Peaches, Apples, Berries and Cider: 14 Best Farms in New York City to Pick Fruit and Have Fun with the Family

There are so many wonderful farms in New York State that you can visit almost all year round. Fruit Picking Farms compiled a list of the best fruit picking farms in the state.

Early in the season, you can pick strawberries, cherries, lavender, blueberries, asparagus, and sunflowers. Later, raspberries, blackberries, pears, apples, and pumpkins ripen.

Prospect Hill Orchards at the Hilltop - Choice of cherries, peaches and apples

• Address: 340 Milton Turnpike, Milton, NY 12547

Prospect Hill Orchards is an orchard farm located in Milton, Ulster County, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River.

Mid-June is the cherry picking season. It is very short and only available from mid-June to July 4th.

From July to August - there are many different varieties of peaches, as well as apricots, plums and nectarines.

From mid-September to mid-October, as the warm summer days give way to cool fall days and crisp nights, the apples begin to ripen into sweet, juicy fruit. The Prospect Hill Apple Orchard is nearly 15 acres (6 ha) of fruit with a picnic area located by a pond. It is a picturesque and peaceful spot. Modern growing techniques at the orchard use dwarf trees with the latest apple varieties.

Dwarf trees mean that even the smallest children can pick their own apples because the trees are short. The farm grows more than a dozen varieties of apples, including Macoun, Mutsu, Gala, Fuji, Empire, Honeycrisp, Snap Dragon, Cortland, McIntosh, Ida Red, Rome, Red and Golden Delicious, Braeburn and Granny Smith.

Many people enjoy picking Bosc pears, and recently an Asian variety has appeared in the garden. This very popular fruit usually ripens around the end of September. And for Halloween, don't forget to pick yourself some pumpkins.

In addition to fruit picking, the whole family can enjoy a tractor ride, a corn maze, making their own cider, and checking out a pumpkin totem pole.

Patty Berries and Bunches

• Address: 410 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952

The farm where Patty's Berries and Bunches is now opened in 1975 as Harbes Berry Farm. Owner Patty DiVello, a member of the Harbes family, grew up just across the street. But in 2010, she changed the name to Patty's Berries and Bunches. They now offer strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry picking.

In addition, you can see many flowers on the farm: peonies, dahlias, sunflowers, decorative and formal ones - they are available for weddings and various events.

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And if you just want to relax in the fresh air and don’t plan to pick anything, you can buy seasonal ice cream, cider, baked goods, honey, jams and other homemade products right on the farm. In addition, the farm often hosts excursions, live concerts and various master classes.

Conzella's Farm

• Address: 6211 N Country Rd, Wading River, NY 11792

The farm grows:

• strawberries: about 9 different varieties, each with a different fruiting time;
• common peas, also peas eaten like green beans. Mature plants produce tasty edible pods and sweet large peas;
• Tomatoes: The rich, sweet, complex flavor of freshly picked tomatoes is unmatched, and you'll find it at this farm. They grow a variety of tomatoes, so you're sure to find one you like;
• Beans: The farm offers three different varieties of Green Bush beans, all of which produce very high quality, dark green beans with thin pods and excellent flavor. In addition, you will find one variety of Bush Wax Bean and one variety of Romano Bush Bean;
• Pumpkins: Pumpkins of various sizes grow here and are available from the end of September;
• sunflowers: the iconic symbol of summer. Here everyone will find a piece of the sun for themselves.

The Cheerful Cherry Farm

• Address: 3723 Co Rd 2, Hector, NY 14841

The farm grows tomatoes, cherries, grapes, apples, jalapenos, sweet peppers, peaches, cucumbers and Italian green beans.

Windy Acre Farm

• Address: 3810 Middle Country Rd, Calverton, NY 11933

Windy Acre Farm grows a lot of fruit at different times throughout the year:

• Strawberry;
• white peaches;
• yellow peaches;
• apples;
• Pumpkins
• sunflowers;
• blackberry;
• raspberries;
• blueberry;
• grapes;
• nectarines;
• cherry;
• gooseberry.

There are sunflowers to cut and a corn maze in the fall.

Lewin Farms

• Address: 812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 11933

Lewin Farms is a fourth-generation family farm and was one of the first on Long Island to open to the public.

Here you can find a wide selection of fruits:

• strawberries: late May – June;
• raspberries: from late June to early September;
• blueberries: late June - mid-August;
• blackberry: end of July - end of August;
• peaches: mid-July - mid-September;
• apples: late August/September to November;
• pumpkins/melon crops: mid/end of September – end of October.

The farm also features a corn maze in the fall and Christmas trees in the lead up to the holidays.

Glover farms

• Address: 641-681 Victory Ave, Brookhaven, NY 11719

Glover Farms was founded in 1952. Kenneth Glover Sr. bought a large plot of land to start a farming career. He worked on the farm all his life, and it was the only thing he knew how to do. Now the third generation is working on the farm.

When the potato business failed, Kenny Glover Sr. had to find another source of income on the farm. He decided to try strawberries – and it worked. Glover Farms became one of the first U-Pick strawberry farms on Long Island.

When his son Kenny Glover Jr. took over the farming business, they decided to give their guests another harvest. They ended up growing pumpkins for the October holiday and creating a corn maze for family fun.

