From Orchard to Oven

From Orchard to Oven: Long Island Apple Picking and the Perfect Apple Pie Filling Recipe

It’s that time of year again where the leaves are turning colors, and falling from the trees. The smell of cinnamon, and coffee is in the air, and apples are ready to be picked!

Apple picking is a popular fall activity in many parts of the United States, including Long Island, New York. During the apple-picking season, many families and individuals visit local orchards to pick their own apples, enjoy the autumn ambiance, and participate in other fall-related activities.

Many orchards do offer more than just apple picking. You might find corn mazes, hayrides, pumpkin patches, and even petting zoos. Some places also sell fresh apple cider, apple cider donuts, and other treats. Personally, I love all of these activities! How can you not? You get out of the house, have a good time, *support your local farms*, and, AND you get apples fresh off the tree!

We have visited many farms over the years that offer both “U-Pick” and already picked apples. These farms are very easy to find! A quick internet search will bring you many results. We do have a small list of farms that are u-pick and/or offer already picked apples. While many of the farms were wonderful we don’t have enough room to list all of them, but here is a very short list of a few we have gone to over the years:

With quite large fields, Lewin Farm has many picking options between late May and late October. They certainly have plenty of apple trees to pick from during this time of year.
201-709 Fresh Pond Ave, Calverton, NY 11933

At the top tail end of the island we have Wickham’s Fruit Farm. An easy to find place right on Main Rd in Cutchogue. Wickham’s is a lovely little farm with lots of produce and an abundance of apples this time of year
28700 Main Rd, Cutchogue, NY 11935

If you’re located more toward the west side of Long island there really aren’t options for apple picking that we have come across so far, but there are still farms that offer plenty of already picked apples. One of these farms is Richters Orchard. they are located on Richters Orchards Driveway right off of Pulaski Rd in Northport.
1 Richters Orchards Driveway, Northport, NY 11768

and finally we have Organics Today Farm. While they do not have a U-Pick option for apples, they are a farm that offers an organic option.
169 Washington St, East Islip, NY, United States, New York

Depending on the time of fall that you go, you might find varieties like McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Golden Delicious, and more. The orchards may have charts or guides indicating which apples are best for baking, eating raw, or making cider.

Keep in mind that while picking apples can be a fun activity, it might be pricier than buying apples at a grocery store. Some orchards charge by the pound, while others might charge a flat fee for a bag that you can fill. In addition, there might be an entrance fee if there are other activities.

Also during this time, be sure to enjoy the beautiful views Long Island has, especially with the changing foliage. Consider taking a scenic drive or stopping at other local attractions while you’re in the area.

Now that you have a bounty of fresh apples, you can make pies, crisps, cider, apple butter, and other delicious treats. Another quick internet search will provide you with many wonderful recipes for apples.

My personal fave is Apple pie! Here is a basic recipe that I like to use for my apple pie filling.

Apple Pie Filling:

Ingredients:

• 6 cup thinly sliced and peeled apples
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix the apples with lemon juice while you cut them to keep this from turning brown. Mix the sugar, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg together. Toss the apples until they are coated in the spice mixture. The spiced apple mixture is now ready for whatever you want to use it for! Pies, pastries, etc.

By apple picking at local orchards, you’re supporting local farmers and the local economy. It’s a great way to connect with the source of your food and appreciate the hard work that goes into agriculture.

It’s always a good idea to plan ahead, as weekends can be particularly busy at popular orchards, especially during peak apple-picking season. Enjoy the experience, and happy apple picking!