Berries & Cream Farm Days *

Saturdays: June 28, July 5, 12, 2008
Sundays: June 29, July 6, 13, 2008

Experience fresh-from-the-farm goodness with the whole family!  Grab the Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link shuttle at the Poughkeepsie Station for stops at the city of Beacon, Shenandoah Dairy Farm and Secor Farms (for pick-your-own produce and vegetables) in the picturesque Hudson Valley.         

First stop…Beacon.  Stroll through this lovely renaissance city, and enjoy the arts, outdoors, antique shops, boutiques, and fine restaurants of the riverfront’s restored historic districts. Take advantage of the many fine eateries for lunch, or buy a picnic lunch and savor it in the park by the Hudson River.  Sample and shop Beacon Farmer’s Market (10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sundays only) featuring an eclectic array of arts, crafts, and local produce.

Then, board the Farm Fresh Link shuttle to Shenandoah Dairy Farm, opening its barn doors and inviting you in for a behind-the-scenes peek into the life of a dairy farmer.  Discover how milk gets from the farm to your table, making a few bovine Holstein & Jersey buddies along the way.  And no visit is complete without sampling some premium-quality, Hudson Valley Fresh milk. This pastoral location was also the filming site for scenes in the movie, ”Malcolm X”, and numerous national commercials and print ads.

Fishkill Farms has been a family orchard since 1914, when Robert Morgenthau's father, Henry purchased the rich farmland. It is a pick-your own apple & fruit orchards, bakery and farm market with pasture-raised chickens, berries, homegrown vegetables, eggs, and other delicious local and organic food.
 
Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,  was Secretary of the US Treasury under Franklin D. Roosevelt and hosted a farm visit by President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the midst of World War II.  The farm has returned to family management, with Robert Morgenthau at the helm.  Robert has been the Manhattan District Attorney for more than three decades and now his son Josh is taking up the challenge of adapting to new markets.

See the spectacular views of a large and diverse orchard and experience the home-made delectables in the traditional farm market and unique movie of the historic war-time visit.  Learn about the developing enterprises, including pastured layer hens and broilers, organic vegetable and berry production. 

The end of your farm day is time for hand-picked strawberries (or other seasonal fruits and vegetables) at Secor Farms.  Pick your own fruit or visit the farm stand for an assortment of seasonal goodies, including local jams, jellies, maple syrup and honey.

The Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link shuttle will stay with you all day, transporting you to the various locations and bringing you back to Beacon Station for the return trip home.  Reservations for the Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link shuttle are required in advance by calling 800-445-3131 and selecting "0" for an operator.  Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance.  Once you've made your reservation, purchase your rail and shuttle ticket any Metro-North station with a ticket office, at all full-service ticket machines, or online through WebTicket at www.mta.info .

Some activities may require an additional fee.  For more information about these itinerary stops and other agricultural and culinary destinations throughout Dutchess County, please visit www.dutchesstourism.com .

*Dutchess County Tourism has the right to substitute a farm or related itinerary stop to ensure the quality of the overall program and the individual getaway experience. 

PRICE:

From Grand Central Terminal or Harlem-125th Street:
adults, $24
seniors, $17.50
children 5-11, $3.50
children under 5, free

Save an additional 5% on railfare when you purchase this package through WebTicket .

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Discount round-trip rail fare and shuttle transportation to/from Beacon Station and all venues included in the package.

TRAVEL INFORMATION:

Be sure to get a customer letter prior to your trip.  Take the Hudson Line to Beacon Station.  The bus will meet the train departing Grand Central Terminal at 8:50 a.m., arriving at the Poughkeepsie Station at 10:13 a.m.  When you get to Poughkeepsie Station, follow the signs to the bus area and look for the  bus stop.  Your bus will be the one with a sign that reads “Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link.”

www.secorstrawberries.com
www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M2827
www.hudsonvalleyfresh.com
www.mta.info
WebTicket