2023 Guide for Pick-Your-Own + FAQs

Our PYO typically re-opens for strawberries ~June 1st, followed by cherries in mid-to-late June. However, you may have heard or read that many Hudson Valley and New England fruit farms were hit with a deep freeze on May 18th. Early that morning, our weather station recorded a low temperature of 28.7 F, along with temps at or below 32 F for about 2.5 hours. During any weather event, the damages often seem worse than they turn out to be so we held our breath and hoped for the best.

However, after weeks of observation, the prognosis is still grim. Some orchards had minimal damage but others lost everything. This season, we have minimal strawberries and cherries, almost no plums and no peaches whatsoever (thanks to extreme weather fluctuations in February). Blueberries and apples are hopefully 50/50.

What does this mean for Pick-Your-Own (PYO) fruit? Sadly, we will not be able to open cherries for PYO this 2023 season and strawberries will be open on several select dates. The limited viable fruit is ripening in a staggered fashion, making the harvest difficult, even for our team. We will instead pull in what we can to use in our fermentation projects, offer pints and quarts in the Taproom and limited quantities to a couple of restaurant clients. We hope we can efficiently utilize and share every last bit of fruit.

Our blueberries fared best and we expect to keep them open for PYO Thurs-Sat through the month of July and into August. Apples will be open for PYO starting late August into late October. The Taproom, food and grower popups, music and special events will all continue as usual. See our website Events page for details

Plan Your Visit: Check our website for the latest ripening schedule and hours of operation. We recommend wearing long pants and sturdy shoes and bring along a hat and sunscreen.

Pet Policy: In order to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act, we cannot permit pets in the fruit orchards (except ADA service animals). We welcome pets on leash in our parking and picnic areas, outside the Taproom, and along our farm road.

Courtesy: Out of respect to everyone’s varying comfort, please allow ample room between families and groups during check-in, check-out and while picking fruit. Fortunately, there is lots of space to enjoy at Rose Hill Farm! 

Parking: As in prior seasons, our parking area is on the right, past the white house and across from the Farmstand, as you enter. We have a second parking lot, beyond the barns and Winery Taproom.

Restrooms: For U-pick customers during the fruit season, we have portable toilets and a handwashing sink located behind the Farmstand. For guests of the Winery/Cidery, we have several restrooms inside the Taproom.

BYO Food and Drink: You are welcome to BYO snacks/picnic/takeout and soft drinks, to enjoy at our picnic tables outside the Winery Taproom or at our picnic areas in the Farmstand vicinity. Indoor seating is reserved for guests of our food pop-ups who serve food on all days we are open - see our Events Schedule for details. You may NOT bring your own alcohol as our license does not permit outside alcohol on premises. Guests who violate the law will be asked to vacate.

Please refer to our Picnic Guide for details.

Signage: We have plenty of signs to help with general wayfinding and to communicate our updated guidelines and FAQs. Visible from the Farmstand, we have signs describing which fruit varieties are ripe on the day of your visit. Ripe varieties are also identified in the orchard (if a row is not labeled, it’s not yet ripe).

Farmstand will be staffed as usual to help you find your way around the farm and checkout when you are done picking fruit. We are doing our best to keep the process simple and effective. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask our Crew.

Check-In: Approach the check-in area to the right of the Farmstand and select your preferred container for picking.

PYO Fruit: If it’s labeled, it’s ripe. If it’s not labeled, it’s either not yet ripe or past its prime. If you have a favorite apple or peach variety, check out our Fruit Schedule to learn the approximate ripening date.

Please refrain from climbing trees, bending limbs or otherwise harming our trees. It takes years to raise a tree before it starts producing fruit. Climbing/bending/breakage can cause irreparable damage, introduce harmful bacteria and cause a significant loss for the farm. Please remind your children not to throw apples. Thank you for being respectful of our hard work!

Is your fruit Organic? Great question - please review our Growing Practices for details.

Check-Out:  When done picking fruit, please return and approach the left-hand side of the Farmstand one family/group at a time. Kindly form a line to the left, if there is a wait. We have cold drinks in the cooler and other seasonal products available for purchase.  Our Farmstand structure is for staff only. Please let our Crew know what you would like, and they will get it for you!

Winery/Cidery: The Taproom (upper level of the big red barn) is open! You can peruse offerings in the Taproom, select snacks and order your wine, cider, beer at the bar. We have ample seating (both indoors and outdoors) but we welcome guests to bring camp chairs and/or picnic blankets, especially if you plan to spend the afternoon during peak October weekends. Each weekend we feature a rotating selection of amazing food vendors, also located outside the Winery.

BYO Food and Drink: You are welcome to BYO snacks/picnic/takeout and soft drinks, to enjoy at our picnic tables outside the Winery Taproom or at our picnic areas in the Farmstand vicinity. Indoor seating is reserved for guests of our food pop-ups who service food on all days we are open - see our Events Schedule for details. You may NOT bring your own alcohol as our license does not permit outside alcohol on premises. Guests who violate the law will be asked to vacate.

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