CNC’s Apple Orchard and Apple Shack
The Apple Shack will open for the season on around Labor Day 2022.
We will continue to have the operating store hours be Wednesday – Sunday from 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. The store will be open with limited capacity of guests inside the building. Curbside pick-up will once again be offered this year.
Our apple orchard in Minnesota began as the passion of Thomas and Edna Carpenter in the early 1940’s, and today, Carpenter’s apples are some of the tastiest and healthiest apples in the community. As a nature center, we are committed to growing and providing the highest quality fruit in a sustainable environment. If you are looking for fresh, locally grown apples, you have come to the right place.
Besides apples, our Apple Shack has other quality goods for sale, including pumpkins, gourds, squash, honey, and maple syrup. We also offer a selection of gourmet jams, syrups, mustards and more. Our wildflower honey is extracted from the beehives in early September and is available while supplies last.
Curbside Service:
During Apple Shack hours you can just show up, shop our selection of apples, honey, syrup and more, and pay with cash, check or credit card. If you prefer a no-contact curbside pick up, you can check out our inventory and price list, below, and call in your order at (651)-437-4359. Orders made during Apple Shack hours will be available for pick up within an hour. Orders made outside of Apple Shack hours will be available during the next open hours.
14 VARIETIES OF APPLES
We proudly raise 14 varieties of high quality apples using integrated pest management, an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional apple farming. The care and hard work we put into raising our apples results in delicious apples that are sought-after highly in our community.
Even though the harvest season is short in Minnesota, we put our harvests to good use all year round. Our apples are generally ready for picking around September to October.
Check out our apple varieties and their typical harvest times:
| Type | Harvest Date | Description |
| Zestar! | late August | sweet & spicy, very flavorful, juicy |
| Chestnut Crab | Early/mid September | large crab-apple, crisp, juicy, spicy flavor |
| SweeTango | early to mid September | Crisp, juicy, mix of sweet and tart |
| Sweet 16 | mid/late September | sweet, firm, med-acid |
| McIntosh | mid/late September | tart, firm, soft when cooked |
| Cortland | late September | tart, firm, good in salad, aromatic |
| Haralson | mid-late September | tart, crisp |
| Honeycrisp | mid-late September | crisp, juicy, sweet/slightly tart |
| Honey Gold | September/October | sweet, crisp, juicy |
| Fireside and
Connell Red |
September/October | sweet, firm |
| Regent | September/October | crisp, juicy, tart |
| SnowSweet | mid October | sweet, slightly tart, crisp, firm |
| Keepsake | late October | hard, sweet, aromatic |
The above dates are estimates based on usual ripening time, and can vary year by year. Please call us at (651)-437-4359 (and ask for the Apple Shack) to check what is currently available.
For questions or further information on our orchard, please contact our Natural Resources Manager.
Natural Resources Manager
Sverre Sundgaard
sverre@carpenternaturecenter.org
Call us at 651-437-4359