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New York Metro Apple Farms - U-Pick 'Em And Enjoy
As the days begin to shorten and the leaves begin to change, apple-picking season moves into full swing across America, particularly in the Northeast. In late August, September and early October, there's no better way to take in the beautiful time of year than an afternoon spent in the orchards, away from the hustle and bustle of the produce aisle in the supermarket. Here is some advice on apple picking around the New York metropolitan area, including New Jersey and Connecticut farms that welcome families.
Many orchards also have homemade apple cider and cinnamon donuts, as well as pick-your-own pumpkin patches that will be fully ripe and ready for Halloween. Others offer hayrides, live music, petting farms, and special weekend activities geared toward families.
Each Fall marks the Great Maine Apple Day, where every apple thing from pies to ciders is judged. The Maine Pomological Society also hosts an apple ID session with an expert from FEDCO Trees. According to researchers at the University of Maine, there are about 1,000 different varieties of apples.
Before you head out, consider what you'll do with the apples that you pick. Different varieties are better suited for different purposes. Apples certainly make for great healthy snacks all by themselves and some of the most popular varieties for eating include the Macintosh, the Empire, Idared, The Red Delicious, and the Jonathon. If sauces or pies are in the plan, try the Cortland, the Golden Delicious, the Russet, and the Mutsu.
At some orchards, you can dive in early with late Spring berry picking. But if you're an apple hold-out, note that each variety ripens at a different time of the harvest season (late August to mid-November), so call ahead to be sure your destination hasn't been picked clean of your favorite apples.
Apple Picking in the New York Metropolitan Area
From the New York Metropolitan area, a manageable drive either North or South will provide plenty of choices for apple picking, farm stand browsing and as of late September, pumpkin patches. Orchards of note in Dutchess County, New York include Barton Orchards and Keepsake Farm Market, where hay rides; corn mazes and petting farms provide fun for the kids on weekends. Greig Farm has expanded its "pickings" to include a new orchard of smaller trees (fun with short pickers), a small vineyard producing Alison Wines and offerings tastings, a bakery and a large plant nursery.
Farther north in Ulster County, Mr. Apples Low-Spray Orchard invites visitors to learn about the history of the apple business at its display of photography and old-fashioned harvesting and cider press equipment. This orchard is also one of the few selling pesticide-free produce.
Closer to Manhattan, in Westchester County, Outhouse Orchards offers hayrides and pony rides for kids. Quite a bit farther north in Columbia County, Golden Harvest Farms is home to the tastiest apple cider doughnuts ever sampled by the author of this article. The orchard is in a richly historic and largely agricultural region and I highly recommend a visit to Golden Harvest if you're ever in the area.
In Bergen County, New Jersey, Abma's Farm Market and Demarest Farm offer hayrides and pumpkin picking. The Farms View Roadstand in Passaic County also offers pick-your-own pumpkins throughout October. The Demarest Farm organizes birthday parties and hayrides all fall, as well as apple and pumpkin picking depending on the time you visit. A bit farther out into the country, at Terhune Orchards in the beautiful town of Princeton, late September and early October have Family Fun Weekends with a haunted barn, live music, corn maze, pumpkin painting, and scarecrow making, and of course, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins are on tap for family fun.
And if you wish to take a ride up to Connecticut, there are plenty of orchards and fruit farms during the harvest season. Only a 90-minute ride from New York City is Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel. This 140-acre farm has nearly 30 varieties of apples and offers hayrides to its “Pumpkin Patch” during weekends in October. Open 360 days a year, Bishop Orchards in Guilford features a Farmer’s Market, winery, apple and pumpkin picking, as well as a bakery that sells delicious fresh-baked pies, fudge and zucchini bread. Bishop’s 300 acres are also home to llamas, goats and alpacas that live in the Little Red Barn.
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