By: Julie Blakley | October 21 2010
Posted in Portland - Find It - Portland

Between the whitecaps of Columbia River in northern Oregon and the looming Mount Hood, with its 11,239-foot summit crusted with snow even in Summer and early Fall, is the Hood River Valley, renowned for orchards that produce some of the best-tasting apples in the country.

In fact, Hood River’s national reputation for producing delicious apples dates back to the 1900 Chicago’s World’s Fair, where local growers won 16 blue ribbons and the Chicago Tribune stated, “Everybody in the world knows about Hood River apples."

The Hood River region provides the ideal mix of warm sunny days, crisp cool nights, and rich volcanic soil that produces perky, sweet apples. The valley, which is framed by picturesque Mount Adams to the north and Mount Hood to the south, produces over 225,000 tons of apples, pears and cherries every year on more than 15,000 acres of orchards and farm land.

Although known for growing great apples, superior growing conditions and bountiful harvests have made Hood River County the largest producer of pears in the United States. Over 12,000 acres are dedicated to the production of Green and Red d'Anjou, Bartlett, Comice, Bosc, Forelle, and Seckel pears.

Luckily for apple lovers, not only are the views spectacular but the Hood River Valley is also a famed wine region, making it easy to pick up those Honey Crisp apples for your pie and taste some of the latest vintages along the way. The famous Hood River Fruit Loop takes you through high-mountain orchards, transitioning from bucolic to boutique, from rustic to recreational. In between raids on farm stands there are plenty of other attractions to explore, including vineyards, antique shops and even the occasional alpaca ranch.

Along the Fruit Loop, you’ll find the Apple Valley Country Store in Odell, Oregon (#23 on the official Fruit Loop map), celebrating its 20th year as one of Hood River’s favorite visitor attractions. The Hood River Fruit Loop covers about 35 miles of gorgeous country in the foothills of Mount Hood. Participating farms and orchards are listed on maps available at multiple locations and online.

This iconic Country Store has caught the attention of foodies and travelers alike, featuring in Sunset Magazine, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Bon Appétit and The New York Times. Their famous "4 lb. apple pies" even made a cameo appearance on Food Network's Surf n' Turf special. Today, Apple Valley Country Store is run by the son of original owners, Justin, who joined the business in 2006 after a 15-year culinary career taking him from Boston and Key West to the San Juan Islands.

Find out more about Hood River Farmer’s Markets and Gorge Grown Produce or follow them on Twitter.

 

 

 

 

 

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