Text size:

Apple picking on Long Island

A great way to spend a fall day on Long Island is to take the kids apple picking. Though farmland and orchards are dwindling in Nassau and Suffolk, there are still places to pick a peck.

Be sure to call ahead to find out what varieties are being offered and to check on hours of U-pick and orchard conditions. Orchard owners have not all set prices yet; some charge by the peck, some by the pound.

Wickham's Fruit Farm, Main Road, Cutchogue; 631-734-6441; open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays.

The Milk Pail, Montauk Highway, Water Mill; 631-537-2565, milk-pail.com; open Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Davis Peach Farm, Hulse Landing Road, north of Route 25A, Wading River; 631-929-1115, davis peachfarm.com; open every day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lewin Farms, 812 Sound Ave., Wading River; 631-929-4327, lewinfarms.com; open every day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Woodside Farms, Manor Lane, Jamesport, and Main Road, Aquebogue (across from Fauna Restaurant); 631-722-5770; hours vary, call ahead.

Seven Ponds Orchard, 65 Seven Ponds Rd., Water Mill; 631- 726-8015; hours vary, call ahead.

Fort Salonga Farm, 30 Meadow Glen Rd., Northport, 631-269- 9666, fortsalongafarm.com; open every day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m

APPLE INFO

Apples ripen from the outside of the tree towards the center, so the apples out the outside of the tree will ripen first, according to information on pickyourown.org.

Picking apples directly from a tree is easy, according to the Web site's instructions. Roll the apple upwards off the branch and give a little twist; don't pull straight away from the tree. If two apples are joined together at the top, both will come away at the same time. Don't shake the tree or its branches. If the apple you are trying to pick -- or others on the tree -- drops, go ahead and pick it up. They're perfectly fine.

For more u-pick information, go to pickyourown.org/nylongisland.htm.

A complete directory of orchards in the state as well as information about when apples ripen, health benefits of apples and recipes, can be found at nyapplecountry.com. Go to nycider.com for a directory of producers.

See a complete list of Long Island farm stands.