Experiencing New York in the fall means going apple picking at least once (if not more). There are many orchards in the state offering u-pick apples where visitors can go out into the orchards and pick their own apples.
In addition to u-pick apples they may serve apple cider, hard cider, cider doughnuts, apple pie and much more.
According to the New York Farm Bureau, New York is the No. 2 state in the country for apple production.
Gordon Tripp, owner of Owen Orchards in Weedsport, says the climate and soil in New York make it ideal for growing apples.
“There's still some influence from Lake Ontario, which moderates the temperatures some. With soil conditions that we have being gravelly loam soil, it’s good for the trees because it has good drainage.”
Owen Orchards is a fifth-generation apple orchard. Tripp’s grandfather started the orchard in the 1930s. Gordon took it over in the late 1980s with his son, David Tripp. They operate on 30 acres and have over 25 varieties of apples.
They operate their own cider mill and sell apple cider in their orchard store along with cheeses, jam, wine, apples, peppers, honey, and other things made on their orchard.
Tripp says he likes to say people are visiting a working farm rather than describing it as agritourism.
“I hope they learn how to grow apples to start with,” said Tripp. “I grew up on a farm, so we knew what farming was, but now there is only less than 1% of the population that grows up on a farm so younger kids don’t even know what a farm is, they see what a tractor looks like from a book.”
Vincent Sicignano owns Burrell’s Navarino Orchard near Syracuse. His grandparents bought the orchard in the 1990s and he has owned it for the last 20 years.
“We turn our apples into everything from cider, pies, breads, caramel and candy apples. We make apple fritters, and cider donuts. Pretty much anything you can do with an apple, we're making it,” said Sicignano.
Sicignano recently opened a café on the orchard as well and is now serving food.
Both orchards said that over the weekends, they get thousands of visitors for u-pick apples.
“Syracuse and the surrounding suburbs are the majority, but I’ve heard of people traveling three to four hours,” said Sicignano.
Tripp said, “On the weekends, you can barely enter the parking lot.”
If you’re looking to go apple picking, check out these two orchards and look below for more options.
Special note about your pets: New York state law does not allow dogs in or around anywhere that grows food including u-pick apple areas.
CENTRAL NEW YORK
Abbott Farms – Baldwinsville
Location: 3275 Cold Spring Rd., Baldwinsville
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Currently picking Sansa, Zestar, Paula Red, Ginger Gold, JonaMac and Gala.
Price: Fun pass (kids 3-18): $16; adult peck pick pass (all access + 1 peck bag): $15; ½ bushel pick pass (all access + ½ bush bag): $25
Other Notes: Abbott Farms has a farm store and wine and cider bar. Call ahead of time if you are looking for a specific variety.
Beak & Skiff – Lafayette
Location: 2708 Lords Hill Road, Lafayette
Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Last wagon leaves at 5 p.m.
Apple Varieties: McIntosh, Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Gala, Jonamac, Honeycrisp, SnapDragon, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, Jonagold, Red delicious, Fuji, Ruby Frost, Northern Spy, Golden Delicious, Evercrisp, Ida Red, Wealthy.
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: They have a tasting room, distillery, bakery, ice cream, and much more. Check their picking schedule to see what is currently being picked.
Burrell’s Navarino Orchard – Syracuse
Location: 3655 Cherry Valley Turnpike, Syracuse
Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Mcintosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Zestar, Fuji.
Price: $1.30/pound
Other Notes: Check their Facebook page for updated picking schedule. They have u-pick winter squash and pumpkins as well. Hot cider and apple fritters are available and popular among guests. You can visit their café for a meal too.
Critz Farms – Cazenovia
Location: 3232 Rippleton Rd., State route 13 South, Cazenovia
Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Cortland, Empire, McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Macoun.
Price: quarter peck $4, half peck $7, peck $12, half bushel $23
Other Notes: They make hard cider and have a tasting room. Sept. 17 - Oct. 23 is their Fall Harvest Celebration, so they have a corn maze, farm animals, Critz café, gift shop, wagon rides to the orchard, apple cider, cider-making demonstrations, playgrounds, and more. Visitors require a ticket to attend during these weekends. Tickets are $9 if purchased in advanced and $12 at the gate.
