It may be Cider Week here in New York City but area farms are celebrating the apple all month long and further into November. Sure, you could pick up a peck at your local farmer's market, but picking your own fruit off the tree just makes it taste better! You'll have to put in a little effort, but making the trip to a local orchard is a romantic and affordable way to score large amounts of fruit for small prices, perfect for trying your hand at applesauce or saving up for a Thanksgiving Pie. We've done the hard work of tracking down your best bets for bushels and narrowed it down to these five:
For apple picking with a view, check out Apple Ridge Orchards in nearby Warwick, NY. The big red barn, the tranquil pond, the stately rows of apple trees—this pick-your-own spot has it all. Snag a 1/2 bushel of juicy Fuji and tart Winesaps for $26 on Saturdays and Sundays or grab a few friends for a weekday trip that includes 10 to 12 pounds of apples and a free cup of cider and a donut for everyone, all for just $10 a person.
101 Jessup Road, Warwick, NY // 845-987-7717 // Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6 p.m. weekends) // 1.5 hours by car from NYC
Also in Warwick, Applewood Orchards has a large variety of apples to choose from including addictively crunchy Macouns and baker's favorite Romes. Picking cost is pro-rated here, great for anyone not ready to commit to the half bushel; just buy a 1/4 bushel bag for $.50 or a 1/2 bushel bag for $1 then pick however many apples you want. A full quarter bushel bag runs for $14 and a full half bushel bag for $28. The orchard also offers pumpkin picking, a full farm store and a winery.
82 Four Corners Road Warwick, New York // 845-986-1684 // Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. // 1.5 hours by car from NYC
DuBois Farms
lovely 54-acre property has apples, pumpkins and grapes currently on offer. A call to the farm revealed that the apple pickin's are slim—currently only Golden Delicious and Gold Rush are on the trees—but there are plenty of apples in bins and you can pick up your own pumpkin, too. Snag apples for $1.29/pound, pumpkins for $.64/pound and grapes for $2.19/pound. If you head out this weekend, enjoy the "Great Pumpkin" Festival, which has a bbq, contests, music and other activities.
209 Perkinsville Road, Highland, NY // 845-795-4037 // Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. // 1 hour 45 minute drive from NYC
If you don't have access to a car, an hour and a half bus ride to New Paltz followed by a $15 cab ride brings you to Jenkins-Leuken Orchards in New Paltz, where you can pick your fill of Ida Red, Empire, Gala and other varieties of apples. Picking prices are reasonable, with a peck setting you back $10 and a 1/2 bushel $18. They also have a huge variety of gourds, pies, honey, maple syrup and apple cider from their own mill.
Route 229 West, New Paltz, NY // (845) 255-0999 // Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. // 1.5 hour bus ride + cab ride from NYC
And finally, down in Jersey, Terhune Orchards offers a nice selection of pick-your-own apples, including Braeburns, Cameos, Sun Crips and also a nice selection of gourds. The prices are great for small and large purchases, paying by the pound $1.45 for everything fewer than 20 pounds and $1.35 for everything over that. Perfect to stock up on a huge apple haul for crisp baking and lots of snacking throughout the season. Pay a visit to the sheep, goats and other farmyard animals that called Terhune their home or take a stroll on the Farm Walking Trail and breath in that clean country air. Carless? Snag a NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Princeton JCT then take a cab to the farm.
330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ // 609-924-2310 // Farm open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.;Pick-Your-Own 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. // Hour-long train ride plus 10 minute cab ride from NYC
