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. Edition Fruit Picking Farms compiled a list of the best fruit picking farms in the state.

Early in the year, you can pick strawberries, cherries, lavender, blueberries, asparagus, and sunflowers. Raspberries, blackberries, pears, apples and pumpkins ripen later.

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 cherry picking season. This season is very short and is 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 warm summer days give way to cool autumn days and cool nights, apples begin to ripen into sweet, juicy fruits. The Prospect Hill Apple Orchard is almost 15 acres (6 ha) of fruit with a picnic area located by the pond. This is a picturesque and quiet place. Modern orchard growing methods use dwarf trees with the latest apple varieties.

The dwarf trees mean that even the smallest children can pick their own apples because the trees are small. 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 also like to pick Bosc pears, and Asian pears have recently appeared in the garden. This very popular fruit usually ripens around the end of September. And don't forget to collect some pumpkins for Halloween.

In addition to fruit picking, the whole family can enjoy a tractor ride, a corn maze walk, make their own cider, and view a gourd totem pole.

Patty Berries and Bunches

• Address: 410 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952

The farm that now houses Patty's Berries and Bunches was opened in 1975 as Harbes Berry Farm. Owner Patty DiVello, a member of the Harbs family, grew up right across the street. But in 2010 it changed its name to Patty's Berries and Bunches. They suggest picking strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.

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

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And if you just want to relax in the fresh air and do not plan to collect anything, you can buy seasonal ice cream, cider, pastries, honey, jams and much more home-made directly on the farm. The farm also often hosts guided tours, live concerts and a variety of workshops.

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;
• peas, as well as peas, which are eaten like green beans. The mature plant produces tasty edible pods and sweet large peas;
• Tomatoes: The rich, sweet, complex flavor of freshly picked tomatoes is incomparable and you will find it at this farm. Different varieties of tomatoes are grown here, you will definitely find one that you like;
• Beans: The farm offers three different varieties of Green Bush beans, each producing very high quality dark green beans with thin pods and great flavor. You will also find one Bush Wax Bean and one Romano Bush Bean;
• pumpkins: here you will find pumpkins of various sizes, they 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.

They also have sunflowers to cut and a corn maze in the fall.

Lewin Farms

• Address: 812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 11933

Lewin Farms is a family farm in its fourth generation. It was one of the farms on Logne Island that was 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.

In addition, the farm has a corn maze in autumn and Christmas trees around the holidays.

Glover farms

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

Glover Farms was founded in 1952. Kenneth Glover Sr. bought a large piece of land to start a farming career. Having spent his whole life on a farm, it was the only thing he knew how to do. Now the third generation is engaged in a farm.

After the potato business failed, Kenny Glover Sr. had to look for another source of income on the farm. He decided to try strawberries, and everything worked out. Glover Farms was one of the first U-Pick strawberry farms on Long Island.

After Kenny's son, Kenny Glover Jr., entered the farming business, they decided to give the public another holiday harvest. By the October holiday, they began to grow pumpkins, and for family entertainment they made a corn maze.

While you are at the farm you can see super friendly goats and chickens. You can also 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 model who decided to buy a farm to create a rural oasis in which to escape life's hardships, enjoy physical activity and pursue a literary career in peace.

Interestingly, while combining heavy physical work on 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 over 50 years.

Covering 80 acres (32 ha), Love Apple Farm is open all year round and is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike to enjoy fruit picking, take a break from the stresses created by technology, and live a little in the countryside.

In addition to apples, they also grow blackberries, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, peaches, plums, as well as raspberries and strawberries. In addition to fruit picking, at Love Apple Farm you can also enjoy a playground, a contact 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 here in spring for a varied selection of flowers and vegetables, in autumn for apples, peaches and a pumpkin field, and in winter for Christmas trees. A visit to Stuart's Fruit Farm in the fall is exclusive. In addition to picking apples, you can drive through the orchard and visit the farmer's stall for fresh produce and the bakery for delicious donuts, apple cider and homemade pies that are baked daily. Finally, before heading home, have a picnic with your family to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage.

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Apple picking starts in early September and runs daily from 10:00 to 17:00 throughout November, with over 20 varieties of apples to choose from.

Fishkill Farms

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

“At Fishkill, we grow our food in harmony with nature. We are confident that even with New York City's climate challenges, we will be able to grow good food that is nutritious for us and for the earth. We are committed to improving our growing methods every 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 starts in early June with strawberries and very sweet sugar peas. In July you will find cherries, as well as raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. The end of July and August is marked by the harvest of 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 also offers some interesting tips for fruit pickers.

“A common mistake is picking apples from a tree. The problem with this approach is that when the tree finally releases your apple, the branch bounces off and shakes several other apples off the tree. To pick an apple without disturbing others, take an apple and twist it. This will turn the apple against the stem and eventually you will pick it without harm to others,” the farm’s website says.

Soons Orchard

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

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

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

Collection dates:

• Peaches: August
• apples: start of Labor Day weekend (September 3rd in 2022 Labor Day - September 5th)
• 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, whatever you choose. Wilkens Farm also has several acres of Christmas trees to choose from. Also, while you're here, you might want to check out three farmers' markets selling 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 said.

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.

You can mix Macintosh, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire, Jonagold, Jonamac, Rome Beauty, Red Delicious, Macoun, Fuji and Golden Delicious apples with pumpkin picking.

Apple picking season runs roughly from Labor Day to Halloween. During the rest of the year, the farm has a distillery with great cocktails, great craft beers, hot Apple Jack punch 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 products using sustainable and advanced farming practices. The Farm Department of Agriculture and its cultivation practices teach New Yorkers where their food comes from and exemplify the wider food system from seed to consumer.

Visitors can also try to get out of the farm's huge corn maze.