Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

Had a great time exploring the grounds here and enjoying a whiskey tasting. The staff was very friendly and provided recommendations of activities to partake in nearby. The grounds were open and provided a great – albeit brief – getaway from the city. Additionally, the cider doughnuts were arguably the best I’ve ever had (cinnamon, sugar, and plain) I will definitely be back for apple season.

Absolutely in love with this place! It’s beautiful. The staff is friendly, and there are a bunch of activities for the kids and adults. A big plus that we could bring the dog, she had a blast, and so did we.

Great day out for the family in Fall with beautiful apple picking orchards ($ 25 for a huge bag), pumpkin patch, hayrides and a few small kids rides like bouncy castle etc. Bring your own apple picker or be prepared to rent one if you want to reach the higher apples, but also make sure you walk past the initial trees which are usually pretty bare and up the hill and you will find plenty of trees with lower hanging apples.
We went mid October and it was extremely crowded but there is plenty of space, just be prepared for long lines for the food/​drinks etc.
We took our basic MacLaren stroller and it faired ok across some of the grassy bits etc, but if you have a more rugged stroller or wagon for the little ones that will make it infinitely easier.
It has a fairly small parking area so they direct you up the street to another, I guess less popular Farm, where you pay $ 5 for parking and then walk back down to Harvest Moon.
Overall a great day — very popular farm so be prepared for some crowds and waiting times for everything.

This place was nice. I thought it would be a bit bigger and have a bit more to do, but overall we were satisfied with our first time visit here.
The drive from the Bronx was about 55 mins. Scenery of the trees changing color was very nice and just peaceful. We arrived a few mins before 11am and parking was not an issue (and free btw). You can already see the crowds of families all over the farm, however it was not overwhelming.
We walked around the whole place and did a lil bit of everything. At first i thought there was a $ 5 adm fee (per their website) but this wasn’t the case. We only paid for the food and bouncy ride things. We tasted all the free food (alll delicious) and of course we bought a dozen donuts with cinn sugar and OMG they were super delicious!!! If you come here you MUST try them! I had mine with some coffee and that made my morning.
The country store was awesome. We always love seeing all the local home made food. Its great!
We also had some bbq food and it was good.
The kids ran around and had fun galore. We didnt think the $ 5 pp on the hayride was worth it, i mean it takes you around the exact farm we just walked around. Lol. The live band was kool and staff was nice.
Overall great experience. Wish they would have had more animals to see aside from chickens and a few goats, and wish that there was more activities for kids and families since the farm is fairly small compared to others out on L. I that we have been too.

Hayride (check)
Apple picking (check)
Pumpkin Patch picking (check)
Hot Apple Cider (triple check)
Would definitely do this family day trip again! Our boys loved every moment and it was a great learning/​teaching experience for our children. Autumn colors were everywhere and my husband and I did not miss the opportunity to teach our boys while the enjoyed the «country.» The hot apple cider was so good that our ever so picky two year old wanted more than his cup allowed so we more than obliged since my ever so picky husband loved it too. There was a festival this weekend so there was music in the air and we just loved it, not out style of music but the boys still danced so I was happy. Our four year old did the bouncy house and almost ate the entire bag of kettle corn with his little brother. All in all a very welcoming place, packed with extra long lines but the atmosphere made it all bearable!

Harvest Moon and Outhouse are basically the same place, so if you initially came here based on Outhouse reviews you’re likely to end up going to both anyway. Harvest Moon, right across the street from Outhouse, has the bigger apple picking scene. It’s more accessible by public transit (Metro-​North) than other orchards, so expect large crowds. Furthermore, applepicking seems to have transformed from a quaint family-​oriented activity to a hip nature getaway for Millenials (for those Instagram shots), so crowds increase and arrive earlier every year.
Nonetheless, the overall experience is worth it. Even later in the season (October), with a 10-​minute walk deep into the orchard you can find abundant Liberty apples on the trees. The hillside views are great and you’ll have a fun time picking, eating, and strolling. The lively food vendor scene (with live music) is a major plus, and I’d recommend the turkey legs, cider donuts and pumpkin cheesecake. For more adventure, cross the street to Outhouse for their corn maze and pumpkin picking. Overall, very well run operation and highly recommended activity for all groups.

