Now that September is on its way, it is time to start switching gears to Fall in small ways, such as hopping into apple season.  Whether you’re 2 or 82, apple picking is a fun Fall pastime with the best yield – tasty apples for snacks, pies, cobblers, and other delicious baked goods! The East End of Long Island has a variety of you-pick apple orchards to choose from, with an even wider assortment of apples grown on site.  If you aren’t sure which kind of apples you would like or need for certain recipes, take a look at our apple recipes for some inspiration

If you have never picked apples before and are apprehensive about picking your own, you should feel comfortable knowing that you-pick orchards are easy and highly accessible.  To pick an apple, cup the apple firmly in your hand, lift it slightly, and twist gently.  The apple should come off with the stem intact.  By picking your own apples, you can choose the exact colors, weights, shapes, and sizes you are looking for so that you can collect the perfect peck (about 8 dry quarts).

The apple picking season starts in early September and lasts through the end of October, so there is plenty of time to plan a day trip to the farm.  Here is a handful of fantastic farms and orchards that will be open on weekends and certain weekdays for apple picking:

Fort Salonga Farm
30 Meadow Glen Road, Northport, NY
631-269-9666
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM weekdays, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM weekends
At Fort Salonga Farm, apple trees are grafted onto size-controlling rootstocks so that the apple trees begin to fruit just 18 inches off of the ground, which is perfect for kids to reach and pick their own apples. In September, the Sweet Sixteen, MacIntosh, and Gala apples will be ripened and ready to pick, and are typically about $1.69 per pound.  This is a small orchard, so be sure to call ahead of time to be sure there is ripe fruit to pick.
 
Hank’s Pumpkintown
240 Montauk Highway, Watermill, NY 11976
631-726-4667
Hours of Operation: Saturday and Sunday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Hank’s Pumpkintown’s orchard will be open on weekends for apple picking, and you’ll be able to pick from Ultimate Gala, MacIntosh, Honeycrisp, Daybreak Fuji, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, and Snow Sweet apples.  The cost is $22 for a one peck bag (about 10 lbs), limit 4 people per bag.  No strollers or wagons allowed in the apple orchard.
 
Wickham’s Fruit Farm
28700 Main Road, Cutchogue, NY
631-734-6441
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wickham’s offers a variety of apples, and is open every day except for Sundays for apple picking.  Be sure to try some of their apple cider, pressed on the oldest cider press on Long Island!
 
Windy Acres Farm
3810 Middle Country Road, Calverton, NY
631-727-4554
Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Windy Acres has 30 varieties of apples, including MacIntosh, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, and Granny Smith.  Call ahead for availability.  Apples are grown on dwarf apple trees, and cost $18 per peck bag (about 10 lbs).

Seven Pond Orchard
65 Seven Ponds Road, Water Mill, NY 11976
631-726-8015
Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Pick your Red Delicious, Roma, Jonagold, Gala, MacIntosh, Ginger Gold, Cameo, Granny Smith, Snowsweet, Empire, Fuji, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Redfree, and Macoun all at this orchard, which also offers a huge assortment of you-pick vegetables!

Woodside Orchards
729 Main Road, Aquebogue, NY 11931
 631-722-5770
Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday, 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
This family-run farm offers 30 different varieties of apples on semi-dwarf trees, and also sell apple cider, pies, and more baked goods. Apples are $15 per peck.

Lewin Farms  
812 Sound Avenue, Wading River, NY 11792
631-929-4327
Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Lewin Farms is the first pick your own orchard to ever open on Long Island, and its orchard is located on Fresh Pond Avenue.

The Milk Pail Farmstand  
50 Horsemill Lane, Water Mill, NY 11976
631-537-2565
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
This family owned farm has been farming for 12 generations, and has an orchard with dwarf trees and over 20 different kinds of apples.

Davis Peach Farm
561 Hulse Landing Road, Wading River, NY 11792
631-929-1115
Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
In addition to peaches, this farm also has an apple orchard for apple picking.