Drive Through History: Good Apples

Agriculture is, and has always been, the lifeblood of the Hudson Valley. For many years, Native Americans grew corn, beans and squash in the region’s fertile soil. In the 17th century, the Dutch brought their own ingenious farming methods to the area that would become Columbia County. During the American Revolution, the region supplied much of the grain for the colonies; then, the opening of the Erie Canal shifted grain production westward and cleared the way for a new local cash crop: Apples.

Take a ride to visit Columbia County’s heritage orchards, and the stories behind them.