Mercier Orchards

Mercier Orchards has been named Southern Living Magazine’s “favorite roadside apple market” several times and has received similar accolades from numerous regional magazines and newspapers. “If you come for no other reason, you must sample the fried apple pies and cider,” the Southern Living article says. “The cooks create some of the most memorable pastries, fried pies, fritters, doughnuts and dumplings that you will find anywhere.”

The Mercier family has been welcoming visitors to taste the fruits of the mountains for more than 50 years. Mercier’s is a major tourist attraction, bringing hundreds of busloads of visitors to Fannin County year after year. The orchard grows almost 20 varieties of apples, including Gala, Red and Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Rome, Stayman, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Fuji and others. Other seasonal fruit also is available, including peaches, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, along with locally grown produce.

The Mercier family bakery produces the most famous fried apple pies in the mountains! They also deliver the best peach, blueberry, chocolate and coconut fried pies this writer has ever had. The apple house offers a huge selection of jellies, jams, farmer’s butter, smoked trout, venison and other gift items to create gift baskets for the holidays. The orchard recently added picture windows in the bakery and fruit processing areas to allow tourists to see the action firsthand. The favorite among most tourists is the fall season when visitors can pick their own apples.