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H OMEGROWN & H OMEMADE Covering the Georgia Mountain Parkway through Gilmer, Fannin, Union & Towns counties! Farm Stores & Stands • Orchards & U-Pick Vineyards & Wineries • Farm-to-Table Dining Farmstead Lodging and B&Bs • Alpacas Petting Farms • Corn Mazes • Horseback Riding GaFarmTrail.com 1 MapB •#34 North Georgia Farm Trail 1 Map #1 GaFarmTrail.com • 1 2 • North Georgia Farm Trail Come Play on the Farm! World- famous Fried Pies! Orchard & Bakery July 20–December 20 Summer: Peaches, Nectarines & Farm-fresh Vegetables Fall: Apples, Pumpkins & More! U-Pick September 1–October 31 Farm-fresh Apples Farm Fun September–October, Weekends Only Apple Cannon, Petting Farm & Wagon Rides Mon.-Sat. 8AM-6PM; Sun. 1PM-6PM 9131 Highway 52 E., Ellijay 706-276-3048 / ReeceOrchards.com Map #4 GaFarmTrail.com • 3 Taste, Tour “Agritourism” is one of those fascinating phrases. It only recently entered our vocabulary. Yet, it really is just a new word for an old idea … getting back in touch with the land that sustains us. Agritourism means many things to many people. For some, it’s about waking at dawn to help a farmer with the harvest. For others, it simply means savoring a local Chardonnay at a scenic winery, or buying produce at a farmers market. The great news is that agritourism is all of that — and more! Whether it’s popping a just-picked berry in your mouth or marveling at thousands of splashing finger- lings in a trout hatchery, the common denominator is that “agri-adventures” help us reconnect with the land. We hope that you have the time of your life as you explore the new North Georgia Farm Trail. Eat, drink, stay, experience — and maybe even get a little dirt on your knees. What- ever you do, savor the experience! But be sure to visit GaFarmTrail.com before you go for the most up-to- date information. - The Editors ( Partners in Agritourism ) © 2013 Content Creative LLC. Produced in association with the Chambers of Commerce for Gilmer, Fannin, Union & Towns counties. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without written permission is pro- hibited. For print and online advertising information, please contact the publisher: (706) 838-5230 • [email protected] GaFarmTrail.com 4 • North Georgia Farm Trail & Explore! U-Pick, U-Eat ...................................................6 ( U-pick farms, orchards, berry patches & farmers markets ) Natural Attractions ................................14 ( Farm tours, corn mazes, alpacas, petting farms & horseback riding ) Area Map ................................................. 26-27 From Farm to Table .................................30 ( Farm-to-table restaurants & unique dining experiences ) Stay Awhile ..................................................35 ( Farmstead lodging, B&Bs & cabins ) Pour It On ..................................................... 40 ( Vineyards, wineries & micro-breweries ) History & Heritage....................................46 ( Homesteads, museums & heritage sites ) Homegrown Happenings .........................50 ( Fairs, festivals & seasonal events ) GaFarmTrail.com • 5 U-Pick, U-Eat! BJ Reece Orchards (Farms, Orchards & More) Long before "organic" and "natural" became marketing buzz words, North Georgia growers understood the value Mercier Orchards of locally grown produce. here’s just no beating “farm fresh” — whether T you’re picking plump blueberries at a local berry patch or choosing vine-ripened tomatoes at a road- side farmers market. When you buy your produce straight from the honest soil of a farm or orchard, you are simply getting better-tasting, fresher fruits and veggies. And you’ll find plenty of pick-your- own opportunities along the North Georgia Farm Trail. Of course, there’s no rushing Mother Nature, so be sure to check GaFarmTrail.com for up-to-the- minute picking schedules and hours of operation. Ellijay & East Ellijay Aaron’s Apple House 8350 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay (706) 273-3180 Apple Picking • Farm Products • Fried Pies Bear Creek Cattle Company 4989 Gates Chapel Rd., Ellijay (706) 636-2333 • bearcreekcattle.com Premium Dry Aged, All-Natural Beef 6 • North Georgia Farm Trail BJ Reece Orchards Map #4 9131 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay (706) 276-3048 • reeceorchards.com U-Pick • Farmers Market • Bakery • Petting Farm Ellijay Farmers Market Broad St., Downtown Ellijay • (706) 972-9301 Saturdays, Memorial Day-Labor Day, 8 am-11:30 am Fresh Vegetables • Arts & Crafts • Soaps • Baked Goods Hillcrest Orchards Map #3 9696 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay (706) 273-3838 • hillcrestorchards.net U-Pick • Bakery & Farm Market • Festivals • Petting Farm Holden Creek Farms 59 New Liberty Tr., Ellijay (706) 635-8538 • holdencreekfarms.com Goats • Pastured Poultry • Goat Milk Soap Hudson’s Apple House 8036 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay (706) 273-3160 Apples • Cider • Jams • Relishes • Honey • Syrups Mack Aaron’s Apple House 8955 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay (706) 273-3600 • mackaaronsapplehouse.com Apples • Peaches • Nectarines • Fried Pies John W. Clayton is credited with introducing the first apples to Gilmer County in 1903. More than 100 years later, Georgia's "Apple Capital" produces over 250,000 bushels of apples each year. e Pickin’ Jubi Appl lee! Pick-Your-Own • Bakery & Farm Market • Petting Farm • Wagon Rides Pedal Cars • Pig Races • Live Entertainment • Family Fun! 9696 H��. 