Mercier Orchards, Blue Ridge, Georgia ...

Mercier Orchards is the largest apple orchard in Georgia (200 acres!), and it’s also Southern Living magazine’s favorite “roadside apple market,” according to a 2002 article.

The Mercier Family has a 60-year tradition of growing apples in the mountains of North Georgia. Bill Mercier started the apple house with his wife, Adele, in 1943, when they bought several acres of apple trees from Dr. C. G. Lloyd, a local pharmacist.

"Mercier Apple House," Bill and Adele 1952

Bill and Adele managed to struggle through raising a family and managing over 100 acres of apple trees. They continued to grow the business by adopting new ideas and practicing new ways of growing apple trees. They were the first to grow many of the varieties of apples that are popular today. Even today, Bill & Adele are always helping out around the orchard. Bill still drives the rows of the trees everyday inspecting the crop and the trees. Adele can be found back at the sample table slicing apples, or behind the register in the middle of all the excitement during our peak season. It's a real family affair with four generations of family still pursuing Bill and Adele's dream.

Your trip to Blue Ridge just isn’t complete without a visit to Mercier’s for one of their scrumptious fried apple pies. They open at 8:00 a.m., and there’s just no better way to start your day than with one (or two!) of their pies and fresh apple cider.

Mercier also lets you pick your own apples on weekends in September, complete with a wagon ride to and from the orchards -- a fun activity for the whole family. For more information, call (706) 632-3411, or visit http://www.mercier-orchards.com/.