Buying fruits from the green grocers can be annoying especially when you're paying a hefty price for quality that doesn't seem to touch any standard. Have you ever wondered what fresh fruit tastes like, especially when it's been handpicked by you and untouched by the grubby paws of middlemen and corporations?

If you're planning to head into the countryside this season, here are some orchards you can visit to experience that fruit-picking sensation.

1. The vineyards of Nasik

Made famous by Sula Wine, Nasik, Satara, Beed, Latur, Sholapur are home vineyards where one can see farmers tending to grape crops. Visitors are welcome to the vineyards owned by Sula where they can witness the wine making process, stomp grapes and end the day with a wine paired dinner.

Season: January to May. In the monsoon season, it's time for guava picking.

3. Apple picking in Himachal Pradesh

The apple orchards of Kinnaur, Kotgarh and Rohru look marvelous with the backdrop of the Himalayan ranges. Offering apple picking treks and tours of jam factories are just some activities available to visitors.

The Apple Orchard Inn and the Banjara Orchard Retreat offer visitors an experience centering around the versatile fruit.

Season: June to September

5. Mango picking in Konkan Mahrashtra

Ratnagiri along the Konkan coast is a land of gold during the arid summer. Home to the Alphonso Mango, there are several government-run and privately-owned hotels and homestays that give visitors a chance to stroll through mango orchards.

A village-tourism initiative called the Majhya Mamacha Gaon project offers day-long and special weekend packages for families to pick ripe mangoes of many varieties from their orchards at Boisar, in the Thane district.

Season: May to August