BROCKPORT, N.Y. — As the leaves turn from green to yellow, fall from the trees and crunch beneath our feet, local farm stands prepare for their busiest season of the year.
Fall brings customers out in full force, seeking pumpkins, gourds and most of all, apples. After all, New York State is the second-largest apple producer, and our largest metropolitan area shares a name with them.
With the sun shining on a Saturday in mid-October, we set out on a quest to find the best apple-themed treats in the greater Brockport area.
Hurd Orchards – Holley, NY
Following winding back roads lined with red and orange foliage and nearly totaling Raya’s car pulling into the parking lot, we arrived at our first stop: Hurd Orchards.
Bright flower blooms, pimpled gourds and pale white pumpkins flooded out from the inside of the main shop, immediately piquing our interest. Hurd Orchards seemed to place a certain importance on giving their shop a vintage nature aesthetic, perfect for taking pictures. Woven baskets and drying flowers also hung from the ceiling, giving every corner of the building its own charm. Bushels full of apples were the focus, however.
Madison: Hurd Orchards had everything from Ruby Frost to Snapdragon to Honeycrisp to Empire to Jonagold—too many to name. I chose to step out of my comfort zone and grabbed an Empire apple to taste test. I usually shy away from Empire (and McIntosh) because they’re too mushy for my liking and I prefer a satisfying crunch.
The apple proved to be only slightly soft when I bit into it and was solid enough that I felt encouraged to keep eating. The juice of the apple was both sour and sweet, and the two flavors complemented each other well.
Hurd Orchards offers herbal vinegars, fruit cocktail mixers and gourmet mustards in addition to baked goods, eggs and other items. Their produce-based products definitely intrigued me but were sadly out of this college student’s price range.
Raya: Despite the various options of apples and treats, I picked out one of my favorite apples to try: a Honeycrisp that cost $2.
Being a college student who rarely gets the chance to have fresh fruit, I couldn’t contain my excitement to have an apple. I was hoping for that perfect crunchy bite of a juicy, firm apple. Hurd Orchards did not disappoint. I bit into it and I heard the familiar bite of a Honeycrisp. The apple was extremely juicy, and the sweetness that I was searching for was there. However, the apple had some tartness that helped even out the sugariness perfectly. It was gone in just a few bites.
Following our quick snack break, we got back on the road to head to our next stop.
Kirby’s Farm Market – Brockport, NY
Right down the road was Kirby’s Farm Market. The exterior was classic: purple mums, a quaint pumpkin patch and a corn maze that we were challenged to try.
Clearly constructed for much smaller bodies, we had to crouch to even enter the corn maze. Yet, that proved to be our biggest hurdle, and we managed to make it out in record-setting time (about four minutes).
Behind the building, there are dark green-leaved trees with bright pops of red apples waiting to be picked. Customers can be adventurous and pick the apples themselves or choose one from inside the store. Inside, the wood paneling, the cider press and the peek-a-boo window to the kitchen created a cozy environment.
Madison: Although more expensive than I’d have liked ($6), the golden apple slushie was exactly what I was looking for. The slushie, layered with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel on top, had a strong apple taste that wasn’t watered down. The slushie was also blended to perfection, meaning the ice and apple cider didn’t separate like others I’ve had in the past. The whipped cream took the slushie to another level as it provided a duller, sweet contrast to the heavy flavor of the cider.
The apple cider donut paired deliciously with the slushie. It was dense and on the cakier side, but its smaller size made it bearable. I also enjoyed the fact that the apple flavor didn’t get lost in the baking process and could still be tasted in every bite.
Raya: Although I was considering ordering the golden apple slushie, I’m not a fan of caramel so I opted for the regular apple cider slushie for $4. While ordering the slushie, I couldn’t stop staring at the apple cider donuts, so I got one to satisfy my craving for $1.25.
The apple cider slushie, packed full of apple flavor, had lots of sweetness to it. The sweetness was almost too much, and I couldn’t finish the drink. The apple cider donut, on the other hand, was delicious. The donut had a nice fresh apple flavor and was dotted with cinnamon and sugar on top, which added a whole new element to it.
Kirby’s Farm Market’s outdoor activities make it more of a family-friendly attraction, but it still offers apples, artsy gifts and fresh vegetables for all ages.
Robb Farms – Spencerport, NY
Robb Farms is nestled deep in the back roads, and we did make a few wrong turns, so please, if you plan to go to Robb Farms, follow your GPS closely. However, it did not disappoint as our final stop. The store is fashioned after a rustic barn and is surrounded by pumpkins, bins packed with apples and picnic tables. Across the road, you can see the apple orchard, where you can pick your own apples to purchase.
Inside the store, Robb Farms is decorated with parts of its history as the farm has been running for over a century, including an original picture of the farm from 1912. As for the food, they have display cases showing off pastries, cookies, muffins and brownies. In the back, they sell a variety of apple cider donuts, apple cider slushies and apple cider. As well as seasonal treats, Robb Farms sells produce such as eggs, vegetables and peaches. Surprisingly, they also sell homegrown beef and pork.
Madison: I chose a Harvest Cream Milkshake for $5. After downing my last slushie from Kirby’s Farm Market, I needed something to balance the overload of apple flavor. The vanilla ice cream in the slushie proved to do just that, but I would’ve liked to taste the vanilla a tad more. Maybe my tastebuds were honed in on apples after eating them all day.
Raya: I decided to try one of their specialty drinks, the Harvest Cream Milkshake, too. The Harvest Cream Milkshake is a mixture of soft vanilla ice cream and an apple cider slushie that is churned together in an ice cream machine. The result is like something I would never have imagined. The ice cream perfectly balances out the intense sugary taste of the apple cider slushie, creating this wonderful balance of flavors. The drink was a good size and had a thick consistency, like a standard milkshake.
When I saw they sell pumpkin donuts, I knew I had to try one to go with my milkshake for $2. The donut had an intense and fresh pumpkin-y flavor, but I wanted there to be some cinnamon or sugar sprinkled on top to provide some more depth in flavor.
After a long day and consuming way more apples than we should have, we decided to head home and dream of never eating an apple again…at least until next fall.
Final Thoughts
Hurd Orchards provides an endless supply of apple varieties, Kirby’s Farm Market pairs slushies with seasonal fun and Robb Farms is our new go-to for a sweet treat.
Whether your favorite fall activity is carving pumpkins, going on haunted hayrides or simply taking in the foliage, check out the local apple orchards too—you may just discover your next fall favorite.
