News

We love blueberries in our yogurt, cereal, muffins and scones - but this month, we thought we'd bake something a little extra special… Introducing Mead's Easy Berry Buttermilk Cake!

🍑 A Small Harvest this Summer. Back in June, we announced that Pick-Your-Own peaches would be available this month. Unfortunately, after the late spring freeze, our peach crop turned out to be much smaller than expected and we simply don't have enough fruit for Pick-Your-Own this season.

🫐 Blueberry Picking Is in Full Swing! There's nothing quite like blueberry season at Mead Orchards! Gather the family and make memories as you pick fresh, sun-ripened blueberries straight from the bush while enjoying the beautiful Hudson Valley countryside.

🫐 Blueberry season has arrived! Celebrate Fourth of July weekend with one of summer's sweetest traditions… Pick-Your-Own Blueberries at Mead Orchards, beginning Friday, July 3 at 10AM!

Friend of the orchard, Jenny, stocked up and froze plenty of Mead strawberries so she could enjoy strawberry smoothies all year long! Here's her go-to recipe 🍓✨

On 5/16/26, Mead Orchards held its Annual Training Day, officially kicking off another season of farm-ready teamwork, fresh energy and just the right amount of orchard-ized chaos.

🍒 Spring PYO Update: We have some tough news from recent weather impacts: the late freeze in April unfortunately destroyed all of our sweet cherry crop. As a result, we won’t be able to have Pick Your Own cherries this year.

Our new Orchard Manager, Steven Bates and Rhinebeck Market Manager, Rhode Dorlus, recently attended the Rhinebeck Farmers Market pre-season potluck. They whipped up a delicious dish featuring Mead roasted apples and delicata squash, tossed with red cabbage, honey, vinegar, fresh greens and cheddar.

👑 Mead royalty, Chuck Mead, now in his well-earned “emeritus” role, is always on call for questions and often stops by with a bit of helpful advice. Pictured with Rafael “Andy” Vega, D.P.M., our crop consultant and research manager. Andy meets weekly with our farm managers to review pest, disease and weather conditions - both across the region and here at the orchard.

❄️ Spring on the farm isn’t always gentle. Past frosts have taken a toll on many of our crops, so we’re getting better prepared.

🫐 It’s that time of year again - pruning season! It’s not just our fruit trees, in the spring our blueberries and red, black, and yellow raspberries are also all gearing up for a berry-licious future.

Meet Project Hot Sauce, founded in 2021 by Dave Phillips - a Bronxville NY-based, farm-to-bottle hot sauce maker bringing the heat while partnering directly with farmers. His latest creation? “The Big Apple” - made with Mead Orchard’s very own Crimson Crisp apples...

We get lots of questions about how we preserve apples for our farmers markets during the winter. The answer? A little orchard magic and some smart storage technology - all happening in our packing house at Mead! 🍎❄️

Meet your new winter MVP: Mead’s Easy Spiced Hot Apple Cider. Looking for something warm, cozy and guaranteed to make your house smell amazing? This classic cider does all that and more. No fancy tools, no stress, just pure comfort in a mug. Spiked Cider (Adults Only): Add about 1½ oz of dark rum, brandy or bourbon per mug for a cozy, grown-up twist. Red Hot Cider: For a nostalgic spin, warm apple juice with cinnamon candies (Red Hots) until melted for a sweet, spicy red ci

Our Mead community has always been built on people — the ones who grow the food, welcome you to the orchard and keep this place running. Two of those people, Fabian and Shaine, recently endured heartbreaking losses when Hurricane Melissa destroyed their homes in Jamaica. We’re sharing their story today in hopes that, together, we can help them rebuild.

As we wrap up another incredible year at Mead Orchards, we want to send a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who visited, picked apples, stopped by our booths and made the 2025 season so special. We’re already dreaming about warm June afternoons and can’t wait to welcome you back in June 2026 for another delicious, sun-soaked season at the orchard.

Looking for a festive dessert that feels classic, cozy and a little unexpected? Meet Mead’s Easy Apple Buckle - an old-fashioned New England favorite that’s unbelievably simple and rich with buttery flavor.

Looking for a simple, cozy way to enjoy our delicious apples in a fun baking project? This Easy Apple Cake is soft, flavorful, and perfect for a tasty breakfast treat - or any time you’re craving something sweet and homemade. The apples add natural juiciness, warm spices bring depth and the optional nuts or raisins give a delightful texture. Almost any apple variety works, though we especially love making it with Mead McIntosh apples.

Earlier this month, we held our 2nd Annual Gleaning Day, and we couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who joined in! With the help of our friends at Pleasantville Community Garden, 885 pounds of apples were gathered, organized, and shared with local food organizations, including Hillside Food Outreach, Second Chance Foods, Neighbors Link and The Pantry New York.

As we officially close the orchard for the season, we want to share a heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited, picked apples, shopped our Farmstand, brought your kids to explore Apple Town or simply stopped by to say hello. Your support means the world to our small, family-owned farm. We truly appreciate each and every one of you. ❤️