Across Ulster County, the farms you visit stem from family stories rooted just as deeply as the crops they grow. So, before you fill the basket and get your hands dirty, meet a few of the families who have kept this corner of the Hudson Valley growing for generations.
HURDS FAMILY FARM IN MODENA, NY
The Hurd family has been farming in Ulster County since 1863, but the roster of what they grow on their farm in Modena, NY has changed quite a bit along the way.
This farm started with a sawmill near New Paltz and small crops like currants and gooseberries before the family found its way into larger-scale apple production. Fast forward more than 160 years, and Hurds Family Farm is now a seventh-generation operation with a 125-acre orchard and more than 30 apple varieties.
One of the farm’s biggest changes came about 32 years ago. As the apple industry began to decline, sixth-generation farm manager Charles Hurd’s mother and great-aunt had an idea: invite people into the orchard to pick the apples themselves.
What started as a new way to support the family farm has since become a favorite fall tradition, with apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, a four-acre corn maze, farm animals and plenty more to keep the family fun rolling. All the while, Hurds remains a working wholesale orchard, supplying apples to local schools, grocery stores and distributors.
And Hurds Family Farm certainly lives up to its name, with the family keeping the operation running. Charles manages the orchard alongside Sarah Hurd, while members of the sixth and seventh generations lend their talents across the farm. One designs the corn maze. Another mixes New York-made drinks behind the bar in the historic Dutch barn. Even the youngest Hurds get involved by testing out the activities.
Add a stop at Hurds Family Farm to your fall getaway itinerary! Just be sure to check their website for seasonal hours and activities.
PROSPECT HILL ORCHARDs IN IN MILTON, NY
What began as a small homestead in 1817 has grown into a 55-working acre farm, shaped by seven generations of the Clarke family.
The story of Prospect Hill Orchard begins when Nathaniel Clarke and his wife moved from Cornwall-on-Hudson to Milton. The first farm had a little bit of everything: a kitchen garden, fruits, vegetables and animals. But the Clarkes soon discovered that Milton had a knack for growing fruit. The hills helped protect crops from spring frost, while the rich, gravelly soil gave fruit trees and berries plenty to work with. And with the Hudson River nearby, the harvest had a convenient route to market. Fruit could be taken to the dock, loaded onto a night boat and sent downriver to New York City – a cycle that continues to this day.
In those early days, the farm grew strawberries, raspberries and currants before branching out into tree fruits. As markets changed and growing conditions evolved, so did the farm. Generation after generation tried new varieties, eventually narrowing the focus to cherries, apples, peaches and pears. For the past 40 years, apples and pears have been the farm’s mainstays.
Today, the sixth and seventh generations are still finding new ways to work the land. Steve Clarke and his son, Brad, are the principal growers, using modern equipment, dwarf trees and updated growing methods.
And the farm’s newest chapter comes with a pour. His daughter Pam sells at NYC Greenmarkets, bringing fresh fruit and homemade baked goods to neighborhood customers. The 1817 Taproom, Cider House and Distillery brings the harvest from the orchard to the glass, serving farm-fresh food, seasonal and signature cocktails, NY State cider, beer and wine—with fruit grown right here at the heart of it all.
For more information on visiting hours and activities, visit the Prospect Hill Orchard website.
WALLKILL VIEW FARM IN NEW PALTZ, NY
Sweet corn in July. Pumpkins in October. Poinsettias in December. At Wallkill View Farm in New Paltz, there’s always something coming into season.
Wallkill View Farm moves with the calendar as a three-generation family farm. Spring brings annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs to the garden. Summer fills the market with homegrown vegetables and local fruit, including the farm’s county famous sweet corn. Pumpkins take over alongside a corn maze, hayrides, and family fun during the fall months. And when the cold fronts arrive, greenhouses turn out poinsettias while Christmas trees and wreaths fill the market.
It’s quite the evolution from where the Ferrante family started.
Peter and Carol Ferrante purchased the land in 1960 and originally sold the vegetables they grew at farmers markets. By the early 1970s, their five teenage sons were working on the farm, and the family began selling produce directly to customers from a covered wagon parked on the property. The wagon was a hit.
A permanent farm market followed in 1976, then greenhouses, seasonal spaces and a bakery serving fresh pies, muffins, scones, breads and apple cider donuts. With each addition, another part of the family became part of the farm’s story. Brothers Peter, Robby, Sande and Tim eventually took over from their parents, while cousins Danica and John work to expand the bakery and add agritourism activities.
With 60 years in the past, Wallkill View Farm continues to grow right alongside the Ferrante family. What started with a few vegetables and a covered wagon has become a year-round destination – and with three generations behind it, there’s a good chance you’ll meet one of them when you stop by.
