Best Places for Local Honey Minnesota – we love honey on fresh warm bread. Or why not eat it with fruit and Greek yogurt? It’s also said that local honey is great for helping hay fever.
It’s a lovely thing to try! Have a look at our list of places to find Raw Local Honey in Minnesota.
Croix Farm Orchard
12971 St Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN 55033
Croix Farm Orchard – “In 1980, John and Kay Leadholm decided to make a move from Duluth, Minnesota. Having spent most of his life as a pilot, John was looking for something completely different to do – and they decided an apple orchard was just the perfect thing. A new hobby, a chance to learn how to grow apples, and a way to give families in the community special Fall memories. John always said he wanted a place for “city kids” to get out and see the country.
They looked at orchards in Washington and Oregon, but fell in love with this property and decided to stay a little closer to home. John and Kay raised their two children on the orchard and have truly turned it into a family business.
In 2019, we lost both John and Kay to different illnesses. We hope they are now living where apples are ripe year round! John and Kay’s two kids – Jeff and Sara – have embraced the family business. Jeff and Sara, along with their families, are excited to welcome you to the orchard.
We have a huge variety of apples available to you throughout the season! Some of the apples we have at our orchard are: Whitney Crab, Beacon, Paula Red, Zestar, Ginger Gold, Sweet Tango, Chestnut Crab, Cortland, NW Greening, McIntosh, Sweet 16, Honey Crisp, Gala, SweeTango, Haralson, Honey Gold, Regent, Connell Red, Golden Russett, Fireside, Keepsake…and so many more!
Apple varieties ripen at different times of the Fall – so make sure to call ahead if you are looking for a specific variety!”
Pick your own apples, Minnesota grown pears, pumpkin patch and corn maze.
Firefly Berries – Local Honey Minnesota
5542 23rd St NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Firefly Berries is a family run farm that grows delicious organic fruit for you and your family to pick.
“We believe very strongly in not only providing quality fruit, but also taking care of the soil and the planet. Because of this we do not spray any chemicals anywhere on our farm. We are not certified organic, but we grow in an organic and sustainable manner– using cover crops, crop rotation, green manure and natural compost to keep the soil healthy.
The raw honey we sell at Firefly Berries is honey in its purest form. It is not pasteurized or processed and comes from the hives on our property that are cared for by friends and beekeepers, James & Brenda.”
Brand Farms
18605 Biscayne Ave, Farmington, MN 55024
Brand Farms is a “small family farm. Originally purchased by Anton and Marie Brand, German immigrants, and has been passed down through four generations. Currently, Aaron Brand is the fourth generation who farms with his father, John. His 89 year old grandfather, Richard, still has a daily presence on the farm.
When Aaron graduated from college he choose to expand the farm, not by increasing the dairy herd, but by choosing to produce products they’ve never had before. He began with a few hens for their eggs and slowly expanded to 2000 that he has now. At the same time, he heard about a defunct apple orchard whose owner was looking to lease it.
He also planted a few apple trees on the farm building site, which has expanded over the years to the current 20 acres and 7,000 trees. Most of the trees are Minnesota varieties, apples that were developed here in Minnesota.
We are primarily a dairy farm in Farmington, MN. We also sell eggs, apples, raspberries, honey and apple products. Check back with us for new products this fall!”
In the fall they have a sunflower field, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, as well as hay rides and some scheduled hay ride tours.
Fresh Acres Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
8160 72nd St NE, Monticello, MN 55362
Fresh Acres “was founded in 2016 when two crazy corporate-types decided to take a leap into farming. Our mission was, and remains, to produce healthy, locally grown food to feed your family, as well as our own. In that vein, we purchase non-GMO seeds from carefully sourced seed companies, and we do not use harsh fertilizers and chemicals – we are not certified organic, but we grow in an organic manner.
We also raise animals on the farm, closer to the way God intended them to be raised – they are free-range / pasture-raised, and we supplement with soy-free, transitional-organic feed.
In 2018, we added to our mission by sharing the farm with others through a corn maze. We have all the usual things expected at a corn maze such as additional activities (pumpkin patch, petting zoo, inflatables, combine slide, yard games, corn cannon, bale mountain, and more), as well as vendors to provide food.”
They also produce raw local honey.
Afton Apple Orchard
14421 90th St S, Hastings, MN 55033
Knapton’s Raspberries, Pumpkins & Orchard
5695 Hwy 55, Rockford, MN 55373
At Knapton’s, most things that are grown are available as pick-your-own. “Raspberries in mid June – July, August – October. (There is a transition between summer and fall varieties.) There is never a day without raspberries in the field during summer and fall. However, each variety has its peak of production. The 4th of July and a week or two before the state fair are generally good dates to remember for berry picking bliss. But that is not to say other times of the year aren’t really good too. The slowest time is right at the end of July or August 1st. Give us a call before you head out. Every year is different. These are average ripening times.
Cherries in late June – mid July.
Tomatoes in late July – October.
Sweet corn late July – August.
Miscellaneous vegetables throughout the summer and fall. Zucchini, cucumbers, green beans and yellow (wax) beans, peppers, peas, kohlrabi, carrots, onion, garlic, beets, herbs, etc.
Cut flowers mid July – October.
Pumpkins, Squash early September – October.
Pears August – September
Plums in late August.
Apples ripen late August – October depending on variety. Honeycrisp, SweeTango, Haralson, Zestar!, Honeygold, Connell Red / Fireside, Prairie Spy, Cortland, Sweet Sixteen, Pristine, State Fair, Chestnut, Keepsake, N.W. Greening, Regent, Macoun, Frostbite, SnowSweet, Wealthy, Centennial, and other popular Minnesota apples.
Honey, Homemade jams and raspberry vinegar.
In the fall you can roam acres of pumpkin fields and pick your own perfect pumpkin from the vine where it grew. Specializing in growing large orange carving pumpkins with large stems. Also multi-colored, multi-textured heirloom gourds, squashes and pumpkins from around the world. Wholesale pumpkins.
100+ varieties of multi-colored pumpkins, large and small gourds and squashes.
Corn shocks, bales, ornamental corn, birdhouse gourds and unique fall decorations.”
See our round up post of some of the best farms in Minnesota and Local honey near me.