Deer Run Farms – Layfayette
Location: 2695 Route 11A, Lafayette
Hours: Open daily 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (dusk)
Apple Varieties: Paula Reds, Jonamacs, Gala, McIntosh, Red Cortland.
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: They offer u-pick apples and in-store apples along with apple fritters, pies, country crafts, honey, bread, and unpasteurized cider.
O’Neill’s Orchard – Layfayette
Location: 4872 Route 20, LaFayette
Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Zestar, Paula Red, Ginger Gold, Jonamac, McIntosh, Pink Luster, Gala, Crimson Crisp, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Mccoun, Greening, Firecracker, Empire, Jonagold, Cordera, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, N. Spy, Crispin, Ida Red
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: View the exact picking schedule on their website or their Facebook page for updates.
Ontario Orchards – Oswego
Location: 7735 State route 104, Oswego
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Honey crisp, Cortland, Gala, McIntosh
Price: $8/peck, $15/half bushel.
Other Notes: They supply bags to visitors. They sell jams, sauces, cider, baked goods and other produce in their farm store as well.
Owen Orchards Cider Mill and Farm Market – Weedspor
Location: 8174 Grant Avenue, Weedsport
Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Apple Varieties: McIntosh, Gala, Jonamac, Pink Luster, Honeycrisp, Blondies, Ginger Gold, Sansa, Cortland, Crimson Crisp, Autumn Crisp, 20 Ounce, Mutsu, Daybreak Fuji, Fortune, Empress, Golden Delicious, Ginger Gold, Rhode Island Greening and many more.
Price: $1.30/pound for under 10 pounds, over 10 pounds are $1.20/pound; Pink Luster and Honeycrisp are $1.70/pound
Other Notes: They sell hard cider, and donuts. In their farm story, they have homemade pies, fresh pressed apple cider, and locally grown and produced vegetables, condiments, cheese and preserves.
Twin Orchards Farm - New Hartford
Location: 4695 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Gala, Jonagold, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Northern spy, Crispin, Ida Red, Jonamac, Honeycrisp, Spigold, Zestar, Fuji, and more.
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: They sell fresh sweet apple cider, Utica coffee, apple cider slushies, honey, Adirondack cheese, and maple syrup. In addition to their apples, they have other fresh produce such as peaches, raspberries, pears, oranges, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, and sweet corn.
WESTERN NEW YORK
Baker Farm – Ransomville
Location: 2100 Youngstown Lockport Road, Ransomville
Hours: Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Ginger Golds, Gala, Cortland, Golden Supreme, McIntosh, and more.
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: Check the u-pick calendar to see what varieties they are picking each day. They sell fresh fruits and vegetables, jams, salsa, jellies, apple butter, pumpkin butter, honey, and fresh apple cider.
Becker Farms – Gasport
Location: 3724 Quaker Road, Gasport
Hours: Farm Market hours Wednesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a..m – 6 p.m. Country market hours – Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Ginger gold, Gala, Cortland, McIntosh, Macoun, Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Crispin, Ida Red, Snap Dragon, Ruby Frost
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: There is a brew pub, farm market, country market, playground and petting zoo. They sell homemade fudge, honey, maple syrup, fresh milk, jams, jelly and preserves, soaps, and popcorn. Check their Facebook page for what they are picking on specific days.
Blackman Homestead Farm – Lockport
Location: 4472 Thrall Road, Lockport
Hours: Friday – Monday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: McIntosh, Jonamac, Gala, Cortland, Macoun
Price: $1.50/pound
Other Notes: They require reservations for Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day Monday and can be made online. They produce cider, natural fruit juices, fruit butters, sauces and fillings.
Mayer Brothers Cider Mill – West Seneca
Location: 1540 Seneca Creek Road at Transit Road, West Seneca
Hours: Open daily 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Apple Varieties: N/A
Price: N/A
Other Notes: Not a place for u-pick apples, but they sell pies, donuts, bakery items, apple strudel, and other New York State products.
Meadows Farm – Forestville
Location: 10459 Prospect Road, Forestville
Hours: Open Daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Gala, Cortland, McIntosh, 20-ounce Pippin.
