The Wayne County Apple Tasting Tour will return Oct. 1-30 for its 29th year, offering a self-guided route through 11 farm markets, orchards, cideries and wineries across the county.
The monthlong event lets visitors build their own itinerary for apple picking, cider tastings, country markets, petting zoos and stops focused on the region's agricultural history. Wayne County Tourism is presenting the tour under its “U Pick Your Stops, U Pick the Way” format.
Participating locations will offer a mix of fresh apples, sweet and hard cider, seasonal food and family activities. Organizers said each stop is designed to provide a different experience while connecting visitors with local growers and farm businesses.
Signature weekend adds tastings and activities
The tour's Signature Tasting Weekend is scheduled for Oct. 9-12. Participating stops are expected to offer exclusive tastings, specialty pairings and family-friendly activities during the four-day period.
Featured products will include apple cider doughnuts, slushies, seasonal desserts, local honey, jellies, maple syrup and savory dishes made with locally grown apples, according to the event announcement.
Visitors can also take part in a free passport program built around a word-jumble challenge. Participants collect letters as they travel between stops and become eligible for a gift-basket giveaway after collecting at least six letters.
One grand-prize basket will go to a participant who collects all of the letters and correctly solves the word jumble. Passports and the complete list of participating locations are available through the Apple Tasting Tour website.
Tour highlights county's apple industry
Wayne County Tourism Director Christine Worth said the tour gives visitors a chance to meet growers, explore family-owned orchards and support farms and small businesses during the fall harvest.
The county has 23,685 of New York state's 50,450 acres of apple trees, making Wayne County the state's largest apple-producing county, according to the release. McIntosh is the county's leading production variety, while growers also produce Empire, Red Delicious, Cortland, Rome, Idared, Crispin and other varieties.
The tour includes Lagoner Farms, home to Embark Craft Ciderworks. The operation was established in 1909 and is recognized as a Century Farm, a designation for farms operating for at least 100 years.
Additional tour information and passports are available from Wayne County Tourism and the Apple Tasting Tour. The tourism office can also be reached at 315-946-5469.
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