Picking apples in Nebraska City as a young boy was the inspiration for Tim Vala to start Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. Both Jan and Tim remember having fun with their families every fall, making great memories as they picked apples. Now, the Vala family is has added apple picking to the Vala’s fall festival experience. In 2014 the Valas planned out and planted their first apple orchard trees, planting many traditional varieties of apples, but also some lesser-known heirloom varieties. In total, they have about 30 acres of apples that includes 45 varieties of apples. This is exciting, because some of the most historically-rich, delicious and interesting apples are heirloom varieties. In 2017 Vala’s started selling pick-your-own apples for the first time and in 2018 the family business officially became Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard.