Nothing says "autumn" quite like wandering a pumpkin patch, scanning the orange rows for the perfect jack-o'-lantern-to-be. Unless, of course, it's scouring an orchard for the crispest, sweetest apples fresh from the tree. There's no need to choose: with dozens of u-pick pumpkin patches and apple orchards in the Rochester area, there's plenty of opportunity to handpick the perfect autumn harvest.
On the practical side, buying direct from the grower has cost benefits. For example, at Brown's Berry Patch in Waterport, apples sell for $0.65/lb (and $0.59/lb if you buy a bushel, or about 48 lbs). "That's a clear cost advantage over the supermarket," says co-owner Bob Brown.
But u-pick farms offer more than just a bargain. "It's the family adventure. You're creating memories," says Brown. "The pumpkin or the apple fades away. But you'll remember going out and having that day for years."
The great pumpkin
The pumpkin, a squash originating in Central America, is one of the most popular crops grown in the United States, with about 1.5 billion pounds produced annually. Much of that is for Halloween decorations, with 80 percent of the domestic pumpkin supply available in October.
To get your own pumpkin, be sure to visit the patch early in the season, before the year's first freeze (which, in Rochester, can happen well before Halloween). Look for fully ripe pumpkins, with hard, solid rinds colored a deep orange. Avoid pumpkins with visible bruises or soft areas; those blemishes won't get better with age.
Which pumpkin you choose depends on how you intend to use it. For a jack-o-lantern, "if you like the traditional round face, then look for a round pumpkin," says Judy Russell, co-owner of Whittier Fruit Farm in Rochester. "If you're more artistic or like the unusual, then try a pumpkin with the oddest shape you can find."
However, if you plan to cook the pumpkin, be sure to ask the farmer to point you toward pumpkins specially bred for cooking. These varieties tend to be sweeter and smaller than their jack-o'-lantern cousins.
When cutting your pumpkin, leave several inches of stem on the squash; without its stem, a pumpkin won't keep well.
"Above all, don't carry it by the stem," says Russell. "If pumpkins were meant to be carried around by the stem, they'd grow on trees."
Store your orange booty in a cool, dry area - like your basement - until you're ready to carve it or cook it. If kept in the right environment, pumpkins can store for months.
Picking the apple of your eye
Apples are a wonder fruit: fat-free, sodium-free, no cholesterol, and only 80 calories. More than 7500 varieties are grown worldwide, and New York alone produces an average of 25 million bushels each year, according to the NY Apple Association.
Picking apples at the orchard is relatively easy, says Bob Brown of Brown's Berry Patch. Many farmers will cordon off sections with apples that haven't yet ripened, taking some of the guesswork out of picking.
"Usually the best-flavored apples will be hanging out in the sunshine, and will have gotten lots of sun exposure," says Brown. And while it depends on the variety, "typically the apples with more color are an indication of more sunshine, and so more sugars."
But don't just go tugging on the branch to pick an apple, says Tim Kirby, co-owner of Kirby's Farm Market in Brockport. "Just remember, 'eye to the sky,'" he says. "If the blossom end, the bottom, is the eye, just rotate that up and the stem will mostly likely come loose."
After you've picked your apples, don't wash them until you're ready to use them, as excess moisture could hasten spoilage. Like pumpkins, keep your apples somewhere cool and dry, like your fridge or basement. Fresh apples can keep for weeks.
But beware: Don't store apples and potatoes in the same room. As potatoes age, they release a gas that makes apples spoil faster.
U-pick farm guide
Need some help finding an orchard or pumpkin patch? Here's some well known u-pick farms in and around Rochester. For hours and availability, call before visiting.
Apples
The Apple Farm 1640 Victor-Holcomb Rd., Victor. 924-3420.
Kelly's Farm Market 611 Old Wilder Rd., Hilton. 392-8102.
Kirby's Farm Market 9739 Ridge Rd., Brockport. 281-9078, kirbysfarmmarket.com.
Robb's Fruit Farm 800 Gallup Rd., Spencerport. 352-0814.
VanDorn Fruit Farm 1282 West Ave., Hilton. 392-8264.
Pumpkins
Chase Farms Market 459 Pannell Rd., Fairport. 315-986-4013, chasefarmsmarket.com.
Gal-A-Tin Acres 458 Morgan Rd., Scottsville. 889-3883.
Gro-Moore Farms 736 Rush-Scottsville Rd., Rush. 533-1588, gromoore.com.
Wickham Farms 1821 Fairport Nine Mile Point Rd., Penfield. 377-FARM, wickhamfarms.com.
Apples & Pumpkins
Browns Berry Patch 14264 Roosevelt Hwy., Waterport. 682-5569, brownsberrypatch.com.
Green Acre Fruit Farms 3460 Latta Rd. 234-0252, greenacreupick.com.
G and S Orchards 825 Atlantic Ave. Walworth. 315-524-3823, gandsorchards.com.
Hurd Orchards 17260 Ridge Rd., Holley. 638-8838, hurdorchards.com.
Lagoner Farms 6895 Lake Ave., Williamson. 315-589-4899, lagonerfarms.com.
Morgan's Farm Market 3821 Cory Corners Rd., Marion. 315-926-0910, morgansfarmmarket.com.
Whittier Fruit Farm 219 Whittier Rd. 594-9054, whittierfruitfarm.com.
Carve and crave
When carving your jack-o-lantern, don't toss out those seeds! Pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, can make great healthy snacks, rich in iron, omega-3s, fiber and potassium. To prepare, just clean about 1.5 cups of seeds and toss with 2 tsp. of olive oil or vegetable oil. Throw on some salt and arrange in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 300 F for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Yum!