Pedestrians shop downtown in the city of Ellijay, Ga., nestled in the North Georgia mountains just a few hours’ drive from Chattanooga.Bite into a fall apple in Georgia and chances are it was grown in the hills and valleys surrounding Ellijay.
Known as the “Apple Capital of Georgia,” the area produces more than 600,000 bushels of apples in 25 varieties.
“If you think of apples, you think of Ellijay,” said Mona Lowe, Ellijay’s Better Hometown manager. “We also see Ellijay as a sort of base camp for outdoor adventure, but that doesn’t replace that apple.”
The crispy red fruit gave birth to the agritourism industry in Ellijay and surrounding Gilmer County. Visitors to the rustic mountain town can pick apples and other fruits, sample fresh-pressed apple cider or taste dozens of apple products ranging from apple butter and apple bread to apple donuts.
In the fall, the area hosts the Georgia Apple Festival — two weekends filled with events surrounding the apple harvest.