Fruit Growers / Orchards
Lush, fertile Hood River Valley is home to a myriad of small, family-run fruit orchards, delighting visitors with a delectable smorgasbord of apples, pears, cherries, peaches, and wine grapes.
Find it here:
- Located 65 miles east of Portland in the Hood River Valley.
- The 35-mile Fruit Loop offers a tour of the orchards with many sampling opportunities.
- Get maps, directions, and information from the Hood River Visitor’s Center, Exit 64 off I-84.
Overview
Nearly a third of Oregon’s fruit tree acreage lies in the Hood River Valley, where 2.4 million fruit trees grow on close to 15,000 acres. Most of these orchards are small, run by third- or fourth-generation Oregon farm families. Fruit farming has been the region’s primary business for more than 150 years, and Hood River Valley is the largest pear-growing area in the U.S.
Fruit Loop Drive
A fun excursion for enjoying the orchards is a 35-mile drive known as the Fruit Loop, which passes more than 30 fruit farms. The Fruit Loop is located about an hour out of Portland, Oregon near the scenic Columbia River Gorge. Access the loop via Exit 64 off Interstate-84. Maps, directions, and information are available at the Hood River Visitor’s Center located near this exit.
Buy & Sample Fruit
Fruit Loop travelers can not only buy fruit (by U-pick or at local stands), but also sample homemade pies, jams and preserves, taste regional wines, and see alpaca sheep and lavender meadows along the route. Harvest festivals celebrate peak seasons of each fruit type—wine and strawberries in June, cherries in early July, apples in August and October, pears and peaches in September.
When to Visit
The summer months, June-September, are best for visiting the Hood River Valley fruit orchards. Visiting hours and guidelines vary from farm to farm.
More Info
For more information, contact the Hood River County Fruit Loop cooperative at (541) 386-7697.