Farm-to-Table Dining and Farm Markets Across the Region
Taste the Hudson Valley at its Freshest, Just 50 Miles from NYC
As peak growing season arrives, Orange County, N.Y., enters its most flavorful time of year. Across the county’s rolling farmland from the fertile black dirt fields to the orchards, farms, markets, restaurants, distilleries and breweries welcome visitors to experience harvest season the way it’s meant to be enjoyed: fresh, local and straight from the fields.
With its rich agricultural heritage, Orange County is home to some of the Hudson Valley’s most celebrated farm-to-table destinations just 50 miles from New York City. Dozens of destinations with the freshest produce, scattered across picturesque towns and villages, offer visitors a full day or an entire weekend of harvest-season experiences. Bring home a carload of fruit, vegetables and flowers that you can pick yourself while shopping and enjoying farm dinners, craft cocktails and beers.
“Orange County’s Black Dirt farmland produces some of the most flavorful fruits and vegetables in the region. This is the time of year our farms, markets and restaurants truly shine,” said Amanda Dana, Director of Orange County Tourism and Film. “Whether you’re picking apples in Warwick, sampling a farm-distilled cocktail in Goshen, or sitting down to a harvest dinner just an hour from New York City, there’s no better time to taste what makes Orange County special.”
During the peak season, and well into fall, visitors can browse farmstands piled high with just-harvested produce bursting with flavor, and sit down to meals crafted with ingredients that traveled only a few hundred feet from field to plate.
A Region Rooted in Farm-Fresh Tradition
Orange County’s farm-to-table movement is anchored by working farms that also serve as family fun destinations and community gathering places.
Blooming Hill Farm,1251 Route 208, Monroe, N.Y.: This family-owned organic farm is known for an eclectic and broad range of produce offerings, growing more than 200 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Its farmstand and café serve a seasonal farm-to-table menu for brunch and dinner.
Learn more about Blooming Hill Farm here or at tinyurl.com/PickOCNY-BloomingHill
All One One All Farm (AOOA), 221 Craigville Road, Goshen, N.Y.: The nonprofit regenerative farm and education center promotes responsible agricultural and culinary practices. The center combines a working farm, farmstand, eatery and small distillery on one site. Visitors can enjoy farm-to-table fare and farm-inspired cocktails featuring artisanal liqueurs made with nuts, herbs, fruits and vegetables grown on the farm.
Learn more about All One One All Farm here or at tinyurl.com/PickOCNY-AOOA
Pennings Farm Market, 169 Route 94, Warwick, N.Y.: A Warwick institution operating on roughly 100 acres, the market offers the farm’s own produce, including apples, apricots, eggplant, nectarines, peppers, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn and tomatoes, as well as fruits and vegetables from neighboring farms. A cidery on site includes a taproom open year-round, offering a rotation of orchard-grown hard ciders. Visits to the market are more of an entertaining local country experience than just a shopping trip, offering a farm-to-table style cafe, pub, beer garden, ice cream stand and garden center.
Learn more about Pennings Orchard here or at tinyurl.com/PickOCNY-Pennings
Restaurants Bringing the Farm to the Table
Orange County’s dining scene reflects a strong commitment to seasonal, locally sourced ingredients found on its farms.
Borland Inn and Restaurant, 130 Clinton St., Montgomery, N.Y.: The award-winning farm-to-table restaurant is a highlight of any stay at this historic inn, which was built in the 1780s and expanded in the early 1800s.
Learn more about the Borland Inn and Restaurant here or at tinyurl.com/PickOCNY-Borland
Oak & Reed, 45-53 North St., Unit 1, Middletown, N.Y.: Located in downtown Middletown, the restaurant builds its frequently changing menu around elevated comfort food and contemporary cuisine. It takes pride in its locally sourced, sustainable ingredients and a curated beer and wine list.
Learn more about Oak & Reed here or at tinyurl.com/PickOCNY-OakReed
Raising a Glass to the Harvest
No celebration of Orange County’s harvest season is complete without its craft beverage makers, many of which draw directly on local ingredients.
Orange County Distillery at Brown Barn Farms, 286 Maple Ave., New Hampton, N.Y.: Established in 2014, the distillery is on a fifth-generation farm in the famously fertile Black Dirt region. The distillery grows everything on its farm needed to hand craft quality farm-to-bottle spirits in small batches. The 23-acre farm offers farm-fresh cocktails, food trucks and fire pits with sweeping countryside views.
Learn more about the Orange County Distillery here or at tinyurl.com/PickOCNY-OCDistillery
Chrisopher Jacobs Winery at Pennings Vineyard 320 Crawford St., Pine Bush, N.Y.: The owners of this small-scale winery planted their first grapes in 2006. They now produce a variety of high-quality wines in a serene setting. Visitors enjoy wine at the bar and outdoor seating with views of the vineyard. Tastings celebrate local flavors and the unique terroir of the region.
Learn more about Christopher Jacobs Winery here or at https://tinyurl.com/PICKOCNY-CJ-Winery.
Visitors are encouraged to check individual farm and business websites for current hours, reservation requirements and event schedules, as many locations require advance reservations during peak fall weekends.
Orange County Tourism & Film, based in Goshen, N.Y., serves as the official tourism and film production office for Orange County and is a participant in the I LOVE NY program. Located in New York’s Hudson Valley, Orange County offers a diverse mix of outdoor recreation, history, craft food and beverage experiences, and small-town charm. A comprehensive listing of attractions, lodging, events and film resources is available at www.pickocny.com, where visitors can also download a free, 66-page travel guide.