Now on the farm you can see very friendly goats and funny chickens – you are allowed to feed them directly from your hands.

Love Apple Farm

• Address: 1421 State Route 9H, Ghent, NY 12075

Love Apple Farm first opened its doors in 1969 and has been an integral part of the Hudson farming community ever since.

The farm was founded by an actor and a model who wanted to create a rural oasis away from the pressures of life, where they could enjoy physical activity and pursue their literary careers in peace.

Interestingly, while combining the heavy physical workload of the farm, the owner actually managed to write and publish his book. The farm has since changed hands, but the values ​​it has always prioritized have remained strong even after 50 years.

The 80-acre (32 ha) Love Apple Farm is open year-round and is a popular spot for locals and visitors to enjoy fruit picking, take a break from the stresses of technology and experience a bit of rural living.

In addition to apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, peaches, plums, as well as raspberries and strawberries are grown here. In addition to fruit picking, Love Apple Farm has a playground, a petting farm, a cafe, a market, and a gift shop.

Stuart's fruit farm

• Address: 62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs NY

Just an hour from New York City, Stuart's Fruit Farm has been in Westchester County since 1828.

"Depending on your seasonal needs, come visit us in the spring to find a variety of flowers and vegetables. In the fall, apples, peaches and a pumpkin patch; and in the winter, Christmas trees. A visit to Stuart's Fruit Farm in the fall is exceptional! In addition to apple picking, you can tour the orchard and visit the farm stand to buy fresh produce, as well as the bakery where you can buy delicious donuts, apple cider and homemade pies baked daily.

Finally, before heading home, have a picnic with your family to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage.

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Apple picking begins in early September and takes place daily from 10:00 to 17:00 throughout November. There are over 20 varieties to choose from.

Fishkill Farms

• Address: 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell JCT, NY 12533

"At Fishkill, we grow food in harmony with nature. We believe that even with New York City's climate challenges, we can grow good food that is nourishing for both us and the earth. We are committed to improving our growing methods each season," the farm's website says.

Fishkill offers a wide variety of apples. In early October, you'll find popular classics such as Golden and Red Delicious, as well as perhaps lesser-known Jonagold and Idareds. Interestingly, when harvested, apples are covered with a thin, pale substance. This is kaolin clay and it helps to protect fruit from insects. Don't worry - it's non-toxic and washes off easily.

The picking season begins in early June with strawberries and very sweet sugar snap peas. In July you'll find cherries, as well as raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Late July and August are great for juicy peaches and nectarines, as well as a wide variety of tomatoes and eggplants.

The season culminates in fall with over a dozen classic New York apples and pumpkin picking.

Grieg Farm

• Address: 227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, NY 12571

The farm is famous for its apples. Greig Farm offers some interesting tips for fruit pickers.

"A common mistake is to pick apples off the tree. The problem with this approach is that when the tree finally lets go of your apple, the branch bounces off and shakes several other apples off the tree. To pick an apple without disturbing the others, grab the apple and twist it. This will turn the apple against the stem and eventually you will pick it off without harming the other fruit," the farm's website says.

Soons Orchard

• Address: 23 Soons Cir., New Hampton, NY 10958

Soons Orchard has been growing apples since 1910, and today the farm has 30 acres (12 ha) of land and more than 55 varieties of apples, plus 35 specialty varieties for hard cider.

The farm grows everything from McIntosh and Honeycrisp to Northern Spy and Cameo, so you'll always find something you'll love.

Collection time:

• Peaches: August;
• Apples: Start of Labor Day Weekend;
• Pumpkins: late September/October.

Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm

• Address: 1335 White Hill Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

In Wilkens, the apple picking season begins in early September, and the farm staff recommends coming here at the beginning of the month to find exactly what you are looking for.

"We offer a variety of apples, pumpkins, and peaches for you to choose from. Wilkens Farm also has acres of Christmas trees for you to pick your own. You'll also want to check out the three farmers markets, which sell everything from their own pressed apple cider to freshly baked pies and souvenirs. Our harvest season starts in August with peaches and early September with apples," the farm explained.

Apple Dave's Orchards

• Address: 82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick NY 10990

The system at Apple Dave's Orchards is simple: you buy a picking bag and pay for the apples you pick.

Macintosh, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire, Jonagold, Jonamac, Rome Beauty, Red Delicious, Macoun, Fuji, and Golden Delicious apples can be mixed with pumpkin pickings.

Apple picking season runs from about Labor Day to Halloween. The rest of the year, the farm operates a distillery with great cocktails, great craft beer, Apple Jack hot toddy, and fresh cider doughnuts.

Walk the hiking trails surrounded by wildlife. Kids will love the farm atmosphere and the free-range chickens. On weekends there is a wide selection of food and ice cream, so be prepared to eat well.

Queens County Farm Museum

• Address: 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004

The Queens County Farm Museum is "one of the oldest continuously cultivated sites in New York State. The 47-acre (19 ha) historic farm site has produced food and fed New Yorkers for over three centuries.

Queens Farm grows a variety of nutritious and culturally significant foods using sustainable and innovative farming practices. The farm’s dedicated department and growing methods teach New Yorkers where their food comes from and illustrate the broader food system from seed to consumer.

Visitors are finally invited to wander through the farm's enormous corn maze.