The Fruit Loop and farm country in Hood River
South of the city, the Hood River Valley is farm country. Wikipedia says the valley is known for apples, pears and cherries, and that logging was once the city's main industry before the focus shifted toward orchards and wineries.
The Fruit Loop
The Hood River Fruit Loop is a self-guided tour of the valley. Its official site describes a scenic 35-mile loop and says it covers on-the-farm fruit stands, wineries, breweries, cideries and fields of flowers, listing 32 of them. The site says the first fruit trees in the valley were planted in 1855 and that pears, apples and cherries cover about 14,500 acres today. Its events menu runs from April through October, and stand openings change with the harvest, so check the site before you drive out.
We do not list individual orchards or farm stands here. The Fruit Loop site is the best place to see which ones are open and what is in season.
Why it matters to the community
Orchards shape the look of the valley, the seasons of the year and the local calendar. If you are new to the area, the Fruit Loop site is also a good way to learn the valley's roads and its harvest rhythm.