Hours

Weekend of 9/11

taproom

3-8 Thursday

3-8 Friday

12-5 Saturday

12-6 Sunday

Farmstand / PYO

3-7 Thursday

3-7 Friday

9-5 Saturday

9-5 Sunday

*Please refer to Events Calendar or Google listings (Farm / Cidery) for private event closures or special holiday openings which may occasionally affect these hours.

What’s Pickin’?

Weekend of 9/11

Blueberries

One variety (Elliott) is still available for pick-your-own. The time to stock up for winter is upon us. This will be our last week and weekend of blueberry picking for the season.

Plums

Limited quantities of five varieties of plums will be available pre-picked in the farm stand beginning Thursday at 3 pm:

● Stanley: This plum originated at the New York State Agricultural Experient Station in Geneva, was developed by Richard Wellington, and introduced in 1926. A beautiful blue/purple skinned fruit with sweet yellow flesh. This multi-use fruit is another prime candidate for fresh eating, canning, baking, and drying to make prunes. I made quite a few prunes for the Winter, and come February they did not disappoint. Perfect for snacking, with yogurt and oatmeal, goes well with applesauce, can be put in granola. Really the options are limitless. 

● Unknown Plum: This plum came to us from a nursery (not to be named), and the variety is most definitely not what it was sold as. I've been digging, but still haven't found out what this variety is. Anyways, it is a great plum. Small (around 1") and round European plum, blue skin, yellow flesh. Currently they are more tart than sweet, but if left on the counter for a while, that shifts a bit. Very limited quantity available.

● Long John: An exceptionally beautiful blue plum. Large and oblong, firm sweet flesh. Magenta color created when cooked with the skin. Bred at Cornell by John P. Watson at the NYS Agricultural Research Station in Geneva, NY, and released to the public in 1993. This is a very versatile plum—great for fresh eating, dehydrating, cooking, jams, sauces, etc. 

● Fortune: A classic California plum. Large firm fruit, dark red skin, and yellow flesh. A nice balance of sweet and tart flavor. This plum was developed by the USDA in Fresno, California and introduced in 1988. Great for fresh eating, salads, and jams. I have not dehydrated this one yet, but I suspect it could be a good candidate.

● Jefferson: As U.P. Hedrick wrote in his large edition of The Plums of New York, published in 1910, Jefferson is one of the most "handsomest" and "choicest" plums, as well as "one of the best dessert plums". It had quite a history in New York, but fell out of favor because it wasn't a great market plum, meaning that it didn't travel so well, and would end up at its destination bruised up. Jefferson was originally raised by Judge Buel, Albany, NY around 1825. Anyways, it is a larger, oval, oblong shaped yellow skin, yellow fleshed, clingstone plum. Flavor is sweet and mild. A rare and very special plum indeed.

Apples

Three varieties of apples are now available for pick-your-own:

● Gale Gala: This strain of Gala was discovered in a Washington state orchard and then propagated because of its redder than the usual Gala quality. Very sweet, juicy, and crunchy. Excellent for fresh eating, and also good in pies or tarts. (This variety is located in the Pump Pond Block next to where the strawberries used to be. There are 3 rows.)

● Pioneer McIntosh: This strain of McIntosh is very similar to the original McIntosh which is believed to be a seedling of the once prized Snow/Fameuse variety discovered in Ontario, Canada in 1811. The coloring of about half green/half dark red is very beautiful and the thick skin gives way to a very vinous, tart yet savory flavor. Classic! (This variety is found in the Pines Block, just up from the blueberries.)

● Jonamac: Introduced in 1944 at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station. A cross between Jonathan and McIntosh. Acidic and slightly tart now, and in the next couple of weeks as the fruit hangs, they develop some sweetness and more balanced flavor. It turns out, these trees are some of the oldest on the farm here, planted in 1978 and 1979. For this week, look for the darkest fruits as they will be the ripest and have the fullest flavor. This variety is located up the main orchard road, Center Hill Block, on the righthand side of the road. There are four rows, situated between the Empire.

● Honeycrisp: The legend itself is back! The highly sought-after Honeycrisp was released in 1991 by the University of Minnesota. This is a beautiful apple with mostly red streaking over a greenish background. The patterns and designs on the skin are quite incredible. It is pretty singular in its sweet cruchiness—a one trick pony, so to speak. The texture is rather rare in that the cells of the flesh are large and break away very cleanly, allowing the sweet juice to almost explode in one's mouth. Note: Honeycrisp is best spot-picked. The fruits that are currently mostly green will be better in the coming days as they mature and color up more. This variety is also located up the main orchard road on the righthand side after the Empire and Early Fuji. There are four rows that extend all the way to the Pines. We will also have plenty of these pre-picked and available at the farm stand.

We will have five more varieties of apples pre-picked at the farm stand:

● Pipsqueak: This is a seedling of Frostbite (a uniquely flavored apples) that was raised by the apple legend John Bunker in Maine around 2005. After genetic testing, it turns out that the pollinating parent is Chestnut Crab. Makes sense. Sweet, with tropical notes. They are super cute with the large lenticels that give them great character. Great for fresh eating or making whole baked apples. 

● Fulford Gala: The most widely planted variety across the globe. This is a solid blushed strain of Gala that was noticed in New Zealand by W. Fulford in 1983. Most Gala strains are identified by their stripes, while this one has a pretty, bold, and solid blush. This strain in particular is exceptionally beautiful - red with lovely lenticels. A true sweet apple. Great for fresh eating and dessert making.

● Ginger Gold: A seedling apple variety that appeared in the orchard of Clyde and Ginger Harvey in Nelson County, Virginia in 1980. It is a medium to large apple (there are some real whoppers hanging out there now!), round to oblate, with green to yellow colored skin. When the skin turns yellowish, it is ripe, crisp, and juicy with a pleasantly sweet flavor. The cream-colored flesh is slow to oxidize making it great for salads and desserts as it holds its shape when cooked.

Flowers

We planted a small field of zinnias again this year and they are really popping up and blooming now! They are located in the Center Hill and Pines Blocks. If going up the main orchard road, take a right as soon as you cross over the culvert pipe before you get to the first row of apple trees. Continue walking towards the right and look left. If going from the blueberries, walk up the secondary orchard road and they will be on your left and right after you've passed a few rows of apples trees.

Our sunflower field is now open for picking as well! They are located up the main orchard road, directly on the left after passing the Farm Stand Block. 

On the Radar

More plums (President) and apples (Early Fuji, Cortland, Macoun, etc.) are on the horizon! Pumpkins will also be showing up next week.

Join us in the taproom Thursday through Sunday through the harvest season for locally-crafted drinks and food pop-ups. Keep an eye on our events calendar for upcoming live music, featured ferments (tastings by other NYS makers), classes, festivals, ticketed dinners, and more. See you soon!

Browse our Food Vendor and Events Calendar.

See Rajiv Surendra’s recent visit to the farm for HGTV Handmade!

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Find Out More:

Address:  14 Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook, NY 12571

Conveniently accessible from I-87 and the TSP yet peacefully tucked away off the beaten track.

Directions from NYC: Take Taconic State Parkway N to exit 67 (toward Pine Plains/Red Hook). Turn left at NY-199 W. Enter Village of Red Hook, NY-199 becomes Market St. Turn right onto Route 9. Turn right at Fraleigh Lane. Make left into Rose Hill Farm.