Are There Any Pick Your Own Organic Apple Orchards in New York?

Many people want to know where you can pick your own organic apples near NYC. I've asked the farmers about this and they say that in our climate it's very hard to farm apples organically and nobody really does it. Instead what you'll find is farms that use low-spray or sustainable farming practices.

While apples are one of the foods that are recommended that we eat organic because of the high amounts of pesticides and fungicides generally used, if you can't get organic local apples, at least know that picking your own apples or buying local apples is much better for the environment than buying organic apples shipped in from distant climes and supports small local farmers.

Here are a couple of places where you can pick your own not-quite-organic apples in New York:

Stone Ridge Orchard
Stone Ridge, NY
845 687-2587
StoneRidgeOrchard.us

Stone Ridge Orchard is a beautiful farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture. While not certified organic, they use the best practices available for our climate, including some organic pest control materials, mulches and some biodynamic practices. You can read about their farming practices in detail on their website.

In addition to apples, you can pick your own berries and Asian pears too. Their farm market also sells other fresh local farm products and there's a cafe.

Mr Apple
High Falls, NY
845 687-0005
MrApples.com

Mr Apple is a low-spray orchard, which means they use fewer pesticides. It's a funky place and you won't find any of the bells and whistles many of the other orchards have like petting zoos, but there's a little farm stand with cider and you can pick pumpkins here too.

Other Things to Do in the Area
Both Stone Ridge Orchard and Mr Apple are located near each other in the Hudson Valley so here are some ideas of where to get a bite to eat and activities nearby:

High Falls is a cute little town with a few very good restaurants and some shops. On the high end are Northern Spy and Depuy Canal House, which has a great setting and gets 4 stars from the NY Times. Below the Depuy Canal House and owned by the same proprietors is a more casual restaurant. Chefs on Fire serves great wood fired pizzas and salads that we love. Down the road is The Egg's Nest, known for its funky wall decoration more than its menu of quesadillas, burgers and other comfort food.

While in High Falls you can also visit the D & H Canal Museum. which has some neat things like a working lock model (as in a dam lock, not a door lock), a recreated canal boat cabin, a miniature gravity railroad car and dioramas that illustrate canal life. There are activity sheets to guide children through the museum. In the museum you can also get a trail map that leads you on a 20 minute walk past some of the canal's locks and other sites.

High Falls is just outside of New Paltz, a college town with lots of fun stores and restaurants.

Mohonk Mountain House is a beautiful family resort that has 85 miles of hiking trails, a fun rock scramble, and many other activities. Though staying there is pricey, you can make a reservation for lunch and stay to enjoy the grounds.

Lake Minnewaska State Park has an easy carriage trail hike, bike paths, swimming, and is famous for its rock climbing.