Celebrating National Apple Day in New York is a delightful experience, especially with the state’s abundant apple orchards that offer apple picking and delicious apple products. Here are some orchards where you can enjoy apple picking, and indulge in apple pies or other apple-related goodies::
Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm:
- Location: Not specified.
- Apple Picking: Offers pick-your-own apples among other fruits.
- Specialties: Known for their apple cider and fresh-baked pies available at the farm’s three markets.
O’Neill’s Orchard in LaFayette:
- Location: 4872 Route 20, LaFayette, NY.
- Apple Picking: Open daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Specialties: Offers u-pick apples and in-store apples along with apple fritters, pies, and unpasteurized cider.
Breeze Hill Farm in Peconic:
- Location: About 80 miles east of Manhattan.
- Apple Picking: Offers 26 varieties of apples.
- Specialties: Onsite farm market and café, La Fattoria, provides fresh coffee, apple cider donuts, local cheeses, and homemade organic jams.
Apple Ridge Orchards in Warwick:
- Location: 101 Jessup Road, Warwick, NY 10990.
- Apple Picking: Provides a variety of 20 different apples for picking throughout the Hudson and Warwick Valley.
- Specialties: Not specified for apple pies, but a great place for a rustic apple picking experience.
Minard’s Family Farm in Clintondale:
- Location: Clintondale, New York.
- Apple Picking: Over 100 acres of apple trees for picking.
- Specialties: Freshly baked goods and homemade jams available at the farm stand.
Pennings Orchard in Warwick:
- Location: Warwick, New York.
- Apple Picking: Over 20 varieties of apples for picking on over 50 acres of beautiful farmland.
- Specialties: An ice cream counter open year-round with seasonal flavors and decadent sundaes.
The apple picking season in New York typically begins in early to mid-September and can extend into late October or early November, depending on the apple variety and the specific orchard. For the 2023 season, some orchards began apple picking as early as mid-August and will continue into late November.
The ripening dates for apples in New York state generally range from August 27 to October 31, but these dates can vary by up to two weeks due to weather conditions, geographical location of the farm, and other factors.
In the Northeast region, which includes New York, the apple picking season traditionally lasts from the last week of August through the first week of November.