Monday, October 18, 2010

Picking the Best Apples in the Hudson Valley

Garden of Eden?

It's one thing to buy your apples from a farmer's market. It's an entirely elevated experience to pick them yourself at an orchard in the glorious Hudson Valley. This weekend's visit to DuBois Farms in Highland, Ulster County, was such a treat. Plucking a ripe apple off an abundant tree is a sheer delight. They crunch and snap and explode with extra flavor when you pick them yourself. They just do.

The apple season at DuBois Farms runs daily through November 7th, but it's best to call ahead to make sure there are apples left. Current available varieties - all at .99/pound - include Fuji, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Lady. Rent an optional apple picker for $2 to catch the high growing fruit. Enjoy the weekend barbecues, pumpkin picking and tractor-pulled wagon rides. And don't leave without trying one of their freshly baked donuts.

DuBois Farms may never have existed. A few years ago it was an abandoned orchard, land targeted to be sold for development. Thankfully Dave and Jolee DuBois had a different vision when they bought it and transformed it into one of the most popular pick-your-own farms in the Hudson Valley.
 
Quick Apple Crisp Recipe Courtesy of DuBois Farms

Peel and slice 4-5 large apples into a baking dish. Sprinkle with a crumb topping of 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Tractor-pulled wagon gets you to and from the orchard

Fall bounty at DuBois Farms

2 comments:

  1. This is a magical post. Fall's true rite of passage personified. Thank you for making me crave the crunch!

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  2. How lucky we all are to have local access to this farm! and viewing the beautiful fall colors on the ride along the Hudson. And you explained the experience perfectly. Bonnie

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