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

Peach U-Pick Orchards in Dutchess 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 a 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.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Dutchess County

• Fishkill Farms - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, apricots, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cherries, cucumbers, currants (red and black), eggplant, flowers, lavender, melons, nectarines, pears, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, watermelons, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. Phone: (845) 897-4377. Email: info@fishkillfarms.com. Open: hours, days and dates. Directions: Fishkill Farms is located in Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley, just over an hour north of New York City. Take the Taconic Parkway to I-84 East and get off at Exit 15. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Fishkill Farms Facebook page. . Early June - Late October Everyday* 9am to 5pm *while supplies lasts. Click here for current open Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesFor a map to our farm, Early June: Strawberries and sugar snap peas June-Late September: Vegetables July-August: Flowers Mid July: Cherries July: Raspberries and Blackberries August: Peaches and Nectarines, Tomatoes and Eggplant Mid August-Late October: Apples Early September: Sunflowers September-October: PumpkinsAll vegetables, berries, eggs and 1/3rd of our orchard are certified organic by NOFA NY. is a historic 270-acre farm located in the beautiful Hudson Valley region. Our mission is to grow fresh and flavorful produce for our local community, using holistic farming practices. Our produce is available through pick-your-own, farmers markets, our CSA program, and restaurants. Our farm store is open year-round, 7 days a week from 9 am to 6 pm offering apple cider donuts, fresh-baked pies, artisanal meats & cheeses, locally produced wines beers, liquors and hard cider.Fishkill Farms is one of the oldest and most historic orchards in the Hudson Valley. Varieties of New York Apples: Macintosh, Red Delicious, Spartan, Empire, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Rome. We charge a $5 admission fee for fruit and vegetable picking for adults and children over the age of 12.
• Mead Orchards - apples, blueberries, cherries, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, picnic area
  15 Scism Road, Tivoli, NY 12583. Phone: 845-756-5641. Email: info@meadorchards.com. Open: hours, days and dates. Directions: From Westchester County and New York City Metro Area: Take Taconic Parkway north to the Pine PlainsRed Hook exit. Go west onto Route 199 to Red Hook -- go 8 miles. Turn North \(right\) at the Red Hook Village traffic light onto Route 9 -- go 4 miles. Turn west \(left\) onto County Route 78 -- go 14 mile. Right onto Scism Road -- go less than 100 yards and you will see our big red barn on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Fax: 845-756-4008. Strawberries /June - Monday through Friday, 3 pm to 7 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 6pm; All other fruit son weekends only from Mid - June through October - Weekends 10 am to 6 pm. Click here for current open From Westchester County and New York City Metro Area: Take Taconic Parkway north to the Pine Plains/Red Hook exit. Go west onto Route 199 to Red Hook -- go 8 miles. Turn North (right) at the Red Hook Village traffic light onto Route 9 -- go 4 miles. Turn west (left) onto County Route 78 -- go 1/4 mile. Right onto Scism Road -- go less than 100 yards and you will see our big red barn on the leftStrawberries - June; Cherries - End of June through middle of July; Blueberries - July through August; Peaches - July through September; Apples - August through October; Pumpkins - OctoberOpen in October on Weekends Only, 10 am- 6 pm; plus Labor Day - Monday Sept 2 and Columbus Day -Monday Oct 14. IMPORTANT NOTICE: (Oct 9) The apple varieties available to pick this weekend may have changed from our published schedule. When we set up our picking schedule, we use our past experience, and our best educated guess (weeks ahead of their expected harvest time) to judge which varieties will most likely be ripe on which weekend. Usually we're pretty close.. not so much this year. It's nature, folks! We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding. If you're expecting to pick a specific variety the weekend you're coming, PLEASE CALL toward the end of the week to verify if it's available. There is no entrance fee for Pick-Your-Own. Strawberry, Blueberry, and Cherry pickers will find containers and will pay at the tents in the orchards. For Peaches and Apples, pickers will stop at our farm stand near the barn to pick up containers and get directions, and then drive up into the orchards. You will pay for your U-Pick items at the farm stand. You may also park and walk -- just keep in mind there are some hills, and fruit can be heavy to carry. A visitor writes on October 13, 2013: "Regular visit every year. Few bells and whistles. My kids still love it, always fun to find the wooly caterpillar and no crowds or traffic jams. Excellent quality of produce. about a dozen varieties. Red Delicious, stayman winesap, Mutsu (Crispin), Fuji, Cameo, Golden delicious, CrimsonCrisp, Jonathan and a couple others., "
• Oriole Orchards - apples, cherries, peaches, pears, plum, prunes, nectarines
  PO Box 24, Red Hook, NY . Phone: 845-758-9355. Open: June-October 9:00 - 5:00 dailyApple varieties include McIntosh, Ida Red, Red Delicious, Mutsu, Rome, Winesap, Greening, Cortland, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Spy-Gold, and Paula Red. Click here for a map and directions. . Open
• Rose Hill Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, peaches, plums, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, concessions or refreshment stand
  19 Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook, NY 12571. Phone: 845-758-4215. Email: info@pickrosehillfarm.com. Open: Late June through Late August, Thursday through Sunday from 8am to 1pm; Late August through October, Friday through Sunday from 9am to 6pm; Please check our website for updated opening dates and hours; Please contact us to make special arrangements or with any questions!. Directions: from NYC: Take Taconic State Parkway N to NY-199 W in Milan \(toward Pine PlainsRed Hook\). Turn left onto NY-199 W. Turn right onto Echo Valley Road Turn right onto Fraleigh Lane Turn left into Rose Hill Farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Rose Hill Farm Facebook page. from NYC: Take Taconic State Parkway N to NY-199 W in Milan (toward Pine Plains/Red Hook). Turn left onto NY-199 W. Turn right onto Echo Valley Road Turn right onto Fraleigh Lane Turn left into Please contact us for special inquires including weddings, school visits and other group events!. . Located in the Hudson Valley village of Red Hook, NY, is a historic family owned Pick Your Own fruit orchard established in 1798. As of 2016, farm is under new ownership and management. This farm has been in the same family for over 200 years, Peter Fraleigh having purchased in 1798. David and Karen Fraleigh are the sixth generation of their family to operate. A.K.A, Fraleigh's. Annual Ripening Schedule (approximate): Late June - Early July: Over Twenty Varieties Of Sweet And Tart Cherries.Early July - Mid August: Five Varieties Of Blueberries.August - Early Sept: Peaches And Plums.Late August: Gingergold And Paula Red ApplesEarly Sept: Honeycrisp, Gala, Macintosh, Jonamac, SpartanMid Sept: Honeycrisp, Gala, Macintosh, Jonamac, Spartan, Empire, Jonagold, Cortland, FujiLate Sept: Gala, Jonagold, Empire, Red Delicious, Shizuka, Twenty OzEarly Oct: Empire, Red Delicious, Macoun, Shizuka, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Ny 428Mid Oct: Mutsu, Golden Delicious, Cameo, Rome, Fortune, Northern SpyLate Oct: Fuji, Rome, Grannysmith, Gold Rush, Lady Apple (UPDATED: June 28, 2016)

