The Best Spots for Apple Picking on Long Island

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Apple Picking on Long Island: A Fall Tradition

As the crisp air of autumn settles over Long Island, apple picking becomes a favorite family pastime, blending the joys of the outdoors with the simple pleasure of harvesting fresh, local produce. The island boasts a range of orchards, each offering unique experiences for those looking to enjoy a quintessential fall day. From historic farms to family-run businesses, here’s a guide to some of the best spots for apple picking on Long Island this fall.

Harbes Orchard

5698 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY

At the heart of Harbes Orchard’s 78 acres is an expansive apple orchard with 27 different varieties of apples. Perfect for families, the orchard uses an innovative trellis system, making it easy for even the smallest hands to reach the fruit. In addition to apple picking, visitors can enjoy a range of activities and fall treats, including caramel apples, cider, and donuts.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, Harbes Orchard offers several admission packages ranging from $19 for basic apple picking to $35 for their Apple Lovers Big Bag Special. The Combo Value Pass, a favorite among families, includes a 3-pound apple picking bag, a tractor-pulled wagon ride, live music, and access to the Robin Hood Trivia Challenge Maze.

Harbes is an all-weather destination, though it’s wise to check the website or social media for updates on activities in case of inclement weather.

Lewin Farms

812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY

Lewin Farms is a pioneer in the “pick-your-own” movement on Long Island. This family-run farm offers a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and apple season is no exception. Visitors are invited to pick their own produce, making it a fun and educational experience for children. Lewin Farms is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Tuesdays) and encourages families to check in daily for updates on which apples are available for picking.

Wickham’s Fruit Farm

28700 Main Rd, Cutchogue, NY

With its rich history dating back over 200 years, Wickham’s Fruit Farm offers a charming and traditional apple picking experience. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can enjoy a scenic wagon ride into the orchard and pick from a variety of apple species. Wickham’s emphasizes a respectful approach to farming, encouraging visitors to pick only what they plan to purchase. Be sure to follow their apple-picking guidelines to ensure an enjoyable and sustainable visit.

Milk Pail U-Pick Farm

50 Horsemill Ln, Water Mill, NY

Located in the scenic Water Mill area, Milk Pail U-Pick Farm is run by the Halsey family, who have been farming in the area since the 1640s. The farm, open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., offers a variety of apples that visitors can pick themselves, including some unique heirloom varieties. The family’s deep connection to the land and generations of farming make Milk Pail a must-visit for those seeking a more intimate apple-picking experience. Visitors can also browse the Milk Pail Country Store and enjoy seasonal offerings such as Amy’s Flowers and Jennifer’s famous peaches.

Woodside Orchards

116 Manor Ln, Riverhead, NY & 729 Main Rd, Aquebogue, NY

Woodside Orchards offers a laid-back, family-friendly apple picking experience, with U-pick apples available starting September 21st in Jamesport and September 23rd in Aquebogue. Jamesport is open for weekend picking, while Aquebogue offers weekday picking. Woodside Orchards also has a tasting room, where visitors can enjoy fresh apple-based treats and baked goods. Bags cost $20, and each holds 10-12 pounds of apples. Be sure to follow the orchard’s rules to ensure a fun and safe outing.

Schedule a Day for Apple Picking and Supporting Local!

Apple picking on Long Island is more than just an activity—it’s a cherished fall tradition that brings families together to enjoy the beauty of the season. Whether you’re looking for a fun weekend outing or simply want to stock up on fresh, local apples, Long Island’s orchards offer something for everyone. From the historic Wickham’s Fruit Farm to the family-run Milk Pail, each orchard invites visitors to celebrate the harvest and create memories that will last a lifetime.

For more Things To Do on Long Island, click HERE!

Melissa Farrell

Melissa Farrell has a mission to support local business by "Going Local." As a local business owner herself, she understands the struggles entrepreneurs face when owning a business and is always trying to find ways to shine a spotlight onto them. Melissa started Going Local Tours & Experiences back in 2020 during the pandemic in hopes to bring people back into local restaurants and shops. She created food tours in Huntington, NY that would stop at 3-4 local businesses and gave the guests the chance to meet the owner and hear the story behind the business. She soon realized how powerful storytelling is when connecting people to local businesses and created options with local store owners as well to bring them onto the tour to share their story. Melissa wanted to expand out of Huntington to be able to support even more local businesses and started creating luxury picnics where she would bring local to you! She would find local businesses in the area of the picnic set up and deliver it to you offering ways to support over 3 local businesses at each picnic. This wasn't enough. She wanted to find a better way to help spread awareness of local businesses and share their stories. Enter Evangeline Knell...a woman with over 30 years of broadcasting experience who somehow convinced Melissa to host a 3 day live stream from the Huntington Fall Festival. She had never been on camera before, but working alongside Evie to create the 3 shows, gave Melissa the confidence to take on the challenge. The 3 shows produced focused on the local vendors, the food trucks and the events that occurred at the festival and had a much larger reach than Melissa could ever of done on her own. They soon realized a business partnership was needed and combined their two businesses, Identity Digital which is a production company and Going Local Tours and Experiences to form Going Local Media. Evie and Melissa even formed their own distribution outlet by creating Going Local TV, a streaming platform like Netflix or YouTube, that is all about local businesses, events and organizations on Long Island. There are over 200 videos including their podcast series "Let's Get Local" "Long Island Business Minds" and "Local Business Spotlight" that help spread awareness of our local businesses and Long Island Professionals. They are always thinking up new ways to support local, including this site, Going Local Long Island is a directory of articles on how to Go Local on Long Island. We appreciate you taking the time to read this and for supporting local! Thank you!

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