Apple Picking is Back in Full Swing

10/02/2019

Let's go Apple Picking People!

Fall is finally upon us, although I know the high temperatures outside might not be a strong indication of such season change.
Regardless, when Fall comes, NYC starts offering fun day-trip activities including the Popular Apple Picking and Pumpkin Patch in the neighboring region of the Hudson Valley and Long Island.

If you are visiting New York and would like to spend a day doing something that is so typical for (and much loved by) many native New Yorkers ... then you should consider spending a day with us Apple Picking!



You may ask yourself "what exactly is so entertaining about spending a day picking fruits yourself when you can just buy it at the supermarket?" ... Well, you see Apple Picking is a "New York" as it gets. New Yorkers are not known to be people that just kick back and relax during their time-off, plus I assure you that growing up in a concrete jungle makes you love the idea of spending a day outside the hustle and bustle of the city breathing in the fresh air, in touch with mother nature! Plus, who said that it's only about picking the fruits ... We eat them too! And many farms also have amazing bakeries and farmers markets where you can enjoy deliciously prepared pies and desserts.

So it's not just the "picking Apples from trees", once you are there you can also taste the homemade donuts, spiced apple cider, or some other pie made from scratch and try fun activities including the ever-popular corn maze and hayrides.



The area surrounding New York City is extremely fertile with Apple Orchards. Just to give you an idea here are some fun facts on Apples in NY --

• Over 600+ commercial apple growers are found in New York State.
• NY the second-largest apple producing state in the country.
• Annual Production of 29.5 million bushels.
• Over 55,000 acres of NY State are Orchards
• Approx. 10,000 direct agricultural jobs (e.g., growing, harvesting, packing, etc.)
• & 7,500 indirect jobs involved with fruit handling, distribution, marketing, and exports;
• on average, 53% of Apple Annual Production is sold as fruit and about 47% is processed into juice, cider and other canned products like apple sauce and filling.
• * Source: https://www.applesfromny.com/about/facts - (Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service)

You can decide to visit one of these 3 regions:
The Hudson Valley  
Long Island
New Jersey

My favorite region is usually the Hudson Valley because I also love to go there and enjoy some Foliage scenery around the Hudson River and the Catskill Region. Plus, the Hudson Valley offers many quaint little towns along the river perfect for an afternoon walk including Terrytown, Rhinebeck, and Cold Spring.


Some of the Farms I've been include: 

a) Fishkill Farms, 9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. Open daily 9 am - 6 pm. Famous for their homemade donuts and pies that are known to create quite the lines. Plus, it offers hey rides around their Farm and you can even pick your own Pumpkin.

b) Samascott Orchards, 5 Sunset Ave, Kinderhook, NY 12106. Open daily 8 am - 5 pm, closed on Tuesday. Famous for also offering pumpkins patch, strawberries, grapes, and tomatoes picking. Plus, it offers hey rides, corn maze and farmers market with homemade ice-cream.

Whether you are traveling with a group of friends or visiting NYC with your family, you should consider spending a day picking apples!

Here a list of Farms divided by region & recommended by ABC