Apples, family & a brilliant business idea: My day at B.J. Reece Orchards and what Ghana can learn

It started as a simple family idea. My sister said, “Let’s go do something outdoors, something for bonding.” So, we found ourselves driving up to Ellijay — Georgia’s Apple Capital — to the famous B.J. Reece Orchards for apple picking. I thought we were just going to pick apples. We came back with full bags, sticky fingers from fried apple pies, and a whole business plan in my head.

The Orchard Experience If you’ve never been to Ellijay in fall, you’re missing something. B.J. Reece sits at 9131 GA-52 E, tucked in the North Georgia Mountains. It’s family-owned and operated since the early 1960s, and today it spans over 200 acres of apples plus another 30 acres of peaches, nectarines, and Asian pears. This is not just a farm. It’s an experience.

You pay for your U-pick bag — $12 for a half peck, $24 for a peck, $48 for a half bushel — hop on a tractor wagon that takes you deep into the rows, and you pick. Over 20 varieties ripen in waves from late August through early November: Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Rome Beauty, Crimson Crisp and more. But here’s what made it brilliant: They knew the kids would get bored just picking apples.

So they built an entire world around it. Petting zoo. Pony rides. Corn maze. Apple cannons. Giant slide. Hayrides. Pig races on weekends. A market and bakery that sells everything — fresh cider, cider slushies, world-famous fried apple pies, jams, vegetables grown right there on the farm. And across the street, Miss Reece’s Cider Co. for the adults.

We came to pick apples. We stayed for half a day. And we spent — happily — on everything else. My sister was right: it’s the perfect family bonding activity. The kids didn’t touch their phones for 4 hours. The Background That Makes It Work Ellijay is called Georgia’s Apple Capital for a reason. Gilmer County produces over 600,000 bushels of apples a year.

What B.J. Reece and others have done is turn agriculture into Agri-tourism. The model is simple and powerful: The Farm is the attraction. You don’t just sell the fruit; you sell the experience of harvesting it. Multiple income streams. Tickets for farm activities, bag fees for picking, bakery, market, cider, merchandise. One visitor pays 4-5 times.

Seasonality is managed. Their market and bakery are open year-round, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm, even when U-pick is only in season. Family-first design. Leashed dogs allowed in orchards, kids under 2 free, everything walkable, wagon rides for grandparents. It’s designed for everyone to come back every year. It’s a 60-year-old family business that still feels fresh.

Now, Imagine This in Ghana — My Lightbulb Moment Standing on that hill, looking at rows of apples, I thought: Why not Ghana? Instead of apples, strawberries and peaches — we have what the world is craving. Imagine a B.J. Reece-style orchard in Aburi or Dodowa or Kwahu: A Cocoa U-Pick Experience: Families come, learn how cocoa is grown, harvest their own pods, taste fresh cocoa pulp, and watch chocolate being made.

Educational and delicious. A Mango Orchard in Somanya / Yilo Krobo: Ghana is one of the biggest mango producers. Imagine mango picking season — Keitt, Kent, Palmer — with mango juice, dried mango, mango jam in the farm shop. Guava, Soursop, Watermelon, Melon, Coconut: A fruit trail where kids actually see where their food comes from. We wouldn’t just be selling fruit.

We would be selling: Agricultural education for urban kids who have never seen a cocoa tree. Family tourism — a real alternative to just malls and beaches. Rural jobs and women’s income — bakery, juice making, tour guides, crafts. Food security pride — eat Ghana, pick Ghana, love Ghana. Ghana’s climate allows us to do this ALL YEAR, not just August-October.

We have the land, we have the fruits, we have the families looking for meaningful weekend activities. B.J. Reece started with a few acres in the 60s. Ghana can start with 20 acres in the Eastern Region and grow. I went to Ellijay for apples. I came back thinking about mangoes in Mampong. My sister wanted bonding. She got bonding, plus a business idea.

Who wants to partner with me to build Ghana’s first U-Pick Mango & Cocoa Orchard? Let’s talk. ************ About the Author Rebecca Tweneboah Darko (Becky) is an award-winning entertainment journalist, producer, and storyteller with The Multimedia Group. She has built a reputation for insightful reporting on Ghana’s music, film, and creative industries, covering some of the country’s biggest entertainment stories while championing conversations around culture, creativity, and the business of entertainment.

With years of experience across television, digital, and multimedia platforms, Becky is known for her thoughtful interviews, in-depth features, and commitment to documenting Ghana’s evolving creative landscape. She is passionate about preserving the stories behind the country’s cultural milestones and advocating for stronger collaboration between creatives and the media.