Harvest season, for obvious reasons, is a great time to get to know our local farms. Apple trees are heavy with sweet, crisp fruit, pumpkin patches are alive with golden-orange globes of goodness, and many local farms invite you to come do your own picking, a great way to connect to the land and put kids in direct contact with how food happens.
But apple and pumpkin picking is only part of the adventure. Each Hudson Valley and Catskills farm has a personality all its own, from the centuries-old operations to the newer ventures; some have all kinds of activities for guests, while at others, you’ll find simple peace amid the plenty.
There are syrup and honey specialists, flower fanatics, livestock producers, and fiber farmers in the mix.
Checking the website or even calling on the day you plan to visit is a good idea—these are working farms, vulnerable to weather and a long list of other factors that can impact what’s available when.
Wear comfy shoes, pack an extra layer in case the breeze picks up, and prepare to savor the flavor at its very source.
kelder's farm
Kelder's Farm in Kerhonkson offers apple and pumpkin picking and a vast array of family amusement, going beyond hayrides and corn mazes with a Jumping Pillow, Combine Slide, Candy Cannon, and much more. There’s food at the Farmers Grill and adult beverages at the Loading Dock Tap Room; come during the Harvest Festival (September 21-October 21) for the full fall farm experience.
5755 Route 209, Kerhonkson | 845-626-7137 | keldersfarm.com
locust grove fruit farm
Locust Grove Fruit Farm in Milton is a seventh-generation family operation with three generations hands-on. They offer u-pick every weekend during the month of October; after you’ve got your fruit, check in at the Brewery Barn for fine house-made craft beverages to wash down the goodies from a selection of food trucks.
162 & 199 North Road, Milton | 845-795-5194 | locustgrovefruitfarm.com
saunderskill farms
Saunderskill Farms in Accord offers 10 varieties of pick-your-own apples, starting August 31 and continuing through mid-November. You can also pick pumpkins, roam the free corn maze, and take a horse-drawn hayride, or make a selection from their over 4,000 mums. There’s an old-timey Tractor Pull Festival and BBQ happening October 8.
5100 Route 209, Accord | 845-626-2676 | saunderskill.com
stone ridge orchard
Stone Ridge Orchard in Stone Ridge is a 200-year-old working farm using sustainable practices and offering a wide range of pick-your-own apples in the fall, plus other local delectables at the farm stand. The Farm Bar, open till Thanksgiving, serves up cider flights and New York State beer, wine, and cocktails.
3012 Route 213, Stone Ridge | 845-687-2587 | stoneridgeorchard.com
TWIN STAR ORCHARDS
Twin Star Orchards in New Paltz, home base for Brooklyn Cider House minimal-intervention ciders, welcomes you to come pick your own on weekends. Besides filling yourself a sack from the gorgeous orchard, there’s plenty to do: live music on Saturdays, superb wood-fired pizza and burgers to wash down with their cider (or authentic Mexican cane sugar soda) and the Hudson Valley Craft Beverage Festival, happening here September 7.
155 N Ohioville Rd, New Paltz | 845-633-8657 | twinstarorchards.com
walkill view farm
Wallkill View Farm in New Paltz offers pick-your-own pumpkins every weekend in October, with a free corn maze and a free scenic hayride with Shawangunk Mountains views. Don’t forget to pick up some fresh-baked cider doughnuts or a pie from the onsite bakery, and maybe a hanging basket of pretty mums from the greenhouse.
15 Route 299, New Paltz | 845-255-8050 | wallkillviewfarmnewpaltz.com
wright's farm
Wright’s Farm in Gardiner is a sixth-generation family farm with three generations currently involved. They welcome you to visit for apple picking from September 6 through the end of October. There’s a 453-acre farm to explore with trails for hiking and biking, and infinite picnic possibilities. The farm store is bursting with produce, baked goods, and hormone-free meats; on weekends, you can catch live music in the brewery, which is inside the renovated dairy barn.
699 State Route 208, Gardiner | 845-255-5300 | eatapples.com
DUTCHESS COUNTY
barton orchards
Barton Orchards in Poughquag lets you pick your own apples and pumpkins on their 175-acre family farm, which also offers a midway of agri-tainment attractions including a petting zoo, playground, and tap room. The Oktoberfest and Hudson Valley Apple Festival in September and a Harvest Festival in October are just a couple of the frequent festivities here with live music, a Fun Park, and hayrides, and your dog will love the Bark Park.
63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag | 845-227-2306 | bartonorchards.com
cedar heights orchard
Cedar Heights Orchard in Rhinebeck is a 150-year-old family operation on a gorgeous hillside with Catskills views, where you can pick among a wide variety of heirloom and newer varieties of apples any day of the week until October 9, and bring a picnic besides. They’re experimenting with some new high-density growing methods and cider varieties; apple-growing geeks can see the state of the art here.
