Blue Jay Orchards

REMEMBERING PAUL S. PATTERSON AND MARY D. PATTERSON   We remember fondly Blue Jay’s leaders and stewards since 1985, Paul S. Patterson, who passed away last November and his wife, Mary D. Patterson, who passed away October 16 2025, loved seeing folks come to the Orchard over the years, and Blue Jay was one of Paul and Mary`s true treasures in life.  Their contributions to Blue Jay will never be forgotten, and will live on here at the Orchard. Blue Jay Orchards is a family fun tradition nestled in Bethel, Ct.  with over 122 acres to roam, we offer seasonal apple picking, a pumpkin patch, a farm market, and a bakery. Our customer base extends well beyond our NYC. Where people come to enjoy our apple picking , cider and our  “Famous Cider Donuts”. Hospitality and generosity are two of the biggest core values for Blue Jay Orchard farm. It’s our tradition to open up our farm and invite family