Best Fruit Picking Farms in NY for Family Days Out – There are so many wonderful farms in New York State to visit, almost all year round. You can pick strawberries, cherries, lavender, blueberries, asparagus, and sunflowers in the early part of the year.
Later on there are raspberries, blackberries, pears, apples and pumpkins ripening in the fields.
We have a great list of where to pick everything as well as a list of some of the best farms in New York.
Prospect Hill Orchards at the Hilltop- Cherry, Peach & Apple Pick-Your-Own
340 Milton Turnpike, Milton, NY 12547
Prospect Hill Orchards is a “seventh generation fruit farm located in Milton, Ulster County, New York on the west side of the Hudson River. We strive to ensure our fruit is of the highest quality and to provide a superior pick-your-own experience.
Mid- June – Pick-Your-Own cherries have a short picking season and are only available in mid-June to July 4th.
July through August – We have many different varieties of peaches: yellow, white and donut! We also have apricots, plums and nectarines.
Mid-September through Mid-October – As warm summer days give way to cool fall days and crisp nights, apples begin to ripen into sweet, juicy fruits with colors ranging from red, green and yellow! They taste so great picked fresh from the trees! The apple orchard at Prospect Hill is nearly 15 acres of fruit with a picnic area located by our pond. It is a scenic and quiet setting. Modern growing techniques in the orchard use dwarf trees with the newest varieties of apples available.
Dwarf trees mean that even the youngest children can pick their own apples because the trees are small. We grow 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 our Bosc pears, too. We have recently added Asian pears to our orchard. This very popular fruit usually ripens about the end of September. A visit to the pumpkin patch will challenge you to find the “perfect” pumpkin for your Halloween decoration!
Families have a great time at Prospect Hill Orchards. There are so many things to see and do. The whole family can enjoy a tractor pulled hayride that takes you around the entire orchard, stopping by the pumpkin patches and picnic area. During our festival weekends, get lost in the corn maze, try pressing cider at the old fashioned hand press and enjoy a tasty drink for your labors. Have you ever seen a pumpkin totem pole? Well, we have one!
Come enjoy cool fall days, bright yellow and orange fall colors, and a slow paced day outdoors.”
Pattys Berries and Bunches
410 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952
The farm where Patty’s Berries and Bunches now sits was opened in “1975 as Harbes Berry Farm. Owner Patty DiVello, a Harbes family member, grew up right across the street. But in 2010, she changed the name to Patty’s Berries and Bunches. They offer:
-
U-Pick: and ready picked; Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries
-
Flowers: Peonies, Dahlias, Sunflowers, Ornamental and more, also available for weddings and Events.
-
Produce Stand: Seasonal Ice Cream, Cider, Baked Goods, Honey, Jams and more.
-
New Activities: Yard ART, Tours, Live Music and a Variety of Classes”
Condzella’s Farm
6211 N Country Rd, Wading River, NY 11792
At Conzella’s Farm they grow:
“Strawberries: We grow approximately 9 different varieties of strawberries, each having a different time for fruiting. All of the varieties that we grow are selected for the best possible flavor. All of our fields are mulched with straw, which keeps the berries from coming into contact with the ground insuring that the fruit is clean and free of dirt when harvested.
Peas: We grow Traditional English Peas. We also grow Snap Peas, which are eaten like a snap bean. The mature plant produces delicious edible pods and sweet, full-size peas.
Tomatoes: The rich, sweet, complex taste of freshly picked tomatoes is unmistakable, and you will find it at our farm. We grow beefsteak and plum tomatoes, red and yellow grape tomatoes, red, yellow, orange, chocolate, and black cherry tomatoes, and two varieties of heirloom tomatoes. All of our tomatoes are trellised, and grown on black plastic to insure that they are of the best possible quality.
Beans: We offer three different varieties of Green Bush Beans, each of which produces a very high quality dark green bean with a slim pod and excellent eating quality. We also offer one variety of Bush Wax Bean, and one variety of Romano Bush Bean.
Pumpkins: Our pumpkins are of the highest quality, ranging in size from 3 to 30 lbs, all with strong handles and a deep orange color. They are available beginning the end of September.
Sunflowers: The iconic symbol of summer. Grown with care in our fields, we cut and bunch daily for the maximum enjoyment in the vase. Use new, fresh water and cut two inches off the bottom every other day.”
The Cheerful Cherry Farm
3723 Co Rd 2, Hector, NY 14841
The Cheerful Cherry Farm is “a you-pick produce farm. We grow tomatoes, cherries, grapes, apples, jalapenos, sweet peppers, peaches, cucumbers, and Italian string less green beans.
