2024 Orange County in Southeast NY Peach U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Peach U-Pick Orchards in Orange County in Southeast NY in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for peaches that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have peaches orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Orange County

• Apple Ridge Orchards - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, peaches, pumpkins, restrooms, picnic area, Bouncy castle or moon bounce, pony rides, petting zoo, weddings and wedding parties
  101 Jessup Road, Warwick, NY 10990. Phone: 845-987-7717. Email: info@appleridgeorchards.com. Open: Monday Thru Thursday 10 am to 5 pm by reservation only; Open Friday Thru Sunday 9 am to 5 pm, Open to the public. Directions: From New York City, Take the New York Thruway North to Exit 16 \(17 West\) Follow to the Chester Exit 126 \(Route 94\) towards Florida New York. Make a left onto North Main Street. Make a right onto Highland Avenue\(Bridge Street\)follow south stay to left on Highland Avenue turns into Jessup Road continue to 101 Jessup, farm on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Apple Ridge Orchards Facebook page. . . From New York City, Take the New York Thruway North to Exit 16 (17 West) Follow to the Chester Exit 126 (Route 94) towards Florida New York. Make a left onto North Main Street. Make a right onto Highland Avenue(Bridge Street)follow south stay to left on Highland Avenue turns into Jessup Road continue to 101 Jessup, farm on right. Farm Opens for Apple Picking September to November. (formerly known as Jessup Road Orchard), the most scenic pick-your-own apple orchard, peach orchard and pumpkin patch throughout the Warwick Valley-home to more than 15 varieties of pick-your-own apples. Note: peach picking is coming in 2019. will feature well-manicured trees, spectacular views, and tasty peach varieties; white and yellow. We offer schools, families, friends and visitors an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking scenery, tractor pulled hay wagon rides, pet and feed friendly farm animals, explore a corn maze, view our famous observation hives and savor our delicious honey, fresh pressed apple cider, apple cider donuts, homemade mixes, apple butter, fresh preserves, and other treats at our farm. Pick your Own Apples, Peaches, and Pumpkins, Farm Animals, Live Honey Bee Exhibit, Tractor-pulled Hay Wagon Rides, Homemade Cider Donuts and Pressed Apple Cider.
  Comments from a visitor on October 15, 2011: "We just returned from a fabulous trip to Apple Ridge. They are not fancy: no bouncy things, nothing amusement park like them, instead, it felt like an "authentic" orchard experience. Not crowded, great apples, lovely setting, trees all starting to turn in the background. Fabulous for toddlers who don't need haunted houses or other than good fun (and good apples and donuts!). We drove all the way from Manhattan and it was just what we had hoped for. Not overpriced or kitsch. "
• Lawrence Farms Orchards - Apples, strawberries, sweet and tart cherries, vegetables, Peaches, Sweet Corn, Grapes, Prunes, raspberries, Plums, apricots, currants, Pears, peas, greens,
  39 Colandrea Road, Newburgh, NY 12550. Phone: 845-562-4268. Email: jlaw614@aol.com. Open: spaces, well-groomed picking areas, play area, farm animals, and a corn maze in summer. Click here for a map and directions.
  Lawrence Farms Orchards Facebook page. . Our Spring/Summer Pick Your Own season begins with fresh, juicy, sweet strawberries, usually starting in mid-June. During this season we also offer for picking English Shelling Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, several Lettuce varieties, Beets and Greens, Red and Black Currants, and Gooseberries. Toward the end of June we also have Pick Your Own Sweet and Tart Cherries. We open of our Summer/Fall Pick Your Own season in mid-August for tree ripened Peaches, Sweet Corn, and early variety of Apples Throughout the fall season we offer later ripening varieties of Apples, as well as Seedless and Table Green Beans, Tomatoes, many varieties of Hot and Sweet Peppers, Cabbages, Beets, Spinach, Eggplant, Broccoli, and Pumpkins. please call or check our "Plan Your Trip" page first for crop availability (Note: They have a comprehensive harvest calendar on their website). Weather conditions sometimes change picking schedules and availability. 