Apple Picking at Eckert’s Farm

Apple picking is one of those cliche fall activities that I am totally in love with. I don’t care that I have to drive to a farm far outside the city. I don’t even mind the cheesy families or kitchy decor. There is simply something rather satisfying about picking my own apples.

I grew up in a suburb outside of St. Louis, Missouri, which is a good hour and a half away from the nearest apple orchard, Eckert’s farm. While we didn’t visit the orchard every year, my mom did load my brothers and I into the car every couple years or so and let us pick absurd amounts of apples. I loved that you were allowed to eat as many apples as you wanted while you strolled through the orchard. As a kid, I remember feeling as if I was being extra sneaky as a bit down into an apple I didn’t pay for. Everything from the hayride out to the trees down to the claw-baskets on sticks used to pick hard-to-reach apples delighted me. So, when I returned to St. Louis after 2 falls in the orchard-less city of Buenos Aires, I was determined to pay Eckert’s a visit.

On the tractor, headed to the orchard.

Hunting down apples without any blemishes and bruises became a game for Pedro and I. We searched the branches for ripe apples that had not yet been attacked by the lazy bees floating around all the sticky smushed apples on the ground. Each time either of us found a nice looking apple, we felt the need to show it off and confirm that it was, in fact, a great apple.

Reach! For the record, I did get this apple, but it turned out to have a massive bruise on the side.

The elusive “perfect apple”

We were lucky enough to go on a beautiful, sunny day during the Golden Delicious and Red Delicious picking season. I picked several Goldens to eat and a bunch of Reds so I could make a pie from scratch.

Perfect day for a trip to the apple orchard

Fun and cheesy apple picking date.

Rows and rows of apple trees

We limited ourselves to a reasonable amount of apples, so our picking session didn’t last too long. We had a great time giggling over funny shaped apples and trying to find the tiniest but still ripe apples possible. It was a great way to spend a day. Plus, the apples were the best I’ve ever tasted!