You've probably heard of McIntosh, Golden Delicious, and Pink Lady apples, but what about Cox's Orange Pippin or Esopus Spitzenberg? These are some of the rare heirloom apples grown at Fishkill Farms in Dutchess County, New York.
Owned by the Morgenthau family for just under 100 years, Fishkill Farms has transformed over the generations from a conventional American apple orchard to a diversified farm with environmental stewardship on the forefront of the agenda. Today the farm is run by third-generation farmer Josh Morgenthau, who has maintained Fishkill's identity as a "u-pick" apple orchard. Morgenthau and his farmers oversee 40 acres of apples, 15 acres of mixed vegetables, 15 acres of summer fruits, more than 400 pasture-raised chickens, and a flock of sheep. The farm uses such sustainable farming methods as seasonal crop rotation, alternating between annual and cover crops; growing pesticide-free vegetables and berries under NOFA's 'Farmer's Pledge" program, and managing five of the 15 acres of apples with organic methods.
Recently, photographer Nicole Franzen visited Fishkill for a selection of apple varieties and summer fruit sold at a nearby farmer's market.
Photographs by Nicole Franzen.
![700 nicole franzen hudson barn crop](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700-nicole-franzen-hudson-barn-crop.jpg)
Above: A farmhouse nearby; In the spring of 2009 Fishkill's historic barn, packing shed, and cold storage were all lost to a fire, but the Morgenthau family was able to rebuild the pole barn a year later. The new barn will have an apple cold storage room, machinery workshop, vegetable and fruit packing facilities, and a cider room.
![700 nicole franzen red pear tree](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-red-pear-tree.jpg)
Above: McIntosh apples in an orchard full of 15 different varieties.
![700 nicole franzen sheep hudson](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-sheep-hudson.jpg)
Above: The farm's resident flock of pasture-raised sheep.
![700 nicole franzen pear tree](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-pear-tree.jpg)
Above: A pear tree dropping fruit in the harvest months.
![700 nicole franzen green apples](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-green-apples.jpg)
Above: Golden Delicious apples.
![700 nicole franzen apple picnic](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-apple-picnic.jpg)
Above: Franzen's picnic of sliced Golden Delicious apples, just picked from the tree above.
![700 nicole franzen pink lady apples](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-pink-lady-apples.jpg)
Above: Apples for sale at a local farmers' market; in addition to filling orders for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, Fishkill Farms sells at markets in Dutchess County and in New York City.
![700 nicole franzen stone fruit](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-stone-fruit.jpg)
Above: White peaches, plums and pears at a nearby farmer's market.
![700 nicole franzen plums](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/img/sub/uimg/11-2012/700_nicole-franzen-plums.jpg)
Above: Organic plums grown in the Hudson Valley.
N.B.: Looking for more farms like this one? See 143 other Garden Visits.
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