November 3rd, 2008 by Margie

After searching for apples for weeks, I took to a good ‘ole road trip.  I decided that if Georgia Organics had no orchard listed and none of the farmers I knew had any knowledge of someone growing apples, that i would try one more way to find someone, just get in the car and drive north!  I went to Ellijay to Highway 52 which is where all the commercial apple houses are.  I stopped at each apple house, looking for an older worker around that I could ask if they knew of anyone growing organic.  I got no information and lots of puzzled looks.  Why on earth would this girl drive all the way up here to get apples that aren’t even going to be sprayed or waxed?!

As I visited these apple houses, I had to sample their fried apple pie.  Sometimes a girl has to turn a blind eye to the origin of the ingredients.  Luckily after the SECOND apple pie, I quit.   My friend that was with me went for three before putting on the breaks.  They are so good, but I felt like a kid that just ate all their halloween candy in one sitting.  Not a good feeling.

After touring the tourists, and coming up with no good information, we decided it had been a lovely day in the mountains and ya can’t complain about that.  The trees were beautiful and the weather was so nice.  We took 515 South back to Atlanta and as we were driving I saw a small sign that said “organic Produce - Next Right” so we hit the breaks and turned off.  It was a small drive that led to a cleared spot and a produce stand from Whitestone Farms.  Believe it or not, at this stand were….organic apples, but it’s not that easy.  When I asked the woman about the apples, she said they were from a nearby farmer, not their farm.  Of course!  She was the mom, helping out her daughter who actually runs Whitestone Farms.  I got a phone number and called the owner of the farm when I got back.  When I got no return call after a few days, I called again!  Finally after a week of waiting and really giving up the dream of local Georgia organic apple orchards, I got the call from Christina, the farm owner.  She was great (and I might be bringing you produce from her place soon) and she gave me the name of the guy that sold her the apples.  She did not know much about him.

I called David and his orchard is in fact ORGANIC!  He was so surprised that I was searching so hard for apples and said that he is located in, yes, you guessed it, Ellijay!  I drove right by the road that led to the apples I was searching for but there was no way for me to know.  he said that people in the county don’t really understand why he will not spray his trees.

The image you see on this page is a shot of one of the lovely trees on his property.  I was fortunate enough to have friends at their mountain home that could drive to the farm and pick up apples for all of us.   My friend James Farmer not only picked up all the fruit for me but he and his wife Karen got out and walked the trees taking pictures and picking fruit.  They said these were the best apples they had eaten in years. This Wednesday we will all eat from the fruit of Ellijay the way it is meant to grow, rather than the way the chemical companies grow them!  Yum!

As always, I am loving the journeys that lead me to healthy food for all of us!  This time it was right back to Highway 52!  Now I have an excuse to go hang in the mountains with friends!