mt. view orchards

When we planned our trip to the Fruit Loop this year, we took special interest in an offer on the Mt. View Orchards web site: a coupon for "One pound of free Golden Delicious Apples for every 10 miles (one way), you drive from WA or OR with a minimum $15.00 purchase." GREAT! Coming from Tacoma, WA, we were thrilled to think we'd be coming home with even more deliciousness than we'd planned! We wanted to buy Rome apples, which are hard to find at home, so the minimum purchase was no problem. The unusually warm, dry weekend seemed the perfect time to trek on down to Oregon, we grabbed our canvas bags and hit the road. Imagine our dismay when, after standing in line more than 30 minutes to get our Romes weighed and collect our Goldens, we were told that the coupon was good for every 10 miles (one way)FROM THE OREGON State Line we had traveled! I asked why this was different than the coupon we had printed from their web site or the one in their on-site flyer, and were told it had something to do with "people coming from Florida". Well, we were not from Florida, and the coupon specifically said WA or OR, which seemed pretty straightforward that we were not talking thousands of miles here, but the lady smiled that "we're busy here, next customer, please" smile, so we collected our 14 apples which soured, a little, what had been a terrific adventure. We would have gone to Mt. View just for the Romes, but maybe not as many as we felt we had to buy to use the coupon. After we had waited so long in line, we were not about to start taking apples out of our box or spoil other people's day by raising a racket, but there was no signage telling us the coupon was changed so we could change our plans. We're giving them two out of five for the bait-and-switch, it is a bad business practice. Better they should have made good on the coupons when asked and told any Floridians the coupon was for Oregon and Washington residents only.

It took us a little while to find it but my ten year old daughter and I were sure glad we did. The welcome we received from Ruthie the owner was just so wonderful. What a lovely lady. She gave us great info about the area and directions to a great BBQ restaurant in Parkdale. The cherries are delicious and so inexpensive-- from 1.50 - 2.00 lb. we also picked up apricots and blueberries. Great visit worth the trip. Lots and lots of items for sale.

We were there in the pouring rain for their Swiss/German Festival this last weekend. The fruit is excellent with great varieties and fair prices. We didn't find the staff to be incredibly friendly, which is why they are only getting a 4 out of 5. Nothing negative, they just could have been a little more approachable and a little more helpful.

Great time picking our own fruit. We only wanted a small amount (about one grocery bag full), but we had a great time picking our own. Variety of winter pears, apples, and a few peaches left on the trees all within about 100 yards of the parking area. Most were about 50 cents a pound and up to $1/lb for honey crisp apples. Best price we saw in the area on fresh pressed apple cider. They were pressing it while we were there. Great variety of home made jams/jellys, dried fruit, etc. Family was there helping out and showing folks around. And they live up to the name, the view of Mt Hood is fantastic. Well worth the few minutes of extra driving from the more high traffic areas of the "fruit loop."

Located a few miles south of Hood River is the Mt. View Orchards. Aptly named, since the orchards have an incredible view of Mt. Hood to the west. U-pick or buy ready picked fruit. Several varieties of apples, pears, peaches, cherries and plums. This orchard has been family owned for over 37 years.