Fall Fun

Apples, Pumpkins and Delicious Donuts

I love the Fall in NY.  And it has nothing to do with the proliferation of pumpkin spice around this time of the year, from lattes to yoghurt to Oreos (I am actually not a fan of the flavor – there I said it).  I do love the cool, crisp air, the warm colours, the changing leaves and of course, Halloween (but not haunted houses and scary movies).

I recently visited Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard, a family run apple farm in New Salem, with a group of friends.  According to the farm’s official website their main apple harvest is in September but “they also grow a variety of vegetables and stone fruits which ripen summer through Fall and are available at the farm store or through a CSA…In their words, ‘Our goal is to supply our community with fresh, local, healthy food direct from the farmer, all while providing a fun, family-oriented and upbeat atmosphere for our customers to enjoy.’”

They live up to the promise of creating a family-oriented and cheerful atmosphere on Fall weekends, when the farm hosts festivals where visitors can pick apples, go on hay rides, choose pumpkins and enjoy an array of fabulous Fall fare.  Visitors are welcomed by the sounds of a live band playing country and folk music (I particularly enjoyed the Johnny Cash covers).  There are plenty of food options, from turkey legs and brisket to pizza and quesadillas.  But their cider donuts (apparently award-winning) are one of the biggest attractions.  I had been fantasizing about them for days leading up to the visit and they certainly lived up to the expectations.  These warm, sugary rings of deliciousness were a steal at $5 for a half dozen and $9 for a dozen.  The festival also had various kinds of cider available, including hard cider and warm apple cider (which was most welcome in the bitter cold).

Just across the road is Outhouse Orchards, originally founded as a dairy farm in the late 1800s, which offers apple, pear and peach picking, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze, complete with hidden clues for you to solve a puzzle.  I didn’t pick any apples on this visit but I have done it before and found it to be a lot of fun. The store on the farm had an overwhelming range of baked goods (such as pies and breads) and fresh produce on sale to get you in the mood for the season.

A visit to the orchards was a perfect way to spend a chilly NY Sunday (though the traffic back into the city was frustrating) and the take-away bag of cider donuts ensured that the Fall festivities from the weekend continued a little longer into the week.

Source: westchestermagazine.com