Longest running New York farm grows pumpkins right in the middle of a busy borough
EXCLUSIVE: Every fall, Queens County Farm Museum hosts an agriculture fair, pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides, and more, so New Yorkers can enjoy the quintessential autumn day.
The second we enter the “Ber” months and there is a chill in the air, the need to book it to the closest pumpkin patch has never felt so urgent.
Luckily for New Yorkers, the quintessential fall day of pumpkin picking, corn maze fun, and feasting on apple cider donuts and seasonal produce is just a train ride away at the Queens County Farm Museum.
Queens Farm is one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York State; the farming legacy of this site dates back to when the Matinecock people hunted and planted on the grounds in 1697.
Queens County Farm Museum incorporated the historic farm site in 1975 and restored the grounds into what it is today. The farm serves over 400,000 people annually and is the #1 school field trip destination for NYC Public Schools.
One of Queens Farm's long-awaited traditions is the annual Agricultural Fair in the fall, as well as the pumpkin patch that is open until Oct. 31, the Amazing Maize Maze, hayride, 47-acre Halloween celebration, and delicious apple cider donuts. To enter the farm and roam the pumpkin patch, it is free entry; however, some of the activities require paid tickets for admission.
“Halloween on the Farm is where fall magic meets family tradition,” said David Hughes, Executive Director of Queens County Farm Museum, in a press release. “Families come to pick pumpkins, explore our corn maze, and enjoy the autumn harvest—all grown right here in Queens. It’s a celebration of the season and the city’s agricultural heart.”
This is the ultimate fall destination in New York City, and the farm immediately transports you to an autumnal haven full of everything you could possibly want for a festive day out of the hustle and bustle.
Queens Farm's commitment to locally sourced goods for its fall festivities
Queens Farm is committed to locally sourcing its vendors, artisans, and craftspeople for its fall festivities — as well as other year-round events.
“We just make sure that a) they're local, b) it's a small business because we're community first here, so we want to support a community as much as we can,” said Hua Huang, the Queens Farm Director of Communications, in an interview with The Mirror US.
The Farm Stand is a must-visit on a trip to the farm. There you will find this season’s produce straight from the fields, such as crisp kale, tender fennel, colorful peppers, hearty squash, sweet potatoes, and seasonal plants. Queens Farm has 300 hens to produce farm-fresh eggs for purchase at $6 per dozen.
Some of the produce is also from local Nassau County and upstate New York farms.
“Everything in our farm store, too, are all local goods that people who are native to Queens have made,” Huang stated. “A lot of our cards, even the seeds that we sell there are specifically native to New York City or Queens-based organizations.”
There is also a Donut Shop open all weekends until Oct. 26, where visitors can purchase apple cider donuts locally made at Tulip Bake Shop in Floral Park. You can also buy local apples, cider, and fresh-baked pies — but make sure to stop at the Donut Shop first if you’ve got a hankering for a sweet treat, as they sell out fast.
Huang said that starting in January, he would receive emails from visitors asking, “When are the donuts going to be available?” This is an annual fall pilgrimage for many.
“The community knows what we're about and what we offer every year,” Huang stated.
Visiting the pumpkin patch
Of course, you can’t have a fall day without visiting the pumpkin patch. It is free entry to the pumpkin patch, minus the price of any pumpkin you pick.
“Last weekend it was so crazy, Huang said. “ We weren't expecting, I think we had, I don't know, maybe 1,500 people at the farm, which is just a crazy number.” Last year, the farm welcomed around 70-80k people during October.
He added, “And so we had to scrounge, make sure everyone has pumpkins — People love the pumpkins, it's October, spooky season.”
The pumpkins are sourced from a local farm that grows the carving pumpkins. Queens Farm grows pumpkins, but they’re the type for cooking. Fun fact: All of the pumpkins are free of insecticides.
Near the patch, visitors can check out the farm’s goats, sheep, alpacas, pigs, hens, and steer, as well as one of the largest apiaries in NYC.
“I step outside and there's chickens walking, the pigs are squealing and the alpacas are just like eating hay,” said Huang. “They're living their best life and it's just a great, serene place to spend your time working for something that you really care about.”