If you want the freshest apples and fruit possible, then bring your boots and some plastic bags and make your way to one of these farms! If we have missed one, then please send us an email so we can add to this list. We will publish an article dedicated to pumpkins early October, so stay tuned!
Most farms are open until the fruits are gone. You usually pay Fr. 1.50/kilo for apples for example. They also sell fresh apple juice in handy 5kg boxes.
GENEVA
** Ferme Courtois
Rte de la Branvaude 13
1290 Versoix, GE
022 755 43 16
www.fermecourtois.ch
They have been open since 28 August 2024 and will be until the apples are gone. Weekends 10-17h and Wednesdays 13h30-17h30. They have different varieties (Elstar, Gala, Boskoop, Golden, Rubinette, Pinova) that ripen at different stages throughout the season (from now through November). NOTE: U-pick pumpkins, corn, courgettes/zucchini, parsnips, onions, shallots, beans, and beets too! Something for everyone. Don't worry if you don't want to pick your own, they have a little shop that sells pre-picked items as well as applejuice, plums, and lentils. Cash only.
** La Fraisière
10, route H.C.Forestier
1217 Meyrin
022 782 90 58
www.lafraisiere.ch
You may bring your own container or buy one from them to pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, tomatoes, and more depending on the season. Open 8h-18h30 Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
** Domaine de l'Orcy
Chemin d'Orcy 20
1239 Collex Bossy, GE
079 449 10 12
www.facebook.com/p/Domaine-de-LOrcy-100057451959956/
Many varieties of apples ripe for the picking! Bring your own bags, fill them up direct from the trees, then go back to the barn where they are weighed. Open until the apples are gone Wednesday to Sunday 9h30-11h30 and 13h30-16h30. They also have apple juice, jams, wine, and local eaux-de-vie for sale.
VAUD
** Arboriculteur et cidrerie artisanale Pradervand, Nicolas
Rue des Fontaines 23
1274 Signy, VD
022 362 67 66
www.myfarm.ch
You can come to pick your own or bring your own apples for juicing at this farm! Just off the main road that leads to the autoroute. Pumpkins, grapes, honey, and plums available too. Apple juice on sale all year round.
** La Ferme du Torry
Chemin de Chirilinge 1
1295 Tannay
www.agro-idee.ch
Organic apples, ripe for the picking from 14 September 2024. Open Saturdays 9h-12h30 and 14h30-17h30.
Lisa's tried-and-true Tarte Tatin recipe
6 Granny Smith or tart cooking apples
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)
1 round puff pastry (my FAVORITE one is the from Picard frozen foods)
I find that using an iron skillet works best but use any pan that can go on the stovetop as well as the oven.
Directions:
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Pre-heat oven to a hot 225C.
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Peel and halve apples. Take out the core with a melon-baller.
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To cut the apples perfectly you will need 3 cutting boards. Place apple half face down on one board and lay the other 2 boards at the opposite ends of the apple. Slice thin strips straight down on the apple without cutting all the way down (the 2 other cutting boards will prevent you from doing this).
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Place skillet on stove and heat up sugar and butter until melted and just starting to turn brown (be careful as it can burn very quickly at this stage). Remove from heat.
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Add the cinnamon.
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Place uncooked apple halves, rounded-side down, around the pan without disturbing the sugar mixture.
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Lay the puff pastry on the top and tuck carefully around the edge of pan.
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Cook for about 30 minutes or until the puff pastry is nicely browned.
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Remove from oven and let rest for about one minute.
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Lay a large plate that is bigger than the pan over the whole thing and CAREFULLY flip the whole thing. This is a tricky thing to do as some apples release a lot of liquid that will burn you if you are not careful. Granny Smith apples (the tart green ones) don't have a lot of juice.
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Let cool for about 10-15 minutes and serve with a scoop of cold ice cream!
