It's Autumn 2003: Pick an Apple, Pick a Pumpkin

by Sandy Goodman

see 2003 list of nearby orchards below

photo courtesy of Applewood Orchards

(October 1, 2003 - completely updated from 2002) October is the month of shiny apples, sweet cider and orange pumpkins. The leaves are starting to turn orange, red and gold and the stores are filling with Halloween costumes and candy. This summer's weather may have been bad for beach-goers, but it was great for apple-growers. Trees are laden with high quality apples and pumpkin patches are ready for harvest at farms close enough for day trips.

So it’s a good time to round up the kids, hop in the car and head out for a leisurely day exploring nearby orchards and pumpkin patches.

Most orchards offer both healthy produce and old-time fun. They usually have a farm stand or a country store and a place to have a picnic lunch. Some provide weekend pony or hayrides, corn mazes, or a petting zoo for the kids. Special events may include harvesting festivals with entertainment – check ahead for the schedules.

Both apples and pumpkins are nutritious, high in fiber and vitamins, and low in fat and calories. The versatile apple is great for eating out of hand or folding into cakes, cookies or bread. There are so many easy things you can prepare with apples, from sauce to cider. And if you can’t eat all the apples you pick at the orchard, you can cook and freeze them so they’re ready to pop into a pie on a winter's day.

One caveat: be sure to use the right apple for the right purpose. The lovely Red Delicious found at many local orchards is absolutely atrocious when cooked. The homely Macoun is another eating apple prized for its winy taste, but it's best during a very short “peak season” and doesn’t store well. Many New York varieties don’t peak until after a fall frost, which has yet to occur in most orchard locales.

If you're cooking, the Macintosh is perfect for applesauce, since it “melts” easily when heated; the Mutsu, Rome, and Granny Smith keep their shape if you’re looking for a firm textured tart or pie. Since most orchards have only one or two varieties available for picking at any one time, you might want to check the websites or call ahead before you invest in four bushels of the wrong variety. The Soons Orchard suggests, “Since apples taste better when they are picked according to their schedule -- not ours -- we will offer each variety for picking only when it is ready. It's also possible that some listed varieties may sell out before their last forecasted weekend.” Calling ahead is definitely the way to go. To learn about the apples you’re likely to encounter at a farm near Larchmont, check out the New York Apple Country website.

Pumpkins are easier than apples – most of us don’t care about the variety and are only looking for that perfect Jack O' Lantern. However, don’t overlook the pumpkin’s practical virtues: it gets good marks for taste and nutrition. Pumpkins and winter squash both belong to the gourd family. They get their bright orange color from their beta-carotene, which is the plant form of vitamin A. They are also high in vitamin C, iron and folic acid. There are plenty of uses for pumpkin other than the proverbial pumpkin pie. It can be pureed, steamed baked and boiled. Seasonings that enhance its flavor are cumin, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, ginger nutmeg and honey.

You can get the nutritious part of the pumpkin from a can, but picking the perfect pumpkin at the farm is much more satisfying. When children are very small, it is fun to snap pictures with a pumpkin three times their size. The whole family will enjoy looking for odd-shaped gourds to use as centerpieces for the dining room table. And of course, while you are at the pumpkin patch is the time to get that perfect Jack O’Lantern.

The best part of a trip to the orchard is cooking and eating what you pick! Try some of the recipes below or send us some of your own.

HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE I

Ingredients:

4 medium cooking apples
l cup water
½ cup of brown sugar (if desired)
Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

Directions:

Wash the apples very well. Then peel, core and quarter the apples and simmer them until tender in about an inch of water over medium heat. You can puree your apples in a food processor or mash them well for chunkier applesauce.

HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE II

Easy and maximizes the apples’ nutritional content, but requires a food mill.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Wash the apples well. Quarter them and toss them into the pot with a small amount of water. Bring the water to the boil, cover the pot and turn the heat to low until the apples are very tender. Use a food mill to further puree apples and remove skins and seeds.

PUMPKIN ICE-CREAM PIE

Ingredients:

1 quart of vanilla ice cream
1 cup strained, blended and pureed pumpkin
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 large graham cracker piecrust

Directions:

Take ice cream out of the freezer and let it become soupy. Put the ice cream in a bowl with the pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Stir, pour it into the crust and set it in a level place in the freezer to harden overnight.

PUMPKIN-RAISIN DROPS

Ingredients:

1 beaten egg
3/4 cup strained, blended and pureed pumpkin
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
pinch of pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ cup raisins
Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

In a medium mixing bowl stir together egg, pumpkin, sugar, oil and vanilla. In another bowl, stir flour, spices, baking soda and salt. Blend and stir dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture. Then add and stir in the raisins.

Spray a baking sheet with the nonstick cooking spray. Drop the dough by rounded teaspoonfuls one inch apart onto the cookie sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for around 12 minutes, or until done. Cool. This makes about 24 cookies.

LISTING OF NEARBY ORCHARDS

Unlike last year, farmers are having a bountiful, bumper crop. Now, if it will only stop raining on the weekends, you'll be able to enjoy a day in the orchard.

IN NEARBY -- WESTCHESTER COUNTY 2003

OUTHOUSE ORCHARDS
Hardscrabble Road, Croton Falls, NY
914-277-3188

"Everything's pretty good this year," said the farmer. "We have Macintosh, Gala and Macoun apples, peaches, clums, corn and more."

