Sure, you’re at the orchard for the Honeycrisps, Galas, and Red Delicious beauties. But what about all those other apples? Throughout the Hudson Valley, local farms treat visitors to quite a number of under-the-radar apples. Try one — or a few — and don’t be surprised if you find a new favorite in the process.
Ashmead’s Kernel is one of the “say what?” varieties you might pick at DuBois Farms in Highland. It’s an old English variety, with a delectable pear-like taste. “It’s ugly looking, but beauty is only skin deep,” says co-owner Dave DuBois.
Kinderhook’s Samascott Orchards grows some little-known apple varieties: Calville Blanc (a golden from France) and Elstar (a versatile sweet variety from the Netherlands that’s beloved in Europe).
King David: Fishkill Farms offers this apple mid-October, but there won’t be many to go around. If you are lucky enough to snag some, expect a puckery-good tart flavor with citrus and spice notes. It was introduced to the marketplace in 1902, after being discovered on an Arkansas farm almost a decade earlier.
Snapdragon: This new kid on the block is an award-winning cultivar that promises to be a Honeycrisp 2.0. Juicy and crunchy, find it this September at Clarke’s Family Farm in Modena and many other local pick-your-owns.
Related: Your Official Hudson Valley Apple Picking Farm Guide
