Pumpkin and Apple Picking in Westchester NY and Beyond

Labor Day is over, the kids have started school, the leaves are starting to change, and EVERYTHING will be pumpkin spice flavored (if it isn’t already). The season for apple picking is among us, and before you know it, you’ll soon be searching local patches for the perfect pumpkin. Here is Westchester Woman‘s list of our favorite places for pumpkin and apple picking in Westchester NY and beyond.

(*Be sure to call ahead to confirm availability, hours, costs, and closures)

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm 1335 White Hill Rd., Yorktown Heights (914) 245-5111

• (Distance: 40 minutes, directions)

This is a premier place for pumpkin and apple picking in Westchester NY. Pick your own from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. between August through mid-December. Markets are open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and offer fresh cider and pies, donuts, and gift items.

• Peaches – from Aug. 15 through last week in August

• Apples season starts Sept. 12 to second or third week of October

• Pumpkins every day in October from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Christmas Trees – last week in November to second week in December

Thompsons Cider Mill and Orchard 335 Blinn Rd., Croton-on-Hudson (914) 271-2254

• (Distance: 35 minutes, directions)

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• Pick your own apples on Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. during the fall season

Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard 130 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem (914) 485-1210

• (Distance: 45 minutes, directions)

This environmentally friendly farm’s Country Store offers grass-fed beef, free-range eggs, vegetables, honey, dairy and cheese products, maple syrup, cider, doughnuts, pies, and more 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April through Christmas. Harvest Moon Farm and Orchards sells plants and hosts an Easter egg hunt and Apple Blossom Festival in the spring, and Fall festivals during autumn. It’s also a great place for apple picking in Westchester NY.

• Pick your own apples starting Sept. 7

Stuarts Fruit Farm 62 Granite Springs Rd., Granite Springs (914) 245-2784

• (Distance: about 45 minutes, directions)

Their farm stand sells fruits and vegetables and is generally open the first week of August through Dec. 24. The bakery sells fresh baked apple cider doughnuts, pies, and other baked goods starting Sept. 6. Hayrides are offered in the fall on the weekends. At Stuarts Fruit Farm you can purchase flowers and vegetables places from May 1 to July 1 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pick your own:

• Peaches – Summer
• Apples – from Sept. 6 until November between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Pumpkins October to November
• Christmas Trees from Thanksgiving and Dec. 24 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Outhouse Orchards – 139 Hardscrabble Rd, Croton Falls (914) 277-3188

• (Distance: 45 – 50 minutes, directions)

Home of the Happy Apple, Outhouse Orchards includes a farm stand offering fruit, vegetables, local honey, pies, cider, and maple syrup. They also offer a corn maze and hay rides around the farm. Pick your own:

• Apples September and October
• Pumpkins – October

Dr. Davie’s Farm – 306 Route 304, Congers (845) 268-7020

• (Distance:?40 minutes, directions)

This farm operates two farm stands in Congers that sell fruits, vegetables, sweet corn, apples, tomatoes, cider, and more from July through November. This is a cash-only stand! Pick your own apples starting on Labor Day and pumpkins in October at the 306 Route 304 location from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hay rides are given on the weekends.

Fishkill Farms – 9 Fishkill Farm Rd., Hopewell Junction (845) 897-4377

• (Distance: about 50 min. from Westchester, directions)

This eco-friendly farm hosts weddings and events, and offers a farm store and bakery, a community sustainable agricultural program, or a pick-your-own option and harvest festival weekends in the fall. The farm store is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 7 days a week and closed on major holidays. Pick your own:

• Strawberries – June
• Cherries, berries – July
• Peaches, nectarines – late July and August
• Apples – September through October
• Pumpkins – September and October

Barton’s Orchard -?63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag (845) 227-2306

• (Distance: About an hour from Westchester, directions)

This farm is open from July through November and has tons of activities for you and your family, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They’ve got corn mazes, live music, duck races, gem mining, a full bakery, hot and cold foods, a playground and farm animals. Pick your own:

• Peaches – August to early September
• Vegetables- August to September (tomatoes, eggplants, green beans, peppers)
• Apples – August through October
• Grapes – August
• Pumpkins, Gourds – September and October

Apple Ridge Orchards – 101 Jessup Rd., Warwick (845) 987-7717

• (Distance: about 1 hour, directions)

Apple Ridge Orchards on Jessup Rd., in Warwick NY

http://appleridgeorchards.com grows 15 varieties of apples in a beautiful hillside location, with manicured trees that are ready to pick from Labor Day to the end of October each season.

Apple Ridge Orchards touts itself as the most scenic pick-your-own orchard. This orchard features a farm stand, honey bee observation hives, hay rides, and farm animals. The corn maze is scheduled to open in 2015. Apple Ridge Orchards is open on Saturday, Sunday and all holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September to November Pick your own:

• Peaches – reservations only
• Apples – starts Sept. 5
• Pumpkins – starts Sept. 19

Blue Jay Orchards – 125 Plumtrees Rd. Bethel, CT ?(203) 748-0119

• (Distance: 45 – 55 minutes, directions)

At Blue Jay Orchards you’ll enjoy their farm store and bakery (open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), wagon? rides, observational honey bee hives, and pick-your-own 7 days a week. Pick your own hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Apples: Starting Sept. 5
• Pumpkins: Starting Sept. 19

The Orchards of Concklin -?2 South Mountain Rd., Pomona?(845) 354-0369

• (Distance: 25 minutes, directions)

This Rockland Country farm has a farm stand that sells produce and flowers, as well as a bakery open Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. They’re closed in January and February and offer pick-your-own apples on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check their website for updates.

Lawrence Farm Orchards – 306 Frozen Ridge Rd., Newburgh (845) 562-4268

• (Distance: 1:20 minutes, directions)

This family-owned farm has been in operation for three generations where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables; hop aboard their horse-drawn carriage; ?play in The Little Play Village; visit with some animals or shop in their country store. The farm is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week from Memorial Day through October. Pick your own:

• Strawberries June
• Vegetables June through
• Cherries late June and July
• Apricots and peaches late July through August
• Plums mid to late July to September
• Currants -mid to late July
• Gooseberries -mid to late July
• Grapes late August through October
• Pears through September
• Raspberries September
• Apple late August through October
• Pumpkins, gourds late September through October

What’s your favorite place for pumpkin and apple picking in Westchester NY?

*This article was originally written in September 2015