Once a year at Mt. View Orchards we throw a large party to celebrate my grandfathers Swiss Heritage. Swiss-Edelweiss Day is one of my all time favorite childhood memories and it is held every 4th Saturday in October. This year is will be this Saturday, October 25th. We serve special Swiss Sausages(Wurst) homemade sauerkraut, grilled onions, heaven on earth potatoes(potatoes, apple, bacon) and apple strudel. We have Swiss music and plenty of yodeling. Shelby and Tom Inholt will be here again to yodel their hearts out like the do each and every year. She is the daughter of Walter and Pat Aeppli who also immigrated from Switzerland around the same time as my grandfather Lew Merz. Walter used to play his accordion back in the day for our Swiss Fest. Ryan McAlexander, my baby brother always gets out the Tuba and umpa's till he cannot umpa any more. If you have never been to a Swiss October Fest party in your life this is not to missed. Friends, who come each year I cannot wait to hug you all and welcome you back.
This party happens rain or shine and we have plenty of canopies and covered areas to keep us all dry and happy. We will be making over 52 apple strudels to serve and will have small Swiss butter cookies called bratzelis. I have fond memories pressing these cookies with my grandmother and mother as a child. They have a hint of lemon and buttery crispness and truly divine. We start serving lunch around 11am and the cost will be 10 dollars a plate. You may also purchase everything individually. The farms address is 6670 trout creek ridge rd, Mount Hood-Parkdale Or 97041. Party from 11am-430pm.
I love traditions and this Swiss tradition is one of the best our family celebrates. It would be my honor to host you all at are small family farm for Swiss Edelweiss Day. If you have no plans this Saturday, come on up and enjoy a little bit of our motherland and celebrate the journey of my grandfather's parents coming to the states from Switzerland. Thank you again for all the wild support this year of our orchard. We have had record weekend sales and truly have been so encouraged by everyone rallying to save the farm. Hope to see you all this Saturday to celebrate Swiss Edelweiss Day and I encourage you to come get more fresh fruit enjoy this time of year. The pears are coming into their peak of flavor and so are many of the apples. xoxo, your grateful farmer.