Windy Acre Farm
3810 Middle Country Rd, Calverton, NY 11933
Windy Acre Farm have lots of upick fruit at various times throughout the year (check their Facebook for what is current) it includes:
- strawberries
- white peaches
- yellow peaches
- apples
- pumpkins
- sunflowers
- blackberries
- raspberries
- blueberries
- grapes
- nectarines
- sour cherries (on the farmstand, not upick)
- gooseberries
They also have sunflowers for you to cut and a corn maze in the Fall.
Lewin Farms
812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 11933
Lewin Farms is a family farm now in the fourth generation. “We were the first pick your own farm on Long Island and are continuing that long tradition with a wide variety of u-pick fields throughout the spring summer and fall. We also continue into the winter with our cut your own Christmas trees at our baiting hollow nursery. Over the years our crop offerings have become more and more numerous and diversified to cater to the wants of our customers. We hope you and your family plan a trip out to visit our families farm in the near future.
-
Strawberries : Late May-June
-
Raspberries: Late June through early September
-
Blueberries : Late June – mid-August
-
Blackberries : Late July – Late August
-
Peaches : Mid July – Mid September
-
Apples : Late Aug/September – Into November
-
Pumpkins/Gourds : mid/late September – Late October
-
CORN MAZE
- Christmas Trees. Cut your own
Glover Farms
641-681 Victory Ave, Brookhaven, NY 11719
Glover Farms was started in 1952. “Kenneth Glover Sr. purchased a large piece of land to begin a career farming. After spending his whole life on his family farm, it was the only thing he knew how to do. Now entering our third generation, we still share Kenny Sr’s goal of providing the public with only our freshest produce.
After the potato business took a hit, Kenny Glover Sr. had to find another source of income on the farm. He decided to give strawberries a try and they boomed! Making Glover Farms one of the first U-Pick Strawberry farms on Long Island.
After Kenny’s son, Kenny Glover Jr. got involved in the farm business, they decided to provide the public with another holiday fun crop. They began growing pumpkins for the October holiday and made a corn maze for some family fun!
While you’re at the farm you could see our super friendly goats and some of our chickens. You can also feed them right out of your hand!”
Love Apple Farm
1421 State Route 9H, Ghent, NY 12075
Love Apple Farm first opened its gates in 1969, and has been an integral part of the farming community in the Hudson Valley ever since. At Love Apple, they are proud advocates of the social project to offer locally and honestly sourced fruit and vegetables to the local community, believing everyone has the right to know where their food comes from. The farm was established by a struggling actor and a model, who chose to purchase the farm in order to develop a rural oasis in which to escape life pressures, enjoy physical activities and pursue careers in literary in peace. And why the name Love Apple? Well, as you probably know, love apples are in fact another name for tomatoes, not apples at all!
There are a variety of stories as to why tomatoes got this rather lovely nickname. Our favorite is that its simply because of their heart – shape, which gave cause to the French to name it the pomme d’amour (Love Apple) as they believed it had aphrodisiac qualities. Regardless of all this, Love Apple Farm was given its name simply because the owners liked it! Interestingly, whilst juggling the demanding physical work load on the farm, the owner did indeed manage to write and publish his book. The farm has since changed hands, but the strong community values it has always prioritized has remained strong and true well into its 50 + years! Spanning 80 acres, Love Apple Farm is open all year around and is a popular destination for locals and visitors to enjoy fruit picking, a break from tech created stresses and some true rural living.
In addition to apples they also grow blackberries, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, peaches, plums as well as raspberries & strawberries. As well as the fruit picking, at Love Apple Farm you can also enjoy the playground, petting farm, cafe, market and gift shop!
Stuart’s Fruit Farm
62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs NY
Located just an hour from New York City, Stuart’s Fruit Farm is a family-operated farm since 1828 located in Westchester County.
“Depending on your seasonal needs; visit us in the spring to buy a varied selection of flowers and vegetable plants, the autumn for apple picking, peach picking and visiting the pumpkin patch, and in the winter for Christmas trees. Visiting Stuart’s Fruit Farm in the autumn is an exceptional time of the year. Aside from the perfect apple picking with an array of apples take a hayride around the orchard and visit the farm stand to buy fresh produce and the bakery for delicious apple cider donuts and homemade pies baked daily. Finally, before heading home have a picnic with your family to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage.”
Apple picking starts in early September and runs daily from 10:00am – 5:00pm through November, and there are a variety of over 20 apples to choose!
Fishkill Farms
9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell JCT, NY 12533
At Fishkill Farm, they take their responsibility to sustainable and ethical farming very seriously.
“At Fishkill we grow food in harmony with nature. We are confident that even with New York climate challenges, we can cultivate good produce that’s nutritious for both us and the land. We pledge to improve our growing methods each season and to support our community as much as our soil supports our crops…The season culminates in the fall with more than a dozen classic NY apples varieties to pick from.”
