Apple Pie Trail - Sept 2010
The Apple Pie Trail - Pick us!
Orange County in New York's Hudson Valley is apple crazy!
As American as..... Even a school child could fill in that blank. Probably the most popular dessert in the United States, apple pie can be found on dinner tables in all four seasons. Late August through October is when apples ripen on the trees, and Orange County (which grows apples, not oranges!) produces more than 25 varieties. The plentiful harvest can be enjoyed by picking the fruit yourself, having a big slice of apple pie, or enjoying a cold glass of apple cider.
Applefest, the celebration of all things apple, is a huge festival in Warwick on the first Sunday of October. The village is about an hour north of Manhattan, but if you can't make it to this wonderful event, the area is rich with picking orchards, farm stands, and wineries. True to its name, Applewood Orchards and Winery is a great place for apple picking. Pick up an apple pie in the farm store, or a bottle of Stone Fence Cider, the champagne of apple drinks, at the winery. You can always find an apple dessert at the Pane Bakery Café at Warwick Valley Winery and Orchards because the chef has only to step outside the kitchen to reach the fruit trees. Doc's Hard Apple Cider is one of their winery's best sellers, and on weekends the orchards are open to all for picking.
Drive your car right to the tree at Masker Orchards. Throw down a picnic blanket and the family can loll under the trees or grab a picking stick to reach apples in the top branches. On weekends there are musical events and pony rides for the kids. Ochs Orchards is one of the few open daily for apple picking. The petting zoo is particularly appealing to children, and their farm store stocks a wide variety of apples if you'd rather not pick your own. Fresh baked apple pies are a hallmark of Pennings Orchard in their farm store, another u-pick farm open daily. Their Harvest Grill & Brew Pub is a great place to relax and try the hard apple cider. Weekend fun includes hayrides and farm animals for the kids.
Due north, but not far, are Roe's Orchards in Blooming Grove. Apple pies are baked by the family, but the cider donuts are in great demand. With a cup of Roe's hot apple cider, wander the barn to see their wide variety of apples grown just outside the farm store. Jones Farm is a short drive away in Cornwall where Grandma Phoebe's Bakery will have your mouth watering for not just her apple pie, but also the gorgeously delicious apple cake. The country store has a large selection of gifts, and you just might find a painting of apples in the gallery.
Edging up the Hudson Valley, Lawrence Farms Orchards in Newburgh is a terrific place to see the Hudson Valley. The farm sits high in the hills with a view of the beautiful Hudson River below. Pick your own apples while the kids go in and out of the miniature village. The farm store offers many apple varieties, and there are carriage rides on the weekends. Down the road, Overlook Farm Market sits alongside one of the major scenic north/south routes in the valley, 9W. Easy to find, try the delicious apple pies made from the farm's fruit, also ripe for the picking. Visit their unique country shop, Katalana Gifts, while the kids visit the petting zoo.
A little further west along the Route 84 corridor, you'll find Maples Farm in Middletown. During apple season, you can buy apple pie every day of the week. While you're there, check out the garden store for a terrific selection. You may even consider growing your own apple trees. An apple's throw from Maples' is Soons Orchards. Well known for their apple pie, there are also acres of orchards for picking your own ingredients. The weekend hayrides through the fruit laden trees are popular with families looking for a day in the country. Wander down a neighboring country road and you'll find Slate Hill Orchards brimming with ripe apples for the picking and a farm store filled with apple products.
The Hudson Valley has the perfect climate for apple growing. Just 50 miles from the Big Apple and Times Square you'll find some of the best apples you've ever tasted. Bite into a crisp, juicy apple just picked from the tree and taste why people return every year to experience our Orange County apples!
To experience the apple pie trail, call Orange County Tourism at 845-615-3860, or check out all the delicious possibilities at www.orangetourism.org/.
Contacts
Applewood Orchards
82 Four Corners Road
Warwick
845-986-1684
www.applewoodorchards.com/
Warwick Valley Winery & Orchards
114 Little York Rd
Warwick
845-258-4858
www.wvwinery.com/
Masker Orchards
45 Ball Road
Warwick
845-986-1058
www.maskers.com/
Ochs Orchards
4 Ochs Lane
Route 94
Warwick
845-986-1591
www.ochsorchard.net/
Pennings Orchard
170 State Route 94
Warwick
845-986-7080
www.penningsfarmmarket.com/
Roe's Orchards
3278 Route 94
Chester
845-469-4724
Jones Farm
190 Angola Road
Cornwall
845-534-4445
www.jonesfarminc.com/
Lawrence Farms Orchards
39 Colandrea Road
Newburgh
845-562-4268
www.lawrencefarmsorchards.com/
Overlook Farm Market
5417 Route 9W
Newburgh
845-562-5780
www.overlookfarmmarket.com/
Maples Farm
Middletown
845-344-0330
www.maplesfarm.com /
Soons Orchards
23 Soons Circle
New Hampton
845-374-5471
www.soonsrochards.com/
Slate Hill Orchards
2580 Route 6
Slate Hill
845-355-4493
