Apple picking starts now!
And, just like that the harbinger of fall is officially upon us — apple picking.
Today marks opening day at some of the apple orchards on the North Fork, with more to follow in the upcoming weeks.
Chief Operating Officer of Harbes Family Farms, Shannon Harbes is excited to welcome families back to Harbes Orchard for the apple-picking season, which could last through mid-November depending on weather and availability.
“Families come back year after year, making it an annual family tradition. We have a great crop of apples this year, so we're excited to be able to share those with our customers.”
Harbes Orchard, located on Sound Avenue in Riverhead is officially open daily for the fall season and will continue Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. See website for details and pricing.
The current apple-picking selection includes Ultima Gala, Zestar, Gale Gala, Blondee, and Sansa but there’s so much more to come.
“We have over 24 varieties of apples at Harbes Orchard that each ripen throughout the season. Every week we taste the different varieties to see what has ripened, and ensure our customers are getting the best apples we can offer,” Shannon shared.
In addition to an 8-acre apple orchard, Harbes Orchard offers its Apple Express: a tractor-pulled wagon ride that drives pickers to the back of the orchard to find the ripest apples, a 5-acre Robin Hood-themed interactive corn maze, live music in the courtyard on weekends and holidays, plus a variety of homemade concession food and drinks, including fresh pressed cider made with the farm’s own apples, homemade caramel, and candy apples, sweet roasted corn, freshly made apple cider donuts and more.
Also opening on Saturday, Aug. 31 for apple picking is Lewin Farms in Calverton.
There, owners/farmers Erick and Brian Lewin shared that they’re most looking forward to “continuing fall traditions of five generations as the first u-pick farm on Long Island.”
The U-pick farm grows 13 varieties of apples including Honeycrisp, Gala, Macoun, Rome, Cortland, Yellow and Red Delicious, Crispin, Granny Smith, Empire, and many more, with Gala and Honeycrisp ripe for picking and Macoun very close. Visit the farm’s website for more details.
Lewin Farms is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesdays. They expect their U-pick season to extend through the end of October.
In addition to Harbes Orchard and Lewin Farms, here are four other North Fork orchards that offer apple picking.
Breeze Hill Farm is now open for apple picking. Visit the Peconic orchard this weekend on Saturday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 1, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Follow @themarketatbreezehillfarm on Instagram for complete details, variety availability, and more.
Windy Acres Orchard is also open for apple picking. The Calverton farm currently features Autumncrisp, Gala, Sansa, and Zestar varieties ready to be picked with many more varieties on the way. The farm which will be open through October is also known for its children’s play area and family-friendly fun. Check the orchard’s Facebook page for availability details and more.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm is expecting its apple-picking season to begin any day now. This historic Cutchogue farm is known for its excellent produce, rustic setting, and freshly baked goods. Visit wickhamsfruitfarm.com for the complete U-pick schedule and variety availability.
Woodside Orchard features two locations: one behind their Aquebogue tasting room which opens for picking on Friday, Sept. 20, and a larger more remote orchard in Jamesport on Manor Lane that opens for picking on Saturday, Sept. 21. Visit woodsideorchards.com for updates.