Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm at 1335 White Hill Road has been offering choose and cut Christmas trees since the 1970's. Besides Douglas Fir or Fraser Fir Christmas trees, which are mostly sold out, the farm offers wreaths, tree stands and decorations.
The farm also has a bakery that sells pies, cookies, strudels, brownies, muffins and its famous apple cider donuts. Everyone who buys a tree gets a warm cup of cider.
Wilkens is run by Randy Pratt, a former attorney who lives on the Yorktown/Cortlandt border. The farm opens every year in August when peaches begin to ripen.
"We're open everyday until we finish selling our Christmas pies," Pratt said.
The farm has been in business for 98 years, through three generations, with Christmas trees becoming its specialty. Pratt estimates the farm sells between 700 and 900 trees a year.
"The perfect tree varies from family to family," Pratt said. "Some people will complain a tree is too dense while others will complain it has too many holes."
Families get a chance to cut their own tree down, though there are employees on hand for those who feel skittish about using a saw
Wilkens begins selling trees the Saturday after Thanksgiving with trees going fast and furious."I estimate that about 65 percent of our trees are gone within the first two days," Pratt said.
Way back when Pratt wouldn't sell Christmas trees until December but said families wanted to be able to buy trees while their children are home for Thanksgiving.
When the tree is brought home, Pratt said it should be immediately placed in a stand filled with water.
"Do not let it run out of water," he said. "The sap will harden and it will not want to drink the water anymore."
Pratt said he enjoys seeing the same folks come back year after year with people he knew as kids now buying trees as adults for their families. Aside from being a local tradition, Pratt said people seem to like the collectible ornament Wilkens gives out every year.
For information and hours, call (914) 245-5111 or go to the Wilkins farm website, wilkensfarm.com/.
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