Every year, my family visits Samascott Orchard in Kinderhook, NY at least 5 times. We pick a huge variety of things there throughout the summer and fall. The prices are decent and the orchards are pretty. Check out their website samacott.com, for a complete list of the items they are picking at any given time.
We love the orchard because we can drive right back into the orchard area. When you arrive, the friendly staff give you a map of the orchard. On it is a list of what is available to pick at that time, and its location on the farm. You can drive your car onto any roads in the orchard and then get out of your car and walk around. We’ve brought food in the past and had a picnic among the trees.
When you are finished picking, you stop at the same spot you came in, and the staff will weigh your produce and you pay the listed price per pound. Make sure to go into the small store area, to indulge in fresh apple cider donuts and cold apple cider. It makes a nice snack after working so hard picking all the produce you are about to bring home!
I truly don’t know of any other farm where you are able to pick blueberries, peas, and cherries as well as broccoli and strawberries on a early summer day. The variety of fruits and vegetables that you can pick at Samascott Orchard, really brings people from all over the local area. If you time it right, on Saturday mornings in the summer, the Village of Kinderhook has a farmer’s market in the town center which is also fun to visit.
Kinderhook, NY is a beautiful old town with lots of historic houses, so just the drive is worth the time to get there. It takes about 30-40 minutes from Albany, NY to drive to Kinderhook. This is a nice way to spend the afternoon with your family, and a fun place to bring kids.