With apple and pear season in full swing, pumpkins plump in patches and fresh cider flowing from the taps, the Hood River Fruit Loop still has a lot to offer even now, at the tail end of the harvest season.
The Fruit Loop is one of Oregon’s premier day trip destinations, starting with strawberries at the end of spring and ending with pumpkins in the fall. The collection of local orchards, farm stands, wineries and breweries offers visitors a veritable bounty in the fertile Hood River Valley, nestled between Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.
We recently took a trip along the Fruit Loop to see what we could find as summer turned to fall. There, we found late-season strawberries, pear pizza, hard cider, fresh lavender and baked goods that all delighted the senses – not to mention the incredible views of Mount Hood along the way.
Whether you’re hoping to sneak in a fall visit or plan a trip for your favorite crops next year, the question remains: What’s the best way to tour the Fruit Loop? In the latest Peak Northwest video, we show one way to approach it, but with so many places to see and so many crops to taste, there’s really no wrong way to do it.
— Jamie Hale
503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB
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