Labor Day weekend marked the unofficial start of apple season here in the Catskills, and this year’s harvest promises to be a bountiful one. Whether it’s MacIntoshes, Galas, Honeycrisps or Empires you’re after, you can find what you’re looking for at a variety of orchards in the region. Some are no-frills, pick-and-pay operations, while others bill themselves as “agritainment,” offering kids’ activities and farm-related fun. Among the Catskills’ counties, southeastern Ulster County is home to the most apple orchards, many of which offer options for on-farm lunches and picnicking if you’re making a day trip of it.
As with any weather-related adventure, it’s always a good idea to call before you go to confirm hours and availability. Also good ideas: leave the pets at home and carry cash. All the farms listed below are open now unless otherwise noted; closing dates are included if available. Click on the names of the farms for more information from their websites.
Did we miss an orchard? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.
Greene County
Boehm Farm: 233 County Route 26, Climax. 518-731-6196. Daily, 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Peaches and pumpkins are available as well. Horse-drawn wagon rides offered for kids of all ages. Cash only.
Schoharie County
Terrace Mountain Orchard: 158 Apple Blossom Lane, Schoharie. 518-295-7755. Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bakery on site selling cider doughnuts, apple pies and other assorted pastries.
Ulster County
Apple Hill Farm: 124 Route 32 South, New Paltz. 845-255-1605. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting Friday, Sept. 11 through Oct. 31. Also selling corn, tomatoes and peaches, with pies for sale and hayrides available on the weekends.
Dressel Farms: 271 State Route 208, New Paltz. 845-255-0693. Weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Farm stand and ice cream parlor on site selling cider doughnuts and other apple-based sweets.
DuBois Farms: 209 Perkinsville Road, Highland. 845-795-4037. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 1. Farm market, cafe and bakery on site, hosting weekend barbecues. Corn maze, pony rides and other kids’ activities available.
Hurds Family Farm: 2187 State Route 32, Modena. 845-883-7825. Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cafe open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and holidays. Many activites for children, including a bounce house and a “cow train.” Also selling pick-your-own pumpkins and fall squash.
Jenkins & Lueken Orchard: Route 299 (Yankee Folly Road), New Paltz. 845-255-0999. Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also selling pick-your-own peaches and lots of other produce, including good deals on canning tomatoes as the season winds down. On-site bakery takes special orders.
Kelder’s Farm: 5755 Route 209, Kerhonkson. 845-626-7137. Daily, 10 a.m. top 6 p.m. Farm market on-site. Kids’ activities include mini-golf, a corn maze and a petting zoo.
Liberty View Farm: 340 Crescent Ave., Highland. 845-399-9545. Call for hours. This sustainable and socially-conscious farm offers a couple of twists on pick-your-own apple traditions: nocturnal picking and tree leases. Beginning Sept. 16, you can pick at night, from sunset to 10 p.m., on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It also offers a “lease a tree” program, where you can pay (usually around $100) to rent a single tree, whose harvest yields up to 150 pounds depending on the variety.
Minard’s Family Farm: 250 Hurds Road, Clintondale. 866-632-7753. Weekends and holidays through Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This farm also grows pick-your-own pumpkins and offers hay rides, face-painting and lots of other fun activities for children.
Saunderskill Farm: 5100 Route 209, Accord. (845) 626-2676. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bakery, cafe and farm market on site. Pumpkin-picking will be offered beginning in October, as well.
Stone Ridge Orchard: 3012 Route 213, Stone Ridge. 845-687-2587. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. Farm store on site.
Twin Star Orchard: 155 N. Ohioville Road, New Paltz. 845-633-8657. Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This brand-new orchard and cidery, whose motto is “ugly apples taste better,” also produces and sells hard cider. Beginning in mid-September, the farm will crank up its new brick oven to serve pizza and burgers.
Westwind Orchard: 215 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord, 845-626-0659. Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The apples are certified organic and the pizza is brick-oven style at this farm, which also hosts movies on some Saturday nights.
Catskill Eats 