2022 Admission:$7 Monday to Thursday and $10 Friday, Saturday and Sunday (children under 2 free) Season passes available. Time: 9am; 4pm Daily. Our available apple varieties are Honey Crisp, Cortland, Fuji, Macoun, Ozark Gold, Macintosh, Aceymac, Jonamac, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Mutsu, Autumn Gala, Cameo, Idared, Sun Crisp, Fortune, Northern Spy, Rome, Stayman Winesap, Candy Crisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, and Braeburn. We also have Concord Niagara Grapes, and Pears. Our vegetables are tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, kale, beans, Sweet corn, zucchini, zucchini flowers, squash, cabbage, turnips, mustard greens, beet greens, spinach, and Pumpkins. We will be here everyday from 9-4. We look forward to seeing all of our amazing customers. (UPDATED: September 24, 2022, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on September 09, 2012: (positive) "I was hesitant after reading some negative reviews about Lawrence Farms Orchard (ed: on other websites) in Newburgh NY but I am so glad we gave it a try anyway. The staff were friendly and helpful. The fruit and vegetables were plentiful and reasonably priced. The farm is beautiful. The children's village is really creative and the kids loved it. All around a great experience!"
  Comments from a visitor on July 01, 2010: (positive) "Just got back from a fantastic visit at Lawrence Farm Orchards and I cannot say enough wonderful words about our trip. Called in the morning to confirm what was available for picking. The owner was very specific about crop availability (spinach, peas (all kinds) lettuce, zucchini, and limited raspberries and gooseberries. He apologized for not having more fruit available which was unnecessary as we completely understand crops vary from day to day. I must say that the one previous negative review of the farm was a concern, but we took the chance and made the 40 minute trip to the farm and boy are we glad we did. When we arrived at the farm, he took the time to point out all areas of the farm as well as location of the crops and to go over when new crops would be ready for pick your own. The vegetables were magnificent. I have never seen lettuce that big and healthy before. The zucchini were also quite large and the spinach was also A+. He even told us we were more the welcome to verify the raspberry bushes if interested. The prices were great. The farm is huge with a variety of animals to look at and feed including goats, swans, chickens, ducks, and horses (though you can only really feed the swans/ducks and goats. The farm also has a great old fashioned children's village with wooden houses and interior furniture. Our children 5, 3, and 2 did not want to leave. As well as a quaint farm stand with wonderful jellies, jams, and other homemade goods. They also have food including pizza, hot dogs, french fries, ice cream, cider doughnuts, etc. to snack. We left with enough peas, spinach, lettuce, and zucchini to last quite some time and were amazed how cheap it all was. 10 pounds of zucchini, 2 pounds of spinach, 1 pound of peas, and a head of lettuce - 22 dollars - how can you go wrong. They have an abundance of crops for pick your own (in late July/early august they often have 12 different fruits and vegetables to pick) and also give you the option of filling out postcards which they mail letting you know when peaches, apples, strawberries, and Christmas trees are ready for picking. We will most definitely be back to Lawrence farms and everyone is looking forward to it. I highly recommend this farm as it has quickly become a family favorite. I am surprised someone had such a bad experience with Lawrence Farms because they were so welcoming, helpful and genuine. If you have the opportunity to visit, especially with kids, this is one place not to miss."
  Comments from a visitor on May 24, 2010: (positive)) "I have visited about four times a year for the last three years and been very happy. It is a wonderfully kid-friendly location with big open It is far enough away from the city that it doesn't turn into a complete zoo like Westchester farms. It is true that cheaper farms can be found for adults who are doing serious picking, but for a great day with the family (especially with young kids) this user-friendly farm is a fantastic option."