Great for a day trip for apple picking and getting out of the city.
We took Metro North from Grand Central to Croton Falls. The train ride is a little over an hour and $ 28 per person for a round trip. As other Unilocalers have mentioned, don’t take the train to Purdy’s it’s just a parking lot. The cab ride to the farm from Croton Falls should be $ 5/​person and there are normally cabs waiting at the station.
Recommend coming early in the season (mid sept) and early in the day. There are a LOT of families that come and it gets crowded by lunch.
No fee to enter the orchard you pay for a $ 25 bag to hold apples if you want to pick and put as many as you can in. It’s approximately enough for 20 lbs (see picture).
We had a lot of fun exploring the orchard, would just suggest that the orchard put in signs for the types of apples as its be nice to know. If you’re lazy they have bins with picked apples too.
Lots of stands serving food (they have a grill) and cider donuts we didn’t get to try because the line was so long. Next time! They also have a store with interesting things (pies, honey, etc) that are a nice way to cap the trip.

I had a great Sunday afternoon at Harvest Moon! My friends and I were looking for a place to go apple picking that is accessible from Manhattan and we were so happy to find Harvest Moon. It’s an easy trip from Grand Central to the Croton Falls metro north station. Once at the Croton Falls station there were cabs waiting to take people directly to the orchard which was just a few minutes away. The trip was a little over an hour one-​way, with the cab ride costing a flat rate of $ 5 per person each way.
The orchard had a great selection (we went the first weekend in October) of about 5 – 6 different kinds of apples. There were apple picking poles you could use for the trees, as well as multiple bins of apples to choose from. You pay up front for apple picking, which was $ 25 for a half bushel bag. Not bad at all since we split the bag of apples three ways and each have enough apples for weeks. There is also a pumpkin patch with various sizes of pumpkins to pick as well.
I also loved the farmers market at Harvest Moon. The apple cider donuts were out of this world. Seriously, they were something special. You could purchase freshly made kettle corn, cheesecakes, wood fired oven pizza, apple cider and the usual outdoor market items such as jams, honey, fudge, and soaps. The selection of foods and items was impressive.
The atmosphere here was really fun. There was a live band and everyone working at the market was lovely. It’s a great place for children and adults. I can’t wait to return!

This review is strictly on doughnuts and hot cider… OMG incredibly delicious. I try to stop here at least once every fall to get doughnuts n cider bc they are the best around. They offer 3 flavor a — sugar, cinnamon sugar and plain. Scrumptious.

We’ve always gone to another well-​known orchard but today we were looking to be a little closer to the city. We found this one on a post and good enough Unilocal reviews so we tried it.
You pay ahead which is scary (what if picking is bad?) but it worked out fine. I have to say I’m a fan. Yes, you have to walk up a hill to get to the orchards (and carry your bag down). I found this nicer than the other orchard because there are no cars allowed near the trees. The other place I’ve gone you have to navigate cars and and worry about little kids getting hit by cars and cars getting stuck. This place made me realize the orchards are not a good place for car! If you don’t want to carry your heavy bag, bring a wagon or something.
The trees, we found, were pretty full. There were many apples higher up but they had lots of those extension things around that seemed to be free (we didn’t need one). The trees weren’t marked but let’s be real — when you get home, do you remember all the kinds of apples you picked and are able to distinguish them? If you’re like me, you just use whatever when you’re baking/​juicing/​saucing. That didn’t bother me.
You can fill your bag to the brim. They also have boxes of picked apples (marked) toward the end, which we used to top off our overflowing bag.
We went today so it was full of a «festival» of activities. There is some yummy looking food that’s definitely more creative than the gross hot dogs and hamburgers I’ve seen elsewhere. They have a wood fired pizza, BBQ and others. Cider donuts were awesome! Yes, the food is pricy but then don’t eat. My theory is if it’s good tasting, it makes it better than if it’s crappy and pricy.
We loved the pumpkins. We got a bunch and I think they were well priced. They have sugar pumpkins which were large and awesome — great for eating! They have lots of kids activities like temporary tattoos, pony rides, bounce house, etc. We have no kids so can’t speak to the quality of those things. We also liked the store which had more quality things (not so much souvenir junk) and they even have sustainable meat. We bought eggs, bacon and beef while there.
Downsides: cash only (they have a few ATMs), port o potties only (no real bathrooms) and they don’t sell alcohol until noon. We had wanted to try or buy the hard cider, but we came and went early so we couldn’t. That’s probably a law though, not their fault.
I am really going to push to come here from now on. It’s closer and better than our former go-​to spot.

