We lucked into a good picking orchard. Some places are too theme-park flavored. We wanted just a farmer with a back forty and a bunch of trees. We payed $15 per half bushel I think and the guy was really neat and real. You can read more about his farm at the Mister Apple website.
A strong bonus was the orchard's location in the middle of an upstate historic district. High Falls, NY (Ulster County, right next door to New Paltz) has a great actively maintained museum and a Fraunces Tavern type of Dutch-era Inn.
There were (in descending order of deliciousness) Winesap, Jonagolds, MacIntosh, Gold & Red Delicious, and Cortlands. In the picture you can see the applepicking poles we used. The Hudson Valley has a lot of picking spots. Check out the map at the very bottom of the Hudson Valley webpage.
Winesaps, huh? I've never tried them. I've read that the hundreds of apples available a century ago have been limited by our need for apples that can travel long distances and keep for a long time.
Posted by: Peter | October 18, 2010 at 06:13 PM