Apple country: Sparta and the Fruit Ridge

The countryside northwest of Grand Rapids — centered on the town of Sparta — sits on a long, high band of land that locals call the Fruit Ridge, or just “the Ridge.” It’s one of the best places in the world to grow fruit. A lucky mix of rich, moisture-holding soil, ground that rises more than 800 feet, and the nearby breath of Lake Michigan (which fends off the late-spring frosts that would kill the blossoms) makes it close to perfect for apples. By some counts, more than half of all the apples grown in Michigan come from this one stretch of countryside — and Michigan is one of the top apple-growing states in the country. Sparta has been fruit country since the 1840s, and every September it hosts the Michigan Apple Fest. Come fall, the Ridge fills up with families heading out to pick their own apples and load up on fresh cider and warm donuts at the dozens of orchards and cider mills along the back roads.

You can find the Michigan Apple Fest’s dates and schedule at michiganapplefest.com.