Pick-your-own farms manage crowds through deliberate bag pricing structures. Wilkens enforces a bag-purchase requirement before entry to picking zones. You do not pay by the pound at exit stations; instead, you purchase a proprietary picking bag that acts as your harvest permit.
| Crop / Activity | Active Window | Operational Details & Bag Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-Your-Own Peaches | Mid-August, Early September | Sold in dedicated half-peck containers; subject to early closure due to heat and supply limits. |
| Pick-Your-Own Apples | September, Late October | Peck (approx. 10, 12 lbs) and Half-Bushel (approx. 20, 22 lbs) pre-paid bags; permits row access. |
| Pumpkin Patch | Late September, October 31 | Priced per pound at checkout stations; stem cutting tools restricted to personal supervision. |
| Corn Maze | Labor Day, Halloween | Individual ticket admission; weather dependent with gravel path footing. |
| Cut-Your-Own Christmas Trees | Late Nov, Mid-December | Douglas and Fraser firs; handsaws provided; reservation/early arrival policies apply. |
A half-bushel bag holds roughly 20 to 22 pounds of fruit. For a casual group, filling a half-bushel bag requires careful selection, because overfilled bags tear along the seams on the walk back. Farm workers stationed at orchard entrances inspect bags to prevent unauthorized plastic grocery totes from entering the rows. Stick strictly to trees marked with colored flagging tape, as green fruit picked prematurely from unripe rows cannot ripen off the branch.
