Chasing Fall Apples In Texas

How do you like them apples? Texas-grown, of course!

Published August 31, 2026

Fall may conjure visions of apple picking, cider, and orchards loaded with red fruit, but finding apple-filled autumnal bliss in Texas can be challenging. According to the latest Census of Agriculture from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas farms reported only 624 acres of apple trees in 2022 — a slim harvest compared with the state’s 16,276 acres of grapefruit and 143,317 acres of pecans.

That said, don’t pack away your flannel picnic blanket just yet! In a one corner of Texas, you can still pick your own apples or enjoy a pie made with Texas-grown fruit.

The Core Problem With Growing Apples in Texas

Texas presents several challenges for apple growers. High temperatures can leave fruit softer and less colorful than apples grown in cooler regions. Hail, late freezes, and diseases such as fire blight, cedar-apple rust, and cotton root rot add further risk. The state’s limited harvest also arrives earlier than you’d expect, starting in June.

For those reasons, Texas A&M AgriLife classifies apples as a high-risk specialty crop better suited to local sales than large-scale wholesale production. But don’t despair. In Texas’ apple country, a handful of determined farmers are still tending their orchards.

**Idalou Harvest Co., *Idalou***

One place where you can pick your own apples is Idalou Harvest Co., a 44-acre farm that grows just about everything, including apples, peaches, vegetables, and grapes. If you’re from the Lubbock area, you may have eaten its produce without realizing it, as the farm has supplied LBK Grown subscription boxes as well as local school lunches.

Idalou Harvest Co.’s expansive farm store offers produce and freshly baked treats such as German apple cake and pie. During some apple season, visitors can pick fruit from the trees, possibly accompanied by Tess, the resident “orchard cat.”

The farm is also known for its annual Apple Fest. Past festivals have featured local vendors, pumpkin painting, children’s activities, and an apple-pie-eating contest. Harvest dates and festival plans vary, so check with the farm before making the drive.

Grow Your Own Apples

If you’re up to the challenge, you can try your hand at growing apple trees in your own backyard. You’ll have the best luck in the High Plains, West Texas, and the Davis Mountains, which have historically offered some of the state’s best apple-growing conditions.

Choose your varieties carefully. Apples need a certain amount of cool winter weather, measured in “chill hours,” to produce fruit. Texas A&M’s apple-growing guide recommends low-chill varieties such as Anna and Dorsett Golden for warmer parts of Texas. The two also make a useful pair because Dorsett Golden can pollinate Anna. In locations with more winter chill, the guide recommends Mollie’s Delicious, Pink Lady, Fuji, Gala, or Mutsu.

While Texas isn’t overflowing with pick-your-own apple orchards, the apple industry is still sustained by a handful of determined growers. To support them, choose apples at the grocery store with a “Go Texan” sticker or drop by your local farmers market.

Wondering what to do with your Texas-grown apples? Try this autumnal apple oaty crumble.