Cidery, EcoCertified, Farmstand, U-Pick, Wholesale

Fishkill Farms

Josh Morgenthau

EcoCertified Fruit: Apples, peaches

Produce: Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, tomatoes, pears, pumpkins

Grower Information

Location

9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

Contact

845-897-4377

www.fishkillfarms.com

When To Visit

Pick-your-own apples late August through early November

A member of the fishkill pick crew places apples in a box

A wooden box filled with apples sits between rows of trees at Fishkill Farms

Fishkill Farms: Creativity, Family Legacy, and Sustainable Farming in New York

From Art School to the Orchard

At first glance, art school and farming might seem worlds apart. But for Josh Morgenthau, the two are closely connected. After studying art in college, he returned to Fishkill Farms — where his family has been farming for nearly 100 years — and stepped into his role as owner and manager. Today, he brings a creative lens to both the land and the legacy he continues to grow, reimagining what a modern farm can be.

Pick Your Own Local Fruit: Reserve a time to pick seasonal, local fruit and vegetables at Fishkill Farms

A Family Legacy at Fishkill Farms

Fishkill Farms was founded in 1913 by Josh’s grandfather, Henry Morgenthau Jr., in Hopewell Junction, New York, before he went on to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In the 1960s, his son Robert took the reins, expanding and diversifying Fishkill Farms. He opened the farm to the public and established a pick-your-own operation featuring peaches, plums, cherries, pears, and berries.

Bringing the Farm Back to Life

By 1996, Fishkill Farms faced a turning point. Without a successor to manage the orchard — and with declining profitability in New York State agriculture — Robert made the difficult decision to lease the land to other growers.

It wasn’t until 2008 that he and Josh decided to bring management back into the family. As Josh recalls, “The farm was on the brink of no longer being viable. I saw an amazing opportunity to help preserve the land by continuing to farm it in a progressive way.”

Each season is completely different. I think I will be learning about farming in 20 years as much as I am now.

— Josh Morgenthau

Creativity in Sustainable Farming

That’s where Josh’s creativity comes in. At Fishkill Farms, he is rethinking what farming can look like, focusing on sustainability while working toward carbon neutrality.

Check Out Treasury Cider: Visit the Cider Bar or bring home bottles of this tree-to-bottle brand of hard cider.

His approach blends innovation with care for the land. At Fishkill Farms, that means growing organic vegetables, fruit, and farm-fresh eggs, while also experimenting with grazing livestock to improve soil fertility and manage disease. The farm has also installed a 40-kilowatt photovoltaic system, which generates more than half of its electricity.

That same creativity carries through to Fishkill Farms’ pears and EcoCertified^® apples and peaches. The team uses pheromone ties to reduce pests, wood-chip mulching to support soil health, and powdered clay to protect fruit from insects. These ecological practices may require more labor, but at Fishkill Farms, they take pride in the results — and believe you can taste the difference!