• Ochs Orchard - apples, apricots, beans, blackberries, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, herbs or spices, kale, nectarines, other berries, pears, peas, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, petting zoo, farm animals
  4 Ochs Lane, Warwick, NY 10990. Phone: (845) 986-1591. Email: JKOchs1591@gmail.com. Open: Typical season is June through December every day 9am to 6pm; Farm market open January through May, please call for hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Ochs Orchard Facebook page. . . Strawberries June Cherries late June to early July Blueberries July to August Blackberries July to August Peaches July to September Veggies August to October Apples Late August to October Pumpkins September to October. We are best known for our spectacular views. Pack a picnic lunch and a blanket and while you are picking in the orchard, enjoy. Our petting zoo has ducks, miniature goats, "Misty" the Sicilian donkey and "Eeyore" the miniature donkey. On the weekends, we have a variety of baked goods & pies. We offer a wide variety of our own homemade ice cream. Many flavors made from fruits we grow right here. On weekends in the fall, we also provide hot food from our eatery with-in the store. Come on in to our beautiful room with tables & chairs to enjoy your lunch. Also, near the farm market you can enjoy our Pick-Your Own flower garden. The butterflies are waiting for you! Typical (emphasis on typical) harvest start dates (month / day) for our varieties are Jersey Mac 8/13; Zesta 8/20; Ginger Gold 8/25; Pristine 8/25; Paula Red 9/01; Jonamac 9/09; Gala 9/09; Honey Crisp 9/10; Tsugaru 9/12; R.I. Greening 9/12; McIntosh 9/12; Cortland 9/18; Macoun 9/25; Red Delicious 9/25; Empire 9/27; Golden Delicious 10/10; Cameo 10/10; Spigold 10/15; Jonagold 10/15; Mutsu/Crispin 10/15; Rome 10/22; Fuji 10/25; Stayman 10/25. (UPDATED: June 03, 2020)
• Soons Orchards - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, peaches, pumpkins, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), porta-potties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  23 Soons Circle U-Pick: 634 County Route 50, New Hampton, NY 10958. Phone: (845) 374-5471. Email: info@soonsorchards.com. Open: Apples: Weekends starting Labor Day and Holiday Mondays, 10 am to 4 pm Peaches: one or two weekends in August, dates vary, please check the website. Directions: From New York City New Jersey: Exit 123 off Route 17 West, continue on Route 17M for 3 miles, left at our large sign From Connecticut Pennsylvania: Exit 15A off Interstate 84, continue about a mile on Route 17M, then right at first lightbig sign From upstate New York: Exit 121W off Route 17 East to I84 West, then exit 15A \(see above\). . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, ApplePay, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Soons Orchards Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (845) 670-4540. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. From New York City / New Jersey: Exit 123 off Route 17 West, continue on Route 17M for 3 miles, left at our large sign From Connecticut / Pennsylvania: Exit 15A off Interstate 84, continue about a mile on Route 17M, then right at first light/big sign From upstate New York: Exit 121W off Route 17 East to I84 West, then exit 15A (see above). We use integrated pest management practices. On-site Cidery & Tasting Room; Times Herald-Record's Readers' Choice winner "best u-pick" for three years running. At you will find fresh-picked apples, real apple cider, homegrown and local fruits and vegetables, delicious homemade pies and lots of special goodies like our own apple cider donuts, homemade fudge, homemade prepared foods and apple sauce, fresh-ground nut butters, jams and jellies, maple syrup, honey and more. You will also find a wonderful fall afternoon outing with apple picking and pumpkin picking (mid-Sept. into Oct.), and hay wagon rides to our pumpkin patch. Our pick your own apples and u-pick pumpkins are super fun for the whole family, and we are an easy drive from anywhere in the New York tri-state area. Peach Picking: U-Pick Peaches is *sometimes* a weekend or two in August.. depends on our crop. U-Pick Apples begins Labor Day weekend. And Pick Pumpkins. Check our hotline for regular updates (845) 670-4540. More than a light drizzle closes the U-Pick. Check zip code 10958 for the weather forecast at the Orchard.(UPDATED: June 28, 2020)

