Essential Farm Work Continues At Dressel Farms In New Paltz

As the Hudson Valley and beyond comes to grips with a new normal, life goes on amidst social distancing. Everyone has a different story to tell and I thought we'd get some perspective from a local farmer and hard cider brand owner, Tim Dressel.

The Dressel family runs a 300-acre operation where they grow apples and other fruits. Tim also owns Kettleborough Cider and tasting room which operates on the family farm. On a personal level, they're keeping their distance from friends and family but continue to operate with increased cleanliness and safety protocols.

As Tim put it, 'our growing season is underway and the trees don't care that the world is on lockdown.' They supply fresh produce to a number of local grocery stores and saw a big rush in business a few weeks ago when people were stocking up on food but things have slowed since then. They are still shipping to meet demand and are focused on making sure they have a crop for fall.

The Dressel family is on their fourth generation of Hudson Valley apple growers with three generations, including Tim and his sister Sarah, still actively working the farm. According to their website, they harvest more than 150,000 bushels of apples a year spread across 20 different varieties.

To connect with Dressel Farms and Kettlebourough Cider House, their Facebook and Instagram pages are active or you can stop in the Dressel Farms store which is open Monday through Saturday. While the tasting room is closed, they're also offering online sales of hard cider which you can order online and pick up at the farm.

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