 

Peaches

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, Most recent data (2020)

Form	Average retail price *3		Preparation yield factor	Size of a cup equivalent	Unit	Average price per cup equivalent
Fresh *1	$1.72	per pound	0.96	0.342	pounds	$0.61
Canned
Packed in juice *2	$2.02	per pound	1	0.540	pounds	$1.09
Packed in syrup or water *3	$1.81	per pound	0.65	0.441	pounds	$1.23
Frozen	$3.39	per pound	1	0.331	pounds	$1.12
Note 1 - The USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR) reports that the inedible pit of a peach accounts for 4 percent of the retail weight, implying a preparation yield of 96 percent, when eaten raw.
Note 2 - Consumers are assumed to eat the solid fruit and drink the juice. All contents of the can are edible and count towards an individual's recommended fruit consumption.
Note 3 - The syrup (or water) is discarded prior to consumption. Based on the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED), ERS assumes that 65 percent of the can's gross weight is solid and 35 percent is liquid. The FPED cup equivalent weight for canned fruit is the weight of the solids and not of the liquid medium in which it is packed. The preparation yield factor for canned peaches in the above table does not account for any further preparation that occurs prior to consumption.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service calculations from 2020 Circana (formerly Information Resources, Inc. [IRI]) OmniMarket Core Outlets (formerly InfoScan) data; the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR), Legacy Release; and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017–18 as well as the FPED's accompanying Methodology and User Guide.

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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