Apples Taste Better in October

By Amy Cavanaugh in Food on Oct 16, 2011 7:30PM

We're halfway through October, which means you should be eating crunchy apples by now. If not, head out to the 'burbs and stock up on fall produce at these spots:

• County Line Orchard in Hobart, IN is an hour away from Chicago and offers not just apples you can pick yourself, but a farmhouse where you can just snag a bag to go. There's a kitchen and grill serving lunch, and a bakery with apple spice and pumpkin spice donuts.
• While the pick-your-own part of the season has ended at Malta's Jonamac Orchard, you can still find already-picked fruit. The orchard also has a corn maze, bakery, and a petting zoo. A bonus: hop in the car right now and you'll make it to orchard's fall festival weekend, with hayrides and a pumpkin patch to select your own gourd.
• Woodstock's Homestead Orchard offers 23 varieties of apples during the season, and is currently selling pecks of Red Delicious and Winesap for $10 a pop. Pick your own apples, buy honey, and peruse the adjacent antique shop to get in the spirit of the season.