The Catskill Farm Stand Crawl: A Route from Ellenville to Margaretville

Between Ellenville and Margaretville sits one of the richest agricultural corridors in the Hudson Valley, and most of it doesn't show up on maps. The farm stands sit at the end of driveways, at the edge of fields, on the porches of 200-year-old farmhouses. You know one's there because a hand-painted sign appears at the shoulder: "CORN - HONEY - TOMATOES."

This route follows Route 209 from Ellenville into the Rondout Valley, then Route 28 through the heart of the western Catskills past Phoenicia, Pine Hill, and into Margaretville. It's 45 miles of some of the best farm food in New York State, and you can eat your way through it in a long afternoon.

Stop 1: Barthel's Farm Market & Creamery, Rte 209, Ellenville

Head south out of Ellenville on Route 209. Within three miles you'll hit Barthel's Farm Market (8057 Rte 209) — a family-owned farm stand and creamery open 7 days a week, 9am–6pm. They sell corn picked that morning, tomatoes, cucumbers, homemade pies, and fresh ice cream. Buy four dozen ears and eat half in the car.

Stop 2: Rte 209 Through Cragsmoor and into the Rondout Valley

This stretch through the valley is stunning — farms on both sides, the Rondout Creek running parallel. You'll hit stands selling honey, eggs, and cut flowers. Some have honor-system payment boxes. Bring cash. You can find more stands along this corridor on the Catskills Farm Stands Directory.

Stop 3: Stone Ridge Orchard — Cherries, Apples, and Cider

Stone Ridge is famous for its orchards. Stone Ridge Orchard is a 200-year-old historic working farm on 115 acres in the heart of the Rondout Valley. In July, cars line the shoulder for U-pick cherries. The orchards also grow peaches, apples, and Asian pears later in the season, plus they produce hard cider. Stop at the farm store for fresh cider, pie, and wood-fired pizza.

Stop 4: Phoenicia — The Gateway to the High Mountains

In Phoenicia, the farm stands switch to artisan food producers: jams made from Catskill berries, pickled vegetables, locally made cheese. The Phoenicia Farmers Market runs year-round on Sundays (10am–2pm) at Parish Field with an average of 20 vendors selling produce, pasture-raised meats, mushrooms, ferments, and more. The Phoenicia Diner is also a legitimate farm-to-table experience — everything on the menu is sourced from Catskills and Hudson Valley farms.

Stop 5: Margaretville and the Western Edge

At the end of the route sits Margaretville, a farming town at the foot of the Catskill Park. Just five miles north, the Pakatakan Farmers Market gathers at the historic Round Barn in Halcottsville every Saturday (9am–1pm, May through October) with local beef, vegetables, fruits, cheese, maple, honey, and artisan wares. Also check out Hubbell Family Farms, family-owned since 1848, offering grass-fed Scottish Highland beef, pasture-raised pork, and pure New York State maple syrup. Don't miss the local wildflower honey — from Catskill bees it's different from anything you can buy at a supermarket.

The What's-Ripe Calendar

June: Strawberries, early greens, peas, asparagus. July: Corn, cherries, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, blueberries, green beans. August: Peaches, sweet corn at peak, tomatoes, eggplant, melons. September: Apples, pears, late tomatoes, winter squash beginning. October: Pumpkins, apples, squash, hard cider. November: Late apples, root vegetables, Thanksgiving produce.

What to Bring

A cooler is mandatory. A bag of cash — many stands don't take cards. A sense of adventure: some of these stands don't have signs. You find them because something colorful is growing by the road and someone's selling it.

This is what the Hudson Valley was built on. Come hungry.