My Upstate getaway was full of meanderings, and those meanderings often included visits to the…read morefarms around town. Golden Harvest was one of those farms, chosen by my husband who planned the entire trip. I was along for the ride. It's quaint and hard to miss with its bright-red, apple-shaped sign. We parked in front of the shop, and the smell of freshly baked goods greeted us when we entered. At that moment I knew this place would not disappoint. The counter had pies, turnovers, and cookies on display, but we came with a mission: secure a cider donut. It's so refreshing to see donuts sold at a reasonable price. For $1.35, these were a steal compared to the $6 ones sold in the city. (Yes, $6 for a single!) The donuts, which were still warm when we had them, were generously coated with cinnamon sugar. You could taste the apple cider with each bite. I would have ordered more, but I was saving my appetite for barbecue. (See my review for their smokehouse on my profile!)

On our way through Albany, we dropped by Golden Harvest because there aren't too many places who…read moreserve hot apple cider in the spring/summer. I'm always on a hunt for good hot cider and this one really hit the spot! You can really taste the spices and it was so soothing. We also bought half a dozen apple cider donuts, which were good. Their donuts are covered in thick sugar, but it is not too sweet. Prices are very affordable as well! The regular size cider was only $3.75 and the half dozen donuts was $5.95.

Went here on a Sunday in late September, and there was a decent amount of apples to pick! They have…read morea ton of different kinds to choose from. You do have to pay admission to pick, but you get to pick way more than apples. Veggies and fruit are available if you go at the right time. We got 3 large pumpkins and an entire bag of apples for a little less than 35 bucks! Definitely worth it to stop here!

You are presumed to be a criminal and are treating accordingly at check-out…read more I brought my disabled patient to the orchard for a safe, therapeutic outing, but he was left traumatized by the excessive post-picking interrogation, intense vehicle search, and authoritarian bullying by their plainclothes security. As I was held at check-out inside the building, an unnamed woman with no identification confronted me in an accusatory manner demanding to know what else we had picked. I told her everything we picked was on the counter. She asked what was in my car. I told her my patient, his rollator, and his mobility scooter. Not much else fits in a little KIA. She left me inside the building at the register and went out to my car. With no explanation to my startled patient, she began rooting through my car. He was alone and felt defenseless in a frightening situation. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get him to leave his house again for an outing like this. He is traumatized. Columbia County NY has many PYO options that are more friendly and less terrifying than this horrible place.

It was our first time here. So glad we came very friendly staff berries are absolutely delicious!…read moreEven walked out with a hanging basket and arrangement of sunflowers. Definitely a place that we will be returning to again.

We had a fantastic experience at Chatham Berry Farm We…read morepicked two baskets of blueberries, (no charge for the container) and the blueberries were plentiful The people who work there were really nice and friendly Great place for a fun time My only recommendation is to wear sunscreen a wide brimmed hat and work quickly it takes a lot of time to fill two baskets. Tomorrow blueberry muffins and blueberry pancakes.

The Kinderhook Farmer's Market is a fairly small market even at the height of the summer. They…read moreclose off a portion of Albany Ave. right in the middle of town. Right now, because of Covid 19, the tables were spaced far apart and only 6 vendors but I imagine as the season progresses and more fresh produce is available there will be a bigger selection. It's a great small town market to wander through and you can stop at Broad Street Bagel and pick up breakfast or lunch while you're there.