This place has a good location, plenty of trees and plenty of apples. Well organized but the «festival» portion is out of control. Super expensive. $ 8 pony rides, $ 7 to lob apples from a pneumatic cannon, $ 3 just for my 2yo to go into a basic 18×18 bouncy house for 3 minutes. $ 5 per person for a 15 minute tractor ride which traverses all the same trails foot traffic does. So constant stop and go and almost falling out of the trailer. It was very crowded. Parking a a short walk unless you’re lucky enough to get a close spot. Nice store, Food is all good but expensive. Funnel cakes and lemonade are $ 10 for both. That’s the best deal going.

Went here with the family and some friends with the kids and it was a nice time.
Cider donuts was out of this world as was the pecan pie
Their farmers market is also pretty good
Six dollars for dozen farm fresh eggs is steep but well worth it
Five dollar hay ride was ok
The apple picking was enjoyed by all but don’t get why you can use the extension poles by all the tree when the best apples are near the top
Will be back for pumpkin picking

This orchard is dog friendly, prices were reasonable, and there was a lot to do. We took Metro-​North and the train was about $ 30 per person round trip (dogs are also allowed on Metro-​North). We took a car from the train station to the farm ($ 5 per person each way). I wish they had a smaller bag option for apples. The cider was awesome and the doughnuts are a must try. The bathroom situation could be better. Apple picking is a great date activity but expect to spend at least $ 100. We will return next fall!

If you are from the city and without a car, take the Metro-​North from Grand Central for about an hour to Croton Falls ($ 28 round-​trip/​person). Don’t take the train to Purdy’s Station (as suggested by Google Maps). There are no cabs readily available at that stop and you would likely be paying $ 30+ for a cab ride that’s 5 minutes versus taking a cab for $ 5/​person at Croton Falls to the orchard.
We went on a weekend in September, and it wasn’t overly crowded at all. I recommend grabbing some cider and food before heading to the orchard (or bringing the food up for a picnic), as you will be carrying a 20+ lb bag of apples/​pears/​peaches from there after! Also, use the bathroom before you start your picking, as there are no bathrooms in the orchard.
A bag is $ 25, which allows you to pick over 40 fruits and be able to carry it comfortably. If you are feeling extra strong, you can easily fill up the bag with 60 — 70 fruits. A serious steal for $ 25. You can also taste and eat the fruits as you pick, so keep a bottle of water handy to clean the fruits. As the apples all looked relatively the same, I wished there was a map that highlights the different types of apples in the orchard.
During the Saturday we went, there was a Fall festival going on, which included live music, a bunch of food stands (with several delightful samples — try the Pumpkin Cheesecake), wine/​hard cider tasting, a pumpkin patch and some bouncy slides. Additionally, they have a market where you can purchase a lot of different locally made goods, from meats to jams to pies and more! A very suburban feel and a great refreshing one-​day adventure away from the city.
Don’t forget to grab some homemade cider donuts before you go! We got a half-​dozen for just $ 4! Flavors include sugar, cinnamon and plain! Delicious!
Remember to bring cash (although they do have an ATM in the market, but to avoid the fees)!

We went to harvest moon to enjoy a day out, get apples and enjoy what activities a farm offers. I felt the prices were over the top. Small pizzas were $ 11! Hay rides 5 $ per person! Pony rides $ 8! Bounce house slides and obstacle course was $ 2 a turn, not for a certain amount of time but a turn. It’s cash only for everything.

They are fantastically organized– you pull in and they tell you exactly where to park. The orchard is close by and apples are delicious! They are on a hill so make sure to look down at your feet and not just at the gorgeous apples. It was $ 25 for a large bag that you fill up. There was also a «fall festival» going on. They had pumpkins neatly set up — perfect for photos and bouncy houses. $ 3 for house and $ 5 for 3 obstacle course runs. The «grill» was decent– burgers fries smoked turkey legs and hot dogs. Wasn’t cheap, but actually pretty good. Turkey legs were pretty salty. They were also sampling their hard cider which was pretty good! We will definitely go back!

