East End Apple and Pumpkin Picking in Harvest Season
Nothing says autumn quite like taking a drive to the country for apple and pumpkin picking. The invigorating, crisp air, bright blue skies and smell of roasted corn awaken the senses, reminding us of the joys that come with the changing season. Luckily for East Enders, it’s never more than a few minutes to your neighborhood farmstand but sometimes it’s even more fun to get out there and explore.
Go with family and friends and stop by a local winery while you’re at it. From the North Fork to the South Fork, we’ve got your apple and pumpkin picking options covered.
White Cap Farm in Water Mill makes their own amazing apple cider. Come to the home farm of the owners and founders of the Milk Pail Store and Orchard, John and Evelyn Halsey, where together with their daughters Amy and Jennifer they’ve perfected the art of juicing apples. White Cap Farm is located at 757 Mecox Road in Water Mill.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm in Cutchogue is a historic farm, one of the largest on the North Fork, offering a wide variety of the freshest fruits and vegetables. Pick your own Macoun, Fuji, Empire and Cortland apples. Freshly baked pies, preserves and more. 28700 Route 25, Cutchogue. wickhamsfruitfarm.com, 631-234-6441.
Hank’s Pumpkintown is a great place for the whole family. Great apple and pumpkin picking and a market full of fresh vegetables, fruits, pies and other homemade goods. They also have pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, mums, straw bales, baked goods, apples. They also feature a Maze Quest Maze, super sweet corn, roasted corn, and family fall fun. Hank’s Farmstand is located at 324 Country Rd. 39, Southampton. hankspumpkintown.com, 631-726-4667. Check out the Photo Gallery.
Seven Ponds Orchard in Water Mill offers apple picking with varietals including Gala, Ginger Gold, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Macoun, Fuji, Cortland, Empire and many more. Hay rides and corn maze for kids. Seven Ponds Orchard is located at 65 Seven Ponds Road, Water Mill, 631-726-8015.
Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard is famous for their roasted super sweet corn, a farm market full of fruits, vegetables, pies and homemade goods as well as a Wine Tasting Bar, an interactive Barnyard Adventure, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, corn mazes and hayrides. Harbes Family Farm is located at 715 Sound Avenue, Mattituck. harbesfamilyfarm.com, 631-298-0800.
Gabrielsen’s Country Farm offers sweet corn, strawberries, vegetables, pumpkins and more. From September 11 through October 31, take part in a corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin patch and restoration village. Gabrielsen’s is located at 1299 Main Rd. (Route 25), Jamesport, 631-722-3259.
Lewin Farms has pick-your-own apples on their 1,100 acre family owned and operated farm. Aside from picking your own apples and pumpkins, you can pick your own peppers and eggplants and cut your own Christmas trees beginning the day after Thanksgiving. 812 Sound Avenue in Wading River. lewinfarm.com, 631-929-4327.
Woodside Orchards has pick your own apples at both their Jamesport and Aquebogue locations. Jamesport is open for you-pick weekends and Acquebogue is open seven days a week. You can pick from over ten different varieties of apples as they ripen during the months of September and October. 729 Main Road, Aquebogue and 116 Manor Lane, Jamesport. Visit woodsideorchards.com or call 631-722-5770.
Rottkamp’s Fox Hollow Farm in Calverton has seasonal pick your own items including 4 to 5 acres of pumpkins. Have fun in their 2- by 2-acre family-friendly corn maze and then nosh on some roasted corn at the farm stand. 2287 Sound Avenue, Calverton, 631-727-1786
Bruno Farmstand in Manorville has pick-your-own pumpkins from the end of September through the end of October. Through Thanksgiving you can pick up home grown fruit, vegetables, preserves, supersweet corn, plum tomatoes, cheese peppers and many eggplant varieties. Located at the corner of the LIE exit 69S and Wading River Road, Manorville, 631-549-2029
W. Zilnicki Pumpkins has pick-your-own pumpkins and a corn maze. Located on Sound Avenue in Riverhead, 631-727-0408.
Krupski Farms has a fresh produce farm stand and pick-your-own pumpkins and corn maze. Route 25, Peconic, 631-734-6847.
W & K Farms in Manorville has pick-your-own pumpkins, a corn maze, roasted corn and hayrides. Located at Wading River Road and South Street, Manorville, 631-878-8653.
Local farmers markets will be open too!