Corvallis is located in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana. Apple picking is a seasonal activity, and the orchards welcome tours of their farms each year. Apple picking takes place when the harvest is ready, between late September to December each year.
Corvallis was dubbed "Sunflower City" at the beginning of the 20th century because of its fertile soil, in which sunflowers thrived. Farming has traditionally been the main source of income in Corvallis, and the largest apple orchard in Corvallis still exists as of 2010, Swanson Mountain View Orchards.
The McIntosh is the darling of Corvallis orchards and is used to make apple cider. The Lodi apple is used for drying, freezing, sauces and juice. Empire apples that are freshly picked are eaten as is or used in salads or fruit cups. The Haralson, featured at Swanson Orchard, is a white, fleshy variety used for cooking and baking pies. Frost Top Orchard offers Honeycrisp, Spartan and Jonagold.
Plan to pick apples in Corvallis during the harvest, which starts in late autumn. Apple picking orchards include Mountain View and Frost Tip Orchard, which also makes and sells cider. Every October, the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts "Apple Day", which is "billed as the biggest bake sale under the Big Sky." This family-friendly event offers fresh squeezed apple juice from local orchards, a giant farmers market with arts and crafts, kids games, live music all day, a mega-raffle, fall vegetables and fruits and lots of specialty food items.