Positively charming!
We went early in the morning on a Thursday, which (luckily) meant avoiding the large school buses full of children that were pulling into the parking lot just as we were leaving and also avoiding the weekend ‘festival’ crowd. If you can wing an early morning weekday trip to Harvest Moon, I would definitely recommend it!
Online, it states that apple picking starts at 10AM, but since the general store opens at 8AM, we decided to head up to the orchard around 9:30AM so that we could grab a couple of the apple cider donuts for breakfast! By the way, the cinnamon coated apple cider donuts are a must-​try! :)
The apple picking is pretty much a free-​for-​all. You are free to wander the orchards with your picking poles and pick as many apples as you can to fill your bag ($ 25/​half bushel or 5 people, NOT bad!). I did notice that there was one worker who seemed to check up on us once in a while, which was kind of creepy, but only because he did so in a creepy manner. Otherwise, I would have found it comforting that they had someone circulating through the orchards in case we got lost or something like that.
There seemed to be a variety of different apples to choose from — but since we were no apple expert, the only way we could really distinguish between the apples was by taste-​testing (which I hope is allowed!).
The yellow delicious apple trees were definitely the best of the bunch! They had the biggest, sweetest apples! The rest of the trees were a little scraggly looking and most of the low hanging fruits had already been picked — which meant that we had to struggle to get the fruits that were higher up in the tree, and we couldn’t really see whether or not the apples were insect-​ridden or full of imperfections before we picked them.
We did notice that a lot of the apples were damaged, but we found out later that it was due to a hail storm earlier in the year, which besides causing aesthetic insult, didn’t have any effect on the taste of the apples.
This was definitely a great fall activity that was both economical and fun — and we are having a great time experimenting with apple recipes now that we have 3 heaping bowls of apples at home! I’d highly recommend it for a family with small children, or for adults who want to act like small children for a day. :)

Great farm spot — if you are in the area you can grab fresh veggies, farm-​raised meats (frozen), and a really terrific assortment of N.Y. State wines, liquors and specialty drinks.
They have a nice gift shop to boot, with everything from environmentally friendly themed T-​shirts to hand-​made Turkish copper, along with plants, pots and the usual roadside assortment.
BUT — they also have the most terrific fresh baked donuts, muffins and pastries.
Stop in — you will be surprised.

Yay apples, apple pie, apple cider, apple donuts, apple everything! I don’t like them… but I like picking them!
There is a festival every weekend during apple picking season. They also have pumpkins and a pear tree too! Some of the apple trees were blocked off by those caution police tapes! Very tempted to go to that area, but I don’t want to get punished for eating the forbidden fruit! A bag costs $ 25 and you can fill it up with as many apples as you want, which I think is quite a lot. Get a bag to share if you don’t plan to make apple pie or eat that many apples.
After you finish picking apples, you can go to the food area and buy pulled pork sandwiches, turkey leg, apple cider, lemonade, apple cider donuts and even dog treats! I forgot to mention, dogs are ALLOWED! So they can come pick apples too! The apple cider donut was delicious! It’s a very kid friendly environment. They also have bouncy houses for the kids to play in. Great outing event with friends or family.

Sometimes there a foreign word that fully captures the essence and spirit of the place or moment but that doesn’t translate well into English. In this instance and for the Greek speakers amongst you the applicable word is «malakia.» For the rest I offer you my expanded thoughts:
First I drove about half an hour with three first grade girls in the back seat with only one iPad – a recipe for disaster. The website warned us that few apples were left on their apple trees so picking would be reduced to picking apples from bins. The pumpkins were not on the vine and scatted is a reserved portion of the field which the balances served as the parking lot. For anyone that has been in an actual pumpkin patch would understand that this was a welcome deviation. This is not why I think there’s better.
The «Farm» offered food and entertainment. The entertainment was free but the food was full retail plus – and not very good. The kids wanted coal fired pizza with fresh mozzarella. I opted for the BBQ ribs from neighboring vendor. My buddy craved the brisket sandwich., With the exception of the pizza the rest of the food was cold, as in cold BBQ ribs – yuk! The ribs were smoked perfectly but they didn’t taste as thought they were marinated nor dry-​rubbed with anything. Simple smoked ribs, The brisket was average in quality. I paid 12 bucks for the cold served half-​slab ribs. I asked for a knife and was given a fork and told that there weren’t any knives. Then when I asked to sit I was directed to the nine outdoor picnic tables that were setup to accommodate what in my best estimation were a few hundred people at that time.
Lastly, there was your typical variety of farm animals all of whom you were prohibited from feeding or touching because as the hand written warning on the wooden fence read «…they bite.» Perfect!
So for the NYC folks I say, if you are going to attend towards the end of the season as I did, save apple picking for Whole Foods and bring your brats to Queens Farm – closer, scaled, down and you can properly feed the animals – both the two legged and four legged variety.