Fishkill offers a wide variety of apples for picking. In early October you will find popular classics like Golden and Red Delicious, as well as possibly lesser-known Jonagold and Idareds. Interestingly when picked, the apples are covered with a fine, pale substance. This is Kaolin Clay and it is there to help protect the fruit from insects. Worry not – it is nontoxic and cleans off easily.
The Pick-Your-Own season kicks off in early June with strawberries and ever-so-sweet sugar snap peas. July brings sweet and sour cherries as well as our certified organic raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Late July and August mark the harvest of juicy, tree-ripened peaches and nectarines as well as an extensive variety of heirloom tomatoes and eggplants.
The season culminates in the fall with more than a dozen classic NY apples, heirloom varieties, and pumpkin-picking. The spectacular views, lovely fall weather, and the satisfaction of picking your own organic, sustainably grown fruits and vegetables combine for great family-friendly fun.”
Grieg Farm
227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, NY 12571
At Greig Farm you are invited to gather your friends and family for an afternoon of apple picking at their Hudson Valley property.
“Whether you’re picking apples to make sauce, bake a pie, or just eat straight off of the tree, our orchard has a variety for you! Apple picking begins in late August and continues through late October…”
Greig Farm also offer some fascinating advice for fruit pickers.
“A common mistake is to pull apples off the tree. The problem with this approach is that when the tree finally releases your apple, the branch snaps back and shakes several other apples off of the tree. To pick an apple without disturbing the others, grab the apple and rotate your wrist forward. This will curl the apple against the stem and eventually break free.”
Soons Orchard
23 Soons Cir, New Hampton, NY 10958
At Soons Orchard, they have been growing apples since 1910 and today have 30 acres wand over 55 apple varieties available.
“We’ve been growing apples since 1910 and today we have 30 acres with 50+ apple varieties for fresh eating plus another 35 especially for hard cider. We grow everything from McIntosh and Honeycrisp to Northern Spy and Cameo, so you’ll always find something you’ll like. We care for our apple orchards day in and day out, and when we harvest, we only pick what’s truly ready and at the peak of flavor.”
U-PICK Dates
Peaches: August
Apples: Starting Labor Day Weekend
Pumpkins: Late September/October
Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm
1335 White Hill Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
At Wilkens the apple – picking season commences at the beginning of September and the farm staff recommend you visit early in the month to guarantee apples on the trees!
“We sell a wide variety of Apples and Pumpkins and Peaches – all of which you can pick yourself. In addition to these “Pick-Your-Own” items, Wilkens Farm has several acres of Choose-n-Cut Christmas Trees. Also, while you’re here you might want to check out our three farm markets where we sell everything from our own pressed apple cider to freshly baked pies, famous apple cider donuts and gift items. Our harvest season starts in August with Peaches and beginning of September with Apples.
In the fall you will find a corn maze.
Apples, Peaches, Pumpkins, & Christmas Trees; Only an Hour North of NYC”
Apple Dave’s Orchards
82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick NY 10990
The system at Apple Dave’s Orchards is simple, you buy a picking bag and you pay for the apples that you pick.
“You can mix Macintosh, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire, Jonagold, Jonamac, Rome Beauty, Red Delicious, Macoun, Fuji and Golden Delicious apples with pumpkins from our patch.
Apple picking season runs from Labor day until about Halloween. The rest of the year we offer our Distillery with marvelous cocktails, great craft beers, Apple Jack hot toddies and fresh cider donuts. Come enjoy our warm red barn in the winter as you sample great food from our farm kitchen.
Stroll our walking trails surrounded by wildlife. Your children will enjoy our farm atmosphere and free-range chickens. A wide variety of foods and ice cream are offered on weekends, so be prepared to eat well.”
Queens County Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004
Queens County Farm Museum is “one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York State. The farm’s 47-acre historic site has produced food and fed New Yorkers for over three centuries. Queens Farm grows a variety of nutritionally dense and culturally relevant produce using sustainable and best farming practices. The farm’s Agriculture Department and its growing practices teach New Yorkers about where their food comes from and illustrates the broader food system, beginning with the seed and ending with the consumer.
Find your way through New York City’s only corn maze!
The adventure begins with a Stalk Talk to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and making your way to Victory Bridge where the full vista of this 3-acre living labyrinth is revealed. The Amazing Maize Maze is must-see NYC.
Only tickets only. Advance online tickets required.”
List of Farms in New York
Strawberry Picking in New York
Lavender Picking in New York
Pumpkin Picking in New York
Blackberry Picking in New York
As well as:
Haunted Hayrides in New York
Haunted Houses in New York
Alpaca Farms in New York
Flower Farms in New York
Christmas Tree Farms New York
Sunflower Fields in New York
Easter Egg Hunts in New York
Turkey Farms in New York
What do you have against pears?
I love pears! Please send over details of pear picking and I’ll add them!