Bounty of the Hudson Valley
We decided to try out a new farm for our fruit picking pleasure today. We have a few favorites, but they’re a bit too far from home with the price of gas these days.
We decided on Mead Orchard in Tivoli and I think if gas prices don’t drop back to the $2.00 a gallon range, we’ve found a new favorite place. We picked apples, peaches and plums. We also found some great pears and tomatoes at the stand where you pay. The kicker was the variety. We found Blue Plums, Italian Plums, little round yellow plums that were as sweet as sugar. They have every apple you could want, ripening as the season progresses. On August 31 they STILL have sweet blueberries! And if you don’t think tomatoes are a fruit, try the orange cherry tomatoes. You’ll be a believer!
If you live in the Hudson Valley, here are a few places to pick beautiful fresh fruit. None of these farms charge you a fee to park or to pick. You just pay for what you pick. A few of them also have a farm stand that includes food for lunch, fresh local jams, honey, maple syrup, apple cider donuts among other goodies. Check em out!
Mead Orchard in Tivoli New York www.meadorchards.com
Fix Brothers Farm in Hudson New York www.fixbrosfruitfarm.com
Dubois Orchard in Highland New York www.duboisfarms.com
Weed Orchards in Marlboro New York www.weedorchards.com
If you don’t want to pick for yourself and you live in Northern dutchess, check out Migliorellis. They have two farm stands and a booth at the Rhinebeck Farmers Market. Check out their farm stand at River Rd. & Rt. 199 just before the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge and also the stand on Route 9 Red Hook.
Rhinebeck Farmers Market in Rhinebeck New York www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com