Roxbury Farm is amazing…read more Shortly after I moved to the Captial Region ThinkAnd D. told me about this great little farm called Roxbury that he thought I would really enjoy. He is one of the few people whose taste I trust without reservation. So I immediately went to their website to try and subscribe to the CSA. Unfortunately I was too early. I marked the date when perspective members could apply for a share, and on that day I went back to the site. As it turned out the farm wasn't quite ready yet, and suggested I check back in a few days. The tragedy was that when I finally returned, all the open slots had already been filled. So I had to wait another year, and even then I was only able to get a share at a less than convenient site. It was only this past season that I finally was able to become a member at the drop-off site nearest to my home. With two years under my belt, I have seen bounty and I have seen loss. That's part of the CSA model. Your fate is tied to the farms. What you get is at the mercy of the weather. From that perspective 2011 was brutal. An early hail pushed off the start of the season. And even after a hurricane that flooded the creek and destroyed a massive amount of the farm's crops, they miraculously continued to deliver amazing vegetables (you can see the photo above for yourself). It was the subsequent tropical storm that really was devastating. The season had to end a few weeks early, and winter storage crops had to be used to prolong the deliveries for as long as possible. Even with these losses, my love for this farm is undiminished. Their biodynamic produce is delicious. The best corn is corn that has just been picked. I love the flood of tomatoes, red peppers and cucumbers at the height of summer. They combine naturally in a panzanella salad that requires no cooking just at the time of year when you don't want to turn on your stove. Winter out here is long. When summer rolls around, it should be celebrated. And there is no better way of celebrating it than eating freshly harvested produce that was grown nearby. I can't say enough good things about this farm. I can just thank them for all their hard work and happily keep subscribing to their CSA.

First off, let me make it clear that I am not, nor have ever been, a hippie. I hate granola and…read moreretch at the faintest scent of patchouli. When I see a sitar, I reach for my gun.* But I love, love, love cooking and eating well. And I love love love supporting alternative community endeavors. Roxbury Farm falls under the rubric of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). For those not familiar with CSAs, for an annual fee one essentially becomes a 'shareholder' in a farm for the duration of a growing season, receiving a portion of the farm's output on a weekly basis. We're very fortunate in this area because there's quite a few CSAs to choose from. Roxbury, though, is one of the oldest in the nation, has standards that go far beyond the government's definition of acceptable 'organic' farming standards, and is socially conscious, delivering free food to local pantries. Their weekly newsletter displays a pragmatic sensitivity to regional issues that I rarely see around this area. Roxbury's weekly share is geared for a family of three, and they've got dozens of drop-off points scattered about the immediate area, making pickup very convenient. For example, the distance to my drop-off location is a short bike ride away (but there's so much food that the trip really demands a car). Most of the produce is what you'd expect from this region, but the quality is vastly superior, and every once in a while you'll get something relatively surprising, like bok choy, garlic scapes, or some unusual pepper or green not available in local supermarkets. In terms of quantity, I can say that we've never finished off a weekly order without freezing or preserving some of it. It's a little pricey, but well worth it, especially if you've got a freezer or know canning. You'll have great vegetables (and fruit and meat, if you like) all year. And, you'll know that you're supporting local farmers. For more info, check out their website at roxburyfarm.com. And please note that this season (2007) is filled. You'll have to wait until the beginning of the coming year to join. * I own a staple gun.

Great place and super cool And helpful staff!!! They made me…read morea Turkey Rueben and it was delicious....highly recommended for shopping and lunch.

A local gem! It's teeny tiny and a little spendy, so it probably won't replace your everyday food…read moreshopping, but the food is fresh and delicious. It has a nice spirit and feels like a throwback to days of small, community focused shopping. Quality everything! Fantastic curb-side option for those days when COVID throws you a curveball. I am happy to support this place!

Walked up to pick some fresh apples!…read more The staff we very nice and helpful. If you don't have your own bag, it's $1 per bag. They have all the rows of trees labeled. Some varieties are more expansive than the others so makes sure to have separate bags. They also have a fruit stand that has pre-picked apples, pumpkins, gourds, tomatoes and other produce. Great stop on the way back to the city!

Can't beat the prices. They have a wide selection of freshly picked fruit and vegetables. Open…read moreweekends 9am - 6pm, Yonder Fruit Farms allows you to pick your own apples, raspberries, black berries, and a large variety of tomatoes. For family fun or to stock the refrigerator, Yonder Fruit farm is a MUST STOP!