In addition to apple and pumpkin picking, there are many activities every weekend—hay rides, craft vendors, petting zoo, pony rides, pumpkin and face painting, fresh donuts and cider. Take the Hutch to 684. Get off at Exit 8 (Hardscrabble Road). Turn Right at the exit. "Can't miss us, we're about one mile on the left."

(update: September 25, 2003)

WILKENS FARM
1313 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights, NY
914-245-5111
website: www.wilkensfarm.com

This week we're picking Macs, Cortlands and Baldwins," said farmer Randy Pratt. "But we have about twenty varieties in all." Check ahead if there's a particular apple you're interested in. Pumpkin picking starts October 4 and goes until Halloween.

In addition to pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, there are cider, donuts, pies and muffins. And you'll get a wagon ride to and from the orchard.

(update: September 25, 2003)

IN ROCKLAND COUNTY

DR. DAVIES FARM
Rt. 304, Congers, NY
845-268-7020
website: www.drdaviesfarm.com

"The crop is wonderful!" said owner Jan Davies. Pick-your-own apples include Macs, Cortlands, Spartan Macs, Winesaps, Romes and many more varieties. Check the website for when your favorite variety is being picked.

There are also hay rides, pumpkins, a farm market with the Davies' own cider, and a field for picnics. Apple picking continues until the first week of November.

(updated September 25, 2003)

THE ORCHARDS OF CONCKLIN
Route 45 & 2 South Mountain Road, Pomona, NY
845-354-0369
website:www.theorchardsofconcklin.com

You’ll be able to pick-your-own apples and pumpkins on weekends from 10-5 - if the weather cooperates. The website gives a schedule of which apples are being picked each week, from Empires and Red Delicious early in October, to Romes and pumpkins later on. There will be a mini-corn maze, tractor slide and haunted house on the weekends, and hayrides on Sunday.

The on-site bakery turns out apple cider donuts, pies, quiches and other home-made goodies, and the farm store sells local produce and Concklin cider.

The weather has produced a terrific crop - now the farm needs sunshine on the weekends so the crowds can come pick.

(Updated: September 29, 2003)

DUTCHESS COUNTY

BARTON ORCHARDS
Route 7, Beekman, NY
845-227-2306
website:www.bartonorchards.com

Bartons is a day-long experience every Saturday and Sunday during the harvest season. This 120-acre farm has everything, including music by country bands, the Rotten Core Manor House of Horrors, the Harvest Haunted Hayride and the Corntamination ("not your average corn maze!") In addition there are pony rides, playground petting zoo, Halloween crafts and homemade donuts and other eats.

Check the website for information on weekend entertainment and events. There's also a schedule of what's being picked when: apples started in August and will go through October.

"There's a very good crop of apples of all varieties," said Mr. Barton.

(Updated: September 29, 2003)

SECOR FARMS
63 Robinson Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY
845-452-6883

Harvest Festival is every weekend in October plus Columbus Day – with hayrides, the Amazing Pumpkin Maze, decorative pumpkin display, and snacks.

GRIEG FARM
Pitcher Lane, Red Hook(off Route 9), NY
845-758-1234
website: www.greigfarm.com

There picking apples, fall raspberries and pumpkins at Greig Farm during the last week of September. The website announces what the current pick is each day - so check ahead. This is a seven-day-a week farm, open 9 am to 5 pm.

In addition to pick-your-own, you'll find a nursery and garden shop, plus Alison Wines & Vineyards,

(Updated September 29, 2003)

ULSTER COUNTY

SOONS ORCHARD
845-374-5471
website: www.soonsorchards.com/

Soons has a great website, with a lot of information and directions: Soons
Through October there's pick your own apples and pumpkins every weekend from 10 am to 4 pm, plus all day Columbus Day (October 13).

Mrs. Soons said, "The crop is good - good size and good quality." There are some unusual varieties - Liberty and Golden Supreme, in addition to cider pressed on the premises.

(Update: September 29, 2003)

ORANGE COUNTY

APPLEWOOD ORCHARDS
82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick, NY
845-986-1684
website: Applewood Orchards

Applewood is open 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week until October 21. The website offers updates on which apples are being picked and what sort of entertainment there'll be on the weekend: music, wagon rides, puppet shows?

In addition to pick your own apples and pumpkins, there is also a farm store, plus gardens, petting zoo, and places for picnics. There's also Applewood Winery, which offers tours and tastings of "Stone Wall cider" and many varieties of Hudson Valley wines.

"For the pumpkin crowd, remember that pumpkin rides start the first weekend of October," reports the website. "Stay tuned for announcements of our famous ‘starlight pumpkin picking’ in mid-October."

(Updated: September 29, 2003)

IN NEARBY CONNECTICUT

SILVERMAN'S FARM
451 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT
203-261-3306
website: www.silvermansfarm.com

Silverman’s has an animal farm open year-round where children can feed the baby animals. There is also a wonderful farm market that offers home made pies, cookies, jams and fresh fruits and vegetables.

You can pick apples every day, from 9 am to 5 pm, until about the third week in October. Check the website for the variety being picked. There's also a huge pile of pumpkins..

"Apple picking is great this year," said Mr. Silverman. "And the 17 varieties of fresh-baked pies are a big thing here."

(Updated September 29, 2003)

Mamaroneck resident Sandy Goodman is a Registered Dietitian and a free lance writer specializing in nutrition, parenting and health

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