Apple picking season is upon us once again, and Long Island’s apple orchard trees stand ready with their crisp and juicy offerings. Few things define fall like the aromas of cinnamon-laced apple pies baking in the oven or the sight of a basket on the kitchen counter brimming with apples to beckon healthier snacking. There are plenty of locations on Long Island’s east end where you can procure these autumn delights.
Lewin Farms on Sound Avenue in Wading River, is the first farm on Long Island to introduce the pick your own concept. From strawberries in the early summer to peaches to the autumn apples, the family-operated farm specializes in a number of apple varieties.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm on Main Road in Cutchogue is situated on farmland that dates back to 1661. Be ready to take some pictures of your apple-picking quest, as the orchard rewards visitors with striking waterscape views of Peconic Bay. You will need to acquire membership to the farm in order to pick apples. Their apple season is ushered in with ginger gold and gravenstein apples.
Woodside Orchards offers a choice of two locations to pick your apples. Established in 1982, their orchards can be found in Aquebogue and in Jamesport. Thirty apple varieties are grown at Woodside, from the popular to some unusual gems that you will not find in the supermarkets. Both locations will be opening their orchards on September 13, when the jonamac and gala apples make their annual debut.
Seven Ponds Orchard in Water Mill specializes in dwarf apple trees, enabling the little ones in your party to reach and actively participate in picking apples from the branches without giving Mom or Dad a lifting workout. Red Radio Flyer wagons of yesteryear are provided to store your harvested bounty, making a perfect prop for those fall frolic pictures. Kids can also enjoy hayrides and getting lost in a corn maze. In addition to the ginger gold and gala apples, the macintosh apples will become available for picking on September 13, and fans of the honeycrisp apple can help themselves starting on September 20.
The Milk Pail Farm Stand, also located in Water Mill, was started during the 1640s, and the farm is still owned and operated by the founding Halsey family. The orchard offers more than 20 varieties of apples. They grow a large selection of semi-dwarf trees that top out at eight to ten feet tall, and their season is kicking off with ginger gold apples.
Most orchards carry an array of apple treats, including fresh baked pies, cider donuts, apple butter, candied apples and caramel apples. You can eat your apple and drink it too, as many of the orchards produce apple cider from their cider presses. Woodside Orchard has created a sweet sipper to imbibe called a cider slushie. Woodside Orchard also began offering hard ciders in 2012 at their Aquebogue location, located on Main Road. At the tasting bar, you can try the available hard ciders. Once you have determined which variation your palate prefers, you can have a growler filled to take home for enjoyment around your patio fire. Woodside produces traditional dry and sweet apple ciders from blends of different apples, and additional apple ciders with added fall flavors are on tap as well.
As the apple picking season progresses through September, October and November, different varieties become available. Some latecomers to the harvesting party include Arkansas black, braeburn, Fuji, mutsu, northern spy, winesap and granny smith. Websites for each orchard post each apple variety as it becomes available for picking.
Whether you enjoy the satisfying crunch of sinking your teeth into a crisp apple, are gripped by sweet tooth cravings for apple fritters or you look forward to a fall afternoon glass of cider, be sure to stop at one of the east end’s scenic orchards to revel in autumn’s breezy sunshine and load up on as many unusual types of apples as you can.
Lewin Farms on Sound Avenue in Wading River, is the first farm on Long Island to introduce the pick your own concept. From strawberries in the early summer to peaches to the autumn apples, the family-operated farm specializes in a number of apple varieties.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm on Main Road in Cutchogue is situated on farmland that dates back to 1661. Be ready to take some pictures of your apple-picking quest, as the orchard rewards visitors with striking waterscape views of Peconic Bay. You will need to acquire membership to the farm in order to pick apples. Their apple season is ushered in with ginger gold and gravenstein apples.
Woodside Orchards offers a choice of two locations to pick your apples. Established in 1982, their orchards can be found in Aquebogue and in Jamesport. Thirty apple varieties are grown at Woodside, from the popular to some unusual gems that you will not find in the supermarkets. Both locations will be opening their orchards on September 13, when the jonamac and gala apples make their annual debut.
Seven Ponds Orchard in Water Mill specializes in dwarf apple trees, enabling the little ones in your party to reach and actively participate in picking apples from the branches without giving Mom or Dad a lifting workout. Red Radio Flyer wagons of yesteryear are provided to store your harvested bounty, making a perfect prop for those fall frolic pictures. Kids can also enjoy hayrides and getting lost in a corn maze. In addition to the ginger gold and gala apples, the macintosh apples will become available for picking on September 13, and fans of the honeycrisp apple can help themselves starting on September 20.
The Milk Pail Farm Stand, also located in Water Mill, was started during the 1640s, and the farm is still owned and operated by the founding Halsey family. The orchard offers more than 20 varieties of apples. They grow a large selection of semi-dwarf trees that top out at eight to ten feet tall, and their season is kicking off with ginger gold apples.
Most orchards carry an array of apple treats, including fresh baked pies, cider donuts, apple butter, candied apples and caramel apples. You can eat your apple and drink it too, as many of the orchards produce apple cider from their cider presses. Woodside Orchard has created a sweet sipper to imbibe called a cider slushie. Woodside Orchard also began offering hard ciders in 2012 at their Aquebogue location, located on Main Road. At the tasting bar, you can try the available hard ciders. Once you have determined which variation your palate prefers, you can have a growler filled to take home for enjoyment around your patio fire. Woodside produces traditional dry and sweet apple ciders from blends of different apples, and additional apple ciders with added fall flavors are on tap as well.
As the apple picking season progresses through September, October and November, different varieties become available. Some latecomers to the harvesting party include Arkansas black, braeburn, Fuji, mutsu, northern spy, winesap and granny smith. Websites for each orchard post each apple variety as it becomes available for picking.
Whether you enjoy the satisfying crunch of sinking your teeth into a crisp apple, are gripped by sweet tooth cravings for apple fritters or you look forward to a fall afternoon glass of cider, be sure to stop at one of the east end’s scenic orchards to revel in autumn’s breezy sunshine and load up on as many unusual types of apples as you can.