Kerchers Sunrise Orchard
Apples, smiles and memories are plentiful on a day at Kerchers Sunrise Orchard
The smiles tell Maureen Kercher that her family made the right decision.
Every fall, hundreds of kids — maybe even thousands — arrive at Kerchers Sunrise Orchard on the south side of Goshen.
Many of them are here on school field trips. The rest of the kids are here with their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and maybe a few cousins. They’re all here for the apples.
“It's a beautiful family experience and that's why I love it,” Maureen said. “There's something about going out to the orchard with your family and everyone enjoying picking apples, then stopping and eating one or two before you take them home to enjoy later”
Apple juice dribbling down your chin just adds to the experience.
For decades, five generations of the Kercher family have grown and sold apples and other fruit from their Goshen farm. They ran a store too on Main Street that old-timers will remember.
In the early 1990s, the Kerchers made the decision to change things up, basing themselves at their Kercher Road property and running a market there. Quite critically, they also set up a U-pick operation for falls.
As the leaves change color and the days shorten, the crowds will grow at Kerchers, especially on the weekends. You can make a day of it there now. Grab some baskets and maybe a wagon ride and head out into the orchard to pick apples — there are 20-some varieties and they’re ready for picking at different times in the fall. Top your day off with a hayride to the pumpkin patch.
Once you’re back at the market, you can shop for more goodies or find a cozy spot around the fire to enjoy apple cider donuts and apple slushies.Families can have a lot of fun at Kerchers, but Maureen turns serious on this point: “What I want people to know … is you are coming to the farm. We are a farm, first and foremost.”
That’s why education is a strong component of the Kerchers experience. It’s important for children to understand where their food comes from. “I have always felt a strong responsibility to educate people on what it takes to grow apples in the modern day.Hours at Kerchers vary in the fall season, and so does the availability of varieties of apples. Watch Kerchers’ website and Facebook page for updates.
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