8 Crosby Lane, Rhinebeck | 845-876-3231 | rhinebeckapples.com
fishkill farms
Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction welcomes you to make a reservation and come pick organic sunflowers, pears, apples, and pumpkins; the farm store offers a wide range of artisanal local products and fresh baked goods, the Treasury Cider Bar is house-made from tree to glass, and there’s an outdoor grill serving farm-fresh goodies to eat at the picnic tables.
9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction | 845-897-4377 | fishkillfarms.com
greig farm
Greig Farm in Red Hook opens its PYO apple season in late August, with 11 varieties of apples available through October, when they also offer multiple varieties of pumpkins and gourds. There are trails to walk, and pygmy goats and koi fish to feed. There’s a farm market and cafe as well as an Airstream food truck, and you can wash it all down with something delicious and locally crafted from the Barn Taproom.
227 Pitcher Ln, Red Hook | 845-758-8007 | greigfarm.com
meadowbrook farm apple orchard & market
Meadowbrook Farm Apple Orchard and Market in Wappingers Falls is a third-generation family operation that offers apple picking and pumpkins for sale through October, along with their own cider and homemade goodies. You can pay a visit to the chickens, ducks and goats, then visit the market for fruit and baked goods, pre-order holiday pies and complete some early gift shopping.
29 Old Myers Corners Rd, Wappingers Falls | 845-297-3002 | facebook.com/MeadowbrookApples
DELAWARE COUNTY
ECHO ORCHARD & FARM
Echo Orchard & Farm in Hamden is a former dairy farm on the West Branch of the Delaware River that now practices permaculture and makes cruelty-free wool products; as a no-spray orchard growing mostly cider apples, they don’t offer apple picking, but you can come pick pumpkins in September and October and meet the hens and sheep.
8151 Co Rd 26, Hamden | 802-578-0731 | echoorchard.com
hodgson riverbank farm
Hodgson Riverbank Farm in Downsville welcomes pumpkin pickers with a wagon ride out to the field, which offers over 5,000 pumpkin choices. You’ll also find mums, asters, ornamental kale, and corn stalks to inspire the perfect autumn tableau, and fresh autumn veggies—creative use of high tunnels keeps them picking late into the season.
3345 River Road, Downsville | 845-629-6762 | hodgsonriverbank.farm
honeybee herb farm
Honeybee Herb Farm in Margaretville offers its own sweet flavor of inspired agricultural wisdom. This is the place to find out more about holistic beekeeping, organic herb growing, wildcrafting, and more. They offer consultations and workshops along with green garden design and building services and a wide variety of herbal remedies and goodies: body and skincare, teas, syrups and elixirs, and much more—they’ll happily craft you a custom blend.
765 Main Street, Margaretville | 845-701-3091 | honeybeeherbs.com
maplewood farm & orchard
Maplewood Farm & Orchard in Delhi offers PYO apples and pumpkins on weekends from mid-September through Columbus Day, along with Li’l Buckaroo Rodeos and roping lessons. They’re also an ancestral maple-syrup operation with a sugar house full of outstanding syrups and maple sugar candies.
596 Miller Avenue, Bovina Center | 607-287-8682 | maplewoodfarmny.com
maxwell farms
Maxwell Farms in Delhi offers PYO pumpkins and, to the best of our knowledge, the only giant marshmallow maze in the region. It’s a relatively young operation with a fine sense of fun— come see why the Catskills are growing a new crop of farmers.
21287 Route-28, Delhi | 607-376-1357 | facebook.com/p/Maxwell-Farm-Delhi
sunrise mountain orchard llc
Sunrise Mountain Orchard LLC in Bloomville welcomes you to pick your own apples and pumpkins in September and October at their boutique orchard with a low-key, no-pressure vibe and 24 varieties. You can also grab some of their own honey and fresh-pressed cider.
1173 Sunrise Mountain Rd, Bloomville | 201-655-1985 sunrisemountainorchard.com
SULLIVAN COUNTY
buck brook alpacas
Buck Brook Alpacas in Roscoe is located atop one of the highest peaks in the Sullivan Cats; you can sign up for a tour or walk, meet the critters and soak up the spectacular foliage views, try your hand at gem mining, and grab your apples and pumpkins at the farm stand, which also stocks alpaca wool products.
12 Bestenheider Road, Roscoe | 845-807-3104 | buckbrookalpacas.com
cunningham family farms
Cunningham Family Farms in Bethel offers pumpkin picking and a wide range of fall family fun: Sullivan County’s largest corn maze (with a ghost hunt option no less!), giant checkers and chutes and ladders games, hay ride, hay bale pyramid, and gem mining. The party’s on from Labor Day through Halloween.
233 Hurd and Parks Road, Swan Lake | 845-583-4083 cunninghamfamilyfarms.com
hahn bros. farm
Hahn Bros. Farm in Callicoon is a sixth-generation family project evolving since 1857; nowadays, beef, goat meat and veggies are sustainably and carefully raised. Tours are offered by appointment; come meet the critters, learn about sustainable methods and pick up something succulent for your holiday table.
206 Anawanda Lake Road, Callicoon Center | 845-807-1335 hahnbrosfarm.com
