After the wagon ride and picking, grab fried pies and cider doughnuts while they're warm, then browse the market for apple butter and fresh cider. If it's after 11 (or 12:30 on a Sunday), finish with a cider or wine flight on the deck before heading back to town for the afternoon.
Where to stay near Mercier Orchards
An orchard morning deserves a mountain evening. Sacred Summit is about five minutes from downtown Blue Ridge, an easy hop to Mercier, with sweeping mountain views and room for 12. Prefer creekside quiet? Sacred Creek Retreat in Cherry Log sleeps 14 on 4.7 private acres along Stanley Creek, with a hot tub, cedar sauna, arcade, theater room and a creekside firepit. It's dog-friendly, too.
Booking direct skips third-party platform fees, which leaves more for fried pies. See why we recommend booking direct.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
When is apple picking season at Mercier Orchards?
Apple U-pick usually runs from August into October, depending on the weather. Check Mercier's U-pick calendar before you go, since availability changes week to week.
Do you need tickets or reservations for U-pick at Mercier?
No reservations. U-pick tickets are sold on-site, first come, first served, and only while fruit is in the fields. Admission includes the wagon ride and picking containers.
What is Mercier Orchards famous for?
Its fried pies, made with Adele Mercier's family recipe, along with apple cider doughnuts, U-pick apples and hard cider made on the farm.
Is Mercier Orchards dog-friendly?
Partly. Dogs are welcome on the hard cider deck and around the pond, but only service animals are allowed in the market, orchard and cafe.
How far is Mercier Orchards from downtown Blue Ridge?
About eight minutes north of downtown on Blue Ridge Drive.
When is Mercier Orchards closed?
It's open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter.
Updated October 2026. Details change — confirm hours and conditions before you go.
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