Our family has been visiting Secor Farm for several years now. We actually stumbled upon it by complete accident and I'm so happy we did. We started out by with strawberry picking the first year, then gradually year after year we have picked everything they have to offer. We love being able to pick our own fruit and veggies and the taste and quality is far better then what we could get at the store.
From Secor's Facebook page here is a little back story: Secor Strawberris was established in 1964 by Don and Mary Secor. Don is a born farmer, Mary was born into farming. Both loved strawberries and planted two acres of strawberries and started their Pick-Your-Own in 1964. They added regular and sugar snap peas in 1970, pumpkins in 1981, and blueberries in 1983
Today, Secor Strawberries grows six acres of strawberries, five acres of blueberris, 12 acres of pumpkins, 10 acres of sweet corn along with seasonal vegetables on a family friendly farm.
Sadly the gentleman who ran the Farm Donald Secor passed away this past February. I was so upset reading about his passing and like many others wondered what would be come of the Farm. Our family was crossing our fingers it wouldn't become condos or sold off to a developer like many farms unfortunately have. Don's loving wife Mary along with a team of volunteers (yes you read that right ALL volunteer) vowed to have the Farm open one last season in memory of Don. Our family has met Mary many times over the years. She always has a smile on her face and a kind word. My kids know exactly who she is since she is the one usually handing out the buckets and love chatting with her. Secor Farm has become our go to place, we look forward to our family day out picking berries and the annual picture I take of the kids holding the flat of strawberries. Where were we going to go now? Would it be the same? I didn't even want to think about it.
Thanks to Facebook, I can keep up to date on all the activities going on at Secor (that sounds a little like a stalker doesn't it?), and this past week I was beyond delighted to hear of a young farmer named Nick who has been working many hours plowing under the farm and getting it ready for planting. While nothing is finalized YET, Nick's plan is to continue and expand the farm including adding a petting zoo! HOORAY!!! I was so happy and excited about this, I immediately sent my husband a text about it, and on our drive to Secor this past Sunday (7/14) we wondered what Nick's plan was, what else would he be adding? We were like little kids all excited, and can't wait to see what is on the horizon. GREAT NEWS WAS POSTED 7/24/13 O FACEBOOK: It's official! Mary Secor and Farmer Nick Hughes have finalized arrangements and Nick will be operating his farm stand at Secor Farm starting Monday, July 29. Nick will finish out the blueberry season and add additional farm produce and delicious products from Cronin's Maple Farm. Please help us welcome Nick!
Blueberry season is in full swing right now, and thanks to the very warm weather the late season berries are ready so if you are thinking of going to pick do it soon! I can tell you the ones we picked are amazing and so delicious. We will be heading back before the season is over for more.
Secor Farm located at 63 Robinson Lane in Wappingers Falls is open 7 days a week (weather permitting) from 8am-12noon. You can visit their Facebook page for updates or call the Berry Hot line at 845-452-6883 for more information.
The Don Secor Memorial website has great recipes, pictures and a fantastic blog by LJ Silver one of the tireless volunteers who helping to run the Farm this year. Donations can also be made on-line on the memorial page to help cover operating costs and keep the Farm running.