52 E., E������, G������ 706-273-3838 • H��������O�������.��� Map #3 GaFarmTrail.com • 7 Mountain Valley Farms Map #1 2021 Homer Wright Rd., Ellijay (706) 889-0999 grassfedgeorgia.com Farm Store • Grass-Fed Beef • Free Range Pork Panorama Orchards & Farm Market Hwy. 515 S., Ellijay (706) 276-3813 panoramaorchards.com Farm Market • Fudge Penland’s Apple House How ’bout them apples? 7678 Tails Creek Rd. / In a taste test held by Hwy. 282 E., Ellijay the University of Georgia, (706) 635-5100 consumers overwhelm- Apples • Cider • Pies ingly preferred Georgia apples over Washington state apples. R&A Orchards 5505 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay (706) 273-3821 • randaorchards.com Apples • Strawberries • Peaches • Roadside Market Red Apple Barn 3379 Tails Creek Rd. / Hwy. 282 E., Ellijay (706) 635-5898 • redapplebarn.com U-Pick Apples & Pumpkins • Cider • Farm Market Sellers Apple House 255 Parks Dr. / Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay (706) 273-3026 Apples • Breads • Fritters • Canned Goods Smokey Hollow Farms 2897 Goose Island Rd., Cherry Log smokeyhollowfarms.com Classes • Events • Organic Gardening • Goats Blue Ridge & McCaysville Blake Collins Blueberry Farm 843 Collins Rd., Morganton (706) 374-5674 U-Pick Blueberries (Early August) 8 • North Georgia Farm Trail A TASTE OF THETHE MOUNTAINS LLIJAYS E EXPLORETHEMOUNTAINS.COM INFORMATION CENTRAL THE GILMER COUNTY WELCOME CENTER 706.635.7400 Mon thru Sat 9am-5pm 696 First Avenue, East Ellijay, GA 30540 www.explorethemountains.com www.facebook.com/theellijays GaFarmTrail.com • 9 Blue Ridge Market 651 Summit St., Blue Ridge (706) 632-2091 (Sally) • cityofblueridgega.gov June-October, Saturdays: 8 am-2 pm Seasonal Produce • Flea Market Downtown Blue Ridge Farmers Market Blue Ridge City Park, Downtown Blue Ridge (706) 258-4552 • brfarmersmarket.com June-September, Saturdays: 8 am-1 pm Farm Goods • Arts & Crafts • Flowers Foster’s Market West First St., Blue Ridge Roadside Market • Fresh Fruit • Seasonal Vegetables Ripe & Ready for Picking Late April–May: Strawberries — Need a reason to pick your own strawberries? Consumer Reports says store-bought strawberries have so much pesticide and fungicide residue, that they don’t recommend you eat them! Hint: It takes 10-15 minutes to pick a quart of strawberries. May–June: Cherries — Sweet cherries normally ripen in the middle of June, and are commonly eaten by them- selves. Sour, or tart, cherries normally ripen from mid- July through August and are typically canned, frozen or used for cooking. Hint: Cherries have a short storage time; use them within 3 days of picking. July–September: Blueberries — Pick several pints of blueberries, which can be frozen and used to make muffins, pancakes and desserts all year long. Hint: Once picked, blueberries do not continue to ripen, so choose only berries that are completely blue with no hint of red. Late Summer: Peaches — Georgia’s namesake fruit is bursting with flavor and ready for market a little later in the summer. Hint: Pick your peaches with just a little “give” when gently pressed. And remember, peaches don’t ripen much after picking. Late July–November: Apples — Starting with early sea- son McIntosh and Galas and ending with Pink Ladies and Fujis, mountain apples are some of the tastiest to be found (and picked!). Hint: Apples ripen from the outside of the tree toward the center, so apples on the outer branches will be ready first. 10 • North Georgia Farm Trail Mercier Orchards Map #15 8660 Blue Ridge Dr., Blue Ridge (706) 632-3411 • mercier-orchards.com U-Pick • Bakery • Market • Restaurant • Farm Winery Mountain View Orchards & Cider House Cafe 2984 Mobile Rd., McCaysville (706) 492-7753 U-Pick • Farm Market • Restaurant O’Neal’s Produce Scenic Drive, Blue Ridge Roadside Market • Fresh Fruit • Seasonal Vegetables Shadow Ridge Bee Farm 564 Blue Arrow Rd., Mineral Bluff (706) 374-0409 • shadowridgebeefarm.com Farm Fresh Honey • Beeswax • Queen Bees • Bee Supplies Taste of Amish Map #13 2460 E. First St., Blue Ridge (706) 632-8989 • tasteofamish.com Farm Market • Grass-Fed Beef • Pantry Staples & Jar Goods Blairsville & Suches Farmers Market/Cannery/Community Gardens 148 Old Smokey Rd., Blairsville Map #21 (706) 439-6000 • (706) 439-6030 ucfarmersmarket.com June-October, Saturdays: 7 am-1 pm & Tuesdays: 3 pm-7pm