Apple Picking in Westchester & Dutchess County 2022

Apple Picking in Westchester & Dutchess County 2022: Still some peach picking to find but once Labor Day rolls around its all about apples. And some pears, too. Here’s our guide for apple picking with or without the frills. Plus best places for farm grown and made apple cider and baked pies.

Where To Pick Apples in Westchester

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard – Reservations Required: Peach picking reservations are open for Labor Day weekend with apples following.Harvest Moon’s pick your own apple season runs through the end of October. Explore the hillside orchard with its expansive and panoramic views of the Hudson Valley. Load up on freshly picked apples and check out their country store for fresh HOT apple cider donuts, their own farm-pressed sweet and hard cider, BBQ lunch, pies, breads, fresh baked goods and more! (130 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem; www.harvestmoonfarmandorchard)

Outhouse Orchards – Reservations Required beginning September 3: North Salem’s “home field” apple, peach and pear orchard will open for picking Labor Day weekend. Get tickets through their reservation system . Outhouse’s open landscape offers great vistas and relaxed hikes around the farm. They also have a great farm stand so you can skip the farmer’s market when you go. Great tomatoes and vistas! (139 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem, 914.277.3188; www.outhouseorchardsny.com/)

Stuart’s Farm – Apple Picking begins September 3. No reservations! Stuarts offers 18 varieties of apples and this handy chart so you can see what’s picking when. They have dwarf trees so you don’t need an apple grabber. And their trees are grown in tight rows on flattish ground – making for very efficient yet still atmospheric apple picking. There’s a nice farm stand with fresh baked pies, apple cider, donuts and potted chrysanthemums. Stuart’s Farm is great for young kids (and adults too) who may not have the stamina for long walks. No CC. (62 Granite Springs Rd., Granite Springs, 914.245.2784; www.stuartsfarm.com)

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm – Apple Picking begins September 3. No reservations: Now in their 106th season, apple picking, hay rides and corn maze at Wilkens Fruit Farm begin on September 3 and run through the end October. There are also wine tastings every weekend. Wilkens offers 13 apple variety’s for picking and another seven for purchase in the farm market. Check out their when to pick guide here. They have a bake shop offering apple cider donuts, strudel sticks, pies and cookies – plus a winery.  Come back in December to cut your own Christmas tree. (We did.) (1335 White Hill Rd., Yorktown Heights, 914.245.5111; www.wilkensfarm.com)

Where to Pick Apples in Dutchess

Barton Orchards – Now Open, Best to Buy Tickets in Advance: This 175 acre orchard is the biggest apple picking extravaganza in our area. If you want the full Disney World apple picking adventure this is your place. (Chill warning: It can be very frenetic!) Attractions include hay rides, fun park, a petting zoo, an ice cream stand and a new six-course Tree-Top Adventure Park. (Advance reservations required.) Plus a concession stand, and a farm store. There’s live music on weekends and themed Festival Weekends including BBQ & Brew and Oktoberfest weekends. (63 Apple Tree Lane, Poughquag, 845-227-2306; www.bartonorchards.com)

Fishkill Farms – Reservations Required:  Reservations for Fall Harvest Season are now posted from Sept. 6th through October 10th at this 270 acre apple orchard and vegetable farm. The orchard offers eco-certified apples and peaches and ecologically grown Asian & Bosc Pears. Plus eco-certified raspberries, hot peppers and flowers through September 24. Pumpkins to follow. (9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, 845,897, 4377; www.fishkillfarms.com)

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery – Apple Picking Begins September 3: An hour 15 from downtown Armonk the Warwick Valley Winery is by far the longest trek. But they grow 65 varieties of apples from the standard Mcintosh and Honey Crisp, to the more exotic Crimson Topaz, Melrose, Snowsweet and Ashmead Kernal that looks like an heirloom tomato on their 120 acre orchard. Check out their handy seasonal guide to what’s picking when. Plus there’s a tasting room for their award-winning wines and ciders, an outdoor farm to table restaurant and weekend music festivals. (114 Little York Rd. Warwick, 845.258.4858; www.wvwinery.com)

Where to Buy Local Apples

Salinger’s Orchard: Apples in the bin, Best pies: Bruce Salinger grows and sells 18 varieties of apples, as well as pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, pumpkins, tomatoes, other local vegetables and pure local honey. His wife Maureen, does the baking and makes “incredible fruit pies at incredible prices,”  Including apple, peach, red raspberry, pumpkin and pecan. Your mom will love the apple strudel. Plus doughnuts, cookies, scones, and muffins. (230 Guinea Rd., Brewster, 845.277.3521; www.salingersorchard.com)

Thompson’s Cider Mill: Tie a trip into Thompson’s Cider Mill with your visit to Teatown Lake right next door. Their orchard has been growing apples since 1870. If Salinger’s is the place to go for pies, Thompson’s is the place to go for sweet and hard cider apple cider made at their mill. There’s no pick your own at Thompson’s, but you can buy a wide variety of locally grown apples including many unusual and heirloom varieties. September Apples include: Macoun, Gala, Arlet, Rhode Island Greening, McIntosh, 20-Ounce Pippin, Honeycrisp, Jonamac, Jonathan and Senshu. In early October you can find Jonagold, Mustu/Crispin, Gold Delicious and Liberty. The late season entries Winesap, Idared, Gold Russet, Arkansas Black and Newtown Pippin arrive between October 20 and 31. (335 Blinn Rd., Croton-on-Hudson, 914.271.2254; www.thompsonscidermill.com)

More useful tips from What To Do’s Fall Survival Checklist.

Like us on Facebook amigos.