What Are The Best Farms on Long Island?
What are the best farms on Long Island? Here are the 2021 Best of Long Island winners for top farm stand, farm, winery, fish market, and petting zoo.
BEST FARM STAND
Briermere Farms
One of the advantages of living on Long Island is having farm stands like Briermere Farms that we can look forward to visiting when spring arrives. It’s no surprise that this combination fruit farm and bakery on the North Fork has been voted Best Farm Stand on the Island again. After all, customers just love the breads, cakes, cookies, jams, jellies, and muffins made from scratch on the farm. There are no preprepared ingredients or fillings used and most of the fresh fruit used by its bakery is grown on the farm. If you can’t wait for one of their jams and jellies or its apple butter, honey or syrup, place an order at its website to be delivered right to your door! 4414 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-722-3931, briermerefarms.com
BEST FARM
White Post Farms
It’s easy to fall for White Post Farms, where a visit sets a delightful tone, like the one you enjoy on a family vacation. Only it’s close by and exceeds your expectations when the family wants to pick pumpkins, take a hayride, or see animals. Hours of memorable entertainment here include a visit to a giraffe enclosure where you meet Patches and Oliver, and Poppies Lorikeet Landing, to see the colorful free-flying birds. Treats don’t stop there. The farm has a petting zoo, primate exhibit, gourmet market, and garden center. Visitors love the aviary and letting birds eat out of their hands or land on their shoulders. Kids will never forget the coolest pony ride place ever where they also get to see camels and zebras. 250 Old Country Rd., Melville, 631-351-9373, whitepostfarms.net
BEST LOCAL WINERY
Pindar Vineyards
At Pindar Vineyards, the winemakers know that a good wine is like a great poem. Enjoying a glass can be an uplifting experience, delighting the senses as it satisfies the soul. Since Pindar’s founding four decades ago, it has become one of Long Island’s best-known wineries. Nestled on 500 acres on the East End, it grows 17 varieties of grapes, carefully crafting them into some 23 varietals and proprietary blends. Each year, it produces about 70,000 cases. But it’s never forgotten its roots, nor its family tradition. At its flagship vineyard, wine lovers can tour the production facility, and taste great wines from the barrel! 37645 Main Rd ./Rte. 25, Peconic, 631-734-6200, pindar.net
BEST FISH MARKET
The Fish Store
Founded in 1978, The Fish Store provides top-notch fresh fish, live lobsters, dinners to go, catering and more, along with great customer service – a combination that can’t be beat! Through its commitment, experience and expertise, The Fish Store has established a relationship with customers that will last a lifetime. Dine in the beautiful restaurant, where you can enjoy fresh-cut fish cooked to order for you, lobster dinners, clams on the half shell, oysters on the half shell, and much much more. They also serve wine and local beer on tap including Blue Point Brewery seasonal beers. The Fish Store regularly holds field trips of its facility and features everything from demonstrations of fish cutting to viewing local fresh products. 836 Montauk Hwy., Bayport, 631-472-3018, thefishstoreonline.com
BEST PETTING ZOO
Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo
There’s nothing like seeing the joy in a child’s eyes when connecting with a kind and gentle animal. For more than 30 years, Long Island has been enjoying the services of Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo. By coming to fairs, birthday parties, family functions and other occasions, it brings smiles to faces of all ages! The ponies enjoy meeting and giving rides to children at carnivals and festivals. With its cheerful staff and cute ponies that even the grumpiest person couldn’t say no to, it’s no wonder that Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo continues to be voted the best petting Zoo in Long Island! North Great River, 631-243-1658, steppinoutponies.com
To find all the other 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest winners, visit bestoflongisland.com Nominate your favorite businesses and people in the 2022 Best of Long Island program through Aug. 31.
