Not being familiar with the place, I spent some time just looking around. It is a very pretty set up, but information was lacking for those who were first-timers. It was busy due to a senior bus visiting, but still there was plenty of room in their pre-picked and add-on shop. I was a bit surprised to see that with a busload of visitors plus all the other cars in the lot, that there was only 1 cashier in the shop. The restaurant looked very nice, but I didn't go in.
I found the barn to pay for the u-pick area. Since the u-pick guide had indicated that there were raspberries available until frost, I asked the cashier about where I would go to pick them. Neither she nor the gentleman that was another employee had any idea of where I would go for that. Enough said. I paid for a 1/2 bushel bag. I asked if I would be able to drive or if there was any transportation to the orchard. The cashier said, "No, you'll get your exercise". Hmm. I'm assuming that they only offer rides on the weekends.
I headed out and filled my bag rather quickly. I don't know if any of you know how much a 1/2 bushel of apples weighs, but that plastic bag was pretty darn heavy. By the time I was 1/3 of the way back to the barn, the string on the bag completely ripped out and all the apples fell into the mud. I wasn't a happy camper.
Upon coming back to the barn (sans apples) I said that I wanted my money back. I was then told that I should have been holding the bag differently. Actually, the bag wasn't strong enough for the weight. If I had been able to drive out to where I was picking, like I've done at other places, or if a ride had been provided, this wouldn't have happened. Or at the very least, a wagon of some sort should have been readily available for people who want to pick more than 3 lbs of apples! I did get my money back with no problem, but I think that they're more concerned with the weekend crowds when they charge you $3 a car just to park!
I can't tell you anything about the quality of the apples as all of mine were in the mud. I think that I'll stick with an orchard that is not so concerned with being a showplace destination. It's too bad because I did want to support a Christian business.