 

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Peach Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S., Peaches typically peak during late June through July in the South, and July and August in the North. In order to produce good local peaches, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts. If you want to know which are the best varieties of peaches for home canning, see this page!

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Peaches are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for peaches, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Peaches more than 14 inches deep will bruise the fruit on the bottom. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
5. You might want to ask whether the peaches are! There are two major types of peaches: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone peaches and nectarines have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain, because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most peach varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone. 

When you get home

1. Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
2. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
3. Even under ideal conditions peaches will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
4. Now, get ready to make Peach jam or canned peaches - It is VERY easy - especially with our free
    - peach jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy and our page on
    - how to make home canned peaches from fresh!
   - Or see here to freeze peaches instead!
   - make your own home canned peach pie filling to use in the winter
5. Here's a great and easy peach pie recipe
   or peach-blueberry pie  or how about
   - peach salsa?
   - Peach chutney
   - Spiced peaches
   - peach butter
   - Peach honey
   - pickled peaches
   - peach syrup
   - peach juice
6. Here are some great and easy peach desert recipes, like easy peach cobbler.
7. If you want more information about the Giant Peach water tower in Gaffney, SC, click here.

Temporary Storage Tips

• Ripe peaches have a creamy or golden undertone and "peachy-sweet" fragrance.
• Peaches should be refrigerated and used within a few days.
• Putting peaches and nectarines in a loosely closed paper bag at room temperature for a day or two can help soften firm fruit - but they won't become sweeter or ripen further - that stopped when they were removed from th etree.
• For best flavor, allow the fruit to ripen fully on the tree.
• Store at 33�F to 40�F  and high humidity (a vegetable drawer in the fridge).

How to tell if the peaches are ripe!

• Attached to the tree: Peaches are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Peaches will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they only "soften")
• Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as an indicator of how ripe a peach is. Different peach varieties have differing amounts of red blush in their natural coloring. Pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red (or a combination). The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish- to yellow-white.
• Softness: unless you like your peaches very firm, pick your peaches with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Peaches at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Peaches won't ripen very much after picking!
• Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!

Tips on How to Pick Peaches

A peach is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a peach gently, with little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to avoid bruising.  Grab the peach firmly and pull it straight off the branch. DON'T drop the peach into the basket, but set it in gently!

Marks on the Peachs: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs) bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the peach. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit.  These look like dents in the peaches if the peaches were bitten by a bug when they were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle in the peach. There's nothing wrong with these peaches. They may look funny, but they will taste just as good as blemish-free peaches, and it's better not to have the pesticides!

How much do you need?

Raw measures:

• About 2 medium peaches = 1 cup sliced peaches.
• About 4 medium peaches = 1 cup pureed peach.
• About 3 medium peaches = 1 pound of peaches

Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)

• 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh peaches yields 1 quart canned
• 1 lb of fresh peaches typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced peaches or 2 cups or puree.
• It takes about 5 good sizes peaches or nectarines (or about 10 plums) to fill one quart jar of canned peaches.
• An average of 171/2 pounds of fresh peaches are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
• An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
• 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.

And a visitor contributes this: 6-7 peaches makes about 4 cups puree, so 2-3 peaches make about 2 cups puree. 1 peach equals about 1 cup puree.

Peaches-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

 

Peach pit tips

It's best to remove peach pits before you cook the peaches. Cherry, peach, and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, in potentially harmful amounts. Fortunately, peach and apricot pits are sufficiently large and hard that few people intentionally swallow or chew them. (The unapproved anti-cancer drug See this page for more information&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/laetrile">Laetrile is a semisynthetic derivative of amygdalin; a cheaper version of laetrile produced in Mexico came from crushed apricot pits.) See this page for more information.

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers