Talibah Newman Ometu
Google
🚫 Overpriced, Disorganized, and Disappointing — A Sad Decline from What Used to Be a Family Favorite
This was our second visit to Whightman Farms, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to last year’s experience. We’ve been going apple picking for years as a family tradition, and last year felt magical — fun mazes, the pumpkin catapult, frozen cider on a hot day, and great food options for the kids. It actually felt worth the $30 per person admission.
This year, everything felt like a cash grab. Many stands only took cash, and nearly every small activity seemed to cost extra. The warm, family-friendly energy was gone.
The biggest disappointment was apple picking — signs everywhere said none of the apples were ripe. After trekking in the heat, we gave up and picked from the “not ripe” section anyway (which were surprisingly sweet!).
What really soured the day was the checkout experience. We tried to return some apples we didn’t want, but staff insisted we pay for them. An older gentleman even ran after us, accusing us of not paying — despite us having already spent over $600 that day. Another staff member later apologized and said they’ve had theft issues, but the damage was done.
We left feeling disappointed and unwelcome. What used to feel wholesome now feels transactional. Sadly, we won’t be back next year. For better family experiences, we recommend Fishkill or Harbes Orchard, where guests are treated with kindness and respect.