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: They have maple, honey and apple cider. Check their Facebook page to see what they are picking that day.
Sanger Farms – Youngstown
Location: 852 Youngstown Lockport Road, Youngstown
Hours: Open Daily 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Gala, Golden delicious, Cameo, Crispin, Cortland, Ambrosia
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: They sell cherry juice, maple syrup, fresh vegetables, jams, honey, and apple cider.
HUDSON VALLEY
Dubois Farms – Highland
Location: 209 Perkinsville Road, Highland
Hours: Open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Honeycrisp, Snapdragon, Crimson Crisp, and Gala.
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: They also have a tavern with local hard cider, craft beer and wine. They have a pizzeria, bakery, ice cream shop, and farm market.
Rose Hill Farm – Red Hook
Location: 19 Rose Hill Farm, Redhook
Hours: Thursday and Friday 3 p.m. – dusk; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Ginger Gold, Fluford Gala, Jonamac, Gale Gala, Honeycrisp, Pioneer McIntosh, Early Fuji, Empire, Cortland, Jonagold, Shizuka, Macoun, Jonagold, Royal Court, Royal Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Twenty Oz, NY 428, Cameo, Fortune, Winecrisp Lady apple, Cripps Pink AKA Pink Lady, Granny Smith.
Price: Not available.
Other Notes: You can find the exact dates for certain types of apples by looking at their fruit schedule.
CAPITAL REGION
Bowman Orchards - Rexford
Location: 147 Sugarhill Road, Rexford
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. U-pick entrance closes at 4:15 p.m.
Apple Varieties: 20 ounce, Autumn Crisp, Cortland, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonamac, McIntosh, Radiant Runkle, Shamrock, Shizuka, Ambrosia, Blondee, Braeburn, Cameo, Crispin, Empire, Evercrisp, Fortune, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Golden Supreme, Granny Smith, Greening, H- 103, Ida Red, Jersey Mac, Jonagold, Macoun, Mutsu, Northern Spy, Paula Red, Pinova, Pixie Crunch, Pristine, Red Delicious, Rome, Ruby Frost, Ruby John, Sansa, Snapdragon, Snow Sweet, Spigold, Sun Crisp, Tydeman, Zestar
Price: Entrance fee of $3 online, $5 at the gate. quarter-peck child bag $4.75 (Ages 3-12), $17 peck bag, $33 half-bushel bag or two for $50.
Other Notes: Check now their picking schedule for updates varieties. The orchard is celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. In addition to u-pick apples, they have a farm store, ice cream, and a pumpkin patch.
Indian Ladder - Altamont
Location: 342 Altamont Road, Altamont
Hours: Open Daily 9 a.m. – 4:30 pm. Call their hotline, 1(866)640-PICK, before coming out as hours and picking options may change.
Apple Varieties: Jonamac, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Gala, Autumn Crisp, Macoun, Cortland, Acey Mac, September Wonder Fuji, Snapdragon, Kendall, Empire, Cameo, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Ida Red, Mutsu, Fuji, and Rome.
Price: Half bushel $29, $25 each for two or more half bushel bags. Half bushel $32, $30 for two or more half bushel bags of premium apples (Honeycrisp, Snapdragon, Gala).
Other Notes: See their website for their picking schedule. In addition to apple picking, they have a farm market, cidery, brewery, a nature trail, and they serve food.
Saratoga Apple - Schuylerville
Location: 1174 Route 39, Schuylerville
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apple Varieties: Sansa, William’s Pride, Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Tydeman’s Red, Zestar, Blondie, Jonamac, Gala, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Cortland, Golden Supreme, Empire, Jonagold, Macoun, Fortune, Crispin, Fuji, Delicious, Ida Red, Suncrisp, Northern Spy, Spy Gold, Baeburn, Granny Smith.
Price: $10 per adult includes peck bag (approximately 10 pounds of apples). $7 per child includes half-peck bag. $20 half-bushel bags and covers two adults or three kids for u-pick.
Other Notes: They serve beer, hard cider in their tasting room, and they sell baked goods, produce, and apple varieties in their orchard store.
