Thursday, August 18, 2022
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Food and Recipes
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Food and Recipes
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home Towns Albany County

Apple orchards are open for the picking (w/photo gallery of Indian Ladder and Altamont Orchards0

Diego Cagara by Diego Cagara
September 26, 2018
in Albany County, Business, Entertainment, Environment, Health & Fitness, Nature/Outdoors, News, The Spot, Towns
Reading Time: 4 mins read

#PickYourOwn #IndianLadderFarms #ApplePicking #DiegoCagara #SpotlightNews

ALTAMONT — If anyone is interested in getting apples fresh then look no farther than your local farm. The Indian Ladder Farms has recently started their Pick-Your-Own season back on Saturday, Sept. 1 and continue for every weekend through Sunday, Oct. 28.

Each weekend, a predetermined selection of types of apples is available for people to come and pick out. It is noted that it is subject to weather and field conditions though. Also, people are advised to call the farm at (866) 640-PICK in advance to double-check if their desired apple choice will indeed be available on that weekend, as mid-day changes can potentially happen.

“The available apple varieties may change due to weather and weather can slow or speed up the ripening process,” said Laura Ten Eyck, the vice president of Indian Ladder Farms. “Sometimes, we may make adjustments if people pick up too much of one apple variety.”

The farm informs the public about the PYO season in two ways: “By Weekend” (what apple types are available on specific weekends), and “By Variety” (on which weekends are a specific apple type available). This is available in a printable PDF format online.

The apple types that are available are Acey Mac, Autumn Crisp, Cameo, Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Jonamac, Kendall, Macintosh, Macoun, Mutsu/Crispin, Red Delicious, Rome, September Wonder Fuji and SnapDragon. Some apple types have trivia online too which discuss its history and origin of name.

On Sept. 29 and 30, there will be Empire, September Wonder Fuji, Kendall—which Ten Eyck said “is the best for pies and baking”—and SnapDragon. For the extended Columbus Day Weekend from Oct. 6 through Oct. 8, it will be Cameo, Empire, September Wonder Fuji, Golden Delicious, Mutsu/Crispin and Red Delicious. On Oct. 13 and 14, it’s Empire, Fuji and Mutsu/Crispin. Those same three and Rome will be available on Oct. 20 and 21. Finally, Fuji is the sole option on Oct. 27 and 28.

“We determine which apple types would be available to the public on certain weekends, depending on when each type ripens. Different apple varieties ripen in different time,” she said. “Some ripen by early August, others take longer.”

Regarding the apple types, they are also organized in qualitative categories, including sweet taste, eating, baking, cooking and crispness.

All the apple types except Cortland, Gala and Macintosh are labeled as sweet. In terms of being tart, the winners are Acey Mac, Autumn Crisp, Cameo, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Kendall, Macintosh and Rome. Those that were specifically viewed as best for eating were all types except Cameo, Gala and Macintosh. When cooking is concerned, the best ones are Acey Mac and Autumn Crisp. The most crisp ones are Autumn Crisp, Honeycrisp, Jonamac, Mutsu/Crispin and SnapDragon.

Ten Eyck believed that apple picking is a significant activity and event for the local community, saying it’s really important for people to have the chance to harvest their own fruit.

“It also is the most economical way in terms of getting the best price because when you pick apples at our far,” she added. “The prices are not too high because the labor cost has not gone into it. You’re not paying for the labor and harvesting of the fruit.”

For PYO season, it costs $22 for one half bushel bag and $18 each for 2 or more half bushel bags. A premium option is $25 per half bushel bag of SnapDragons.

All apples at Indian Ladder Farms are Eco-Apples certified by Red Tomato, a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization, that has developed advanced Integrated Pest Management production methods. Such methods are meant to be agricultural- and green-friendly. Examples the Indian Ladder Farms use are ladybird beetles which naturally take out unwanted pests, and how they try to minimize the usage of pesticides and fungicides.

Pets are not allowed in the PYO areas though and there is no ATM machine on site, so people should come prepared with their form of payment — cash and checks are accepted but look on the website’s “Frequently Asked Questions” tab to learn more.

Ten Eyck said that the public turnout for PYO so far has been “kind of a lot but the weather has been quite hot still lately, so it does put a damper on the crowd. I know there are people waiting for the more crispy apples and the fall weather.”

She also brought up how the farm has attracted crowds as it also offers things like gift shop, cafe, apple cider donuts, fresh apple pies and a cider brewery. “We’ll also have Pick Your Own Pumpkins which is coming in late September and early October!”

For more information and PYO hours, visit www.indianladderfarms.com/pick/ or call the PYO hotline at (866) 640-PICK.

 

Click on a photo below to view a slideshow of the rest (photos by Jim Franco)

apples web-6350
apples web-5311
apples web-6288
apples web-6563
apples web-5266
apples web-6508
apples web-4988
apples web-6303
apples web-5058
apples web-5193
apples web-6570
apples web-4868
apples web-6265
apples web-6421
apples web-5174
apples web-4852
apples web-6272
apples web-4828
apples web-6483
apples web-5018
apples web-6526
apples web-5223
apples web-4989
apples web-6458
apples web-5171
apples web-4881
apples web-5234
apples web-5291
apples web-4843
apples web-6398
apples web-6540
apples web-4918
apples web-6294
apples web-5073
apples web-5082
apples web-5350
apples web-6311
apples web-4962
apples web-5008
apples web-6465
apples web-5328
apples web-4845
apples web-6563
apples web-6298
apples web-4978
apples web-6438
apples web-6493
apples web-5037
apples web-6359

 

Tags: Altamont OrchardsIndian Ladder FarmsLaura Ten Eyck
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

Former state Sen. Howard Nolan’s book discusses his two passions, named aptly in its title

Next Post

Bethlehem Planning Board ponders its first-ever application for ducks

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

Guilderland Public Library news: Summer Reading coming to a wrap

August 18, 2022

Bethlehem Public Library news: Summer Reading wrap-up

August 18, 2022

RCS Community Library news: Take and Make Tuesday!

August 18, 2022
Phillip J. DiNovo outside the museum on Central Avenue
Photo by Gene Loparco

Five Questions: Philip J. DiNovo

August 18, 2022

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Man arrested in fatal DWAI crash in South Bethlehem

August 15, 2022
Streeks and Spencer

Two plead guilty to Colonie murder

August 15, 2022

Two new stores coming to Crossgates Mall are anticipated to provide shoppers with new styles

August 10, 2022
The new pickleball courts will be constructed where the tennis courts used to be at the Mohawk Park and Pool off Route 9. The Latham Lassies softball fields are to the left and the town pool complex is above.
Jim Franco / Spotlight News

More pickleball courts are coming to Colonie

August 10, 2022

Guilderland Public Library news: Summer Reading coming to a wrap

August 18, 2022

Bethlehem Public Library news: Summer Reading wrap-up

August 18, 2022

RCS Community Library news: Take and Make Tuesday!

August 18, 2022
Phillip J. DiNovo outside the museum on Central Avenue
Photo by Gene Loparco

Five Questions: Philip J. DiNovo

August 18, 2022
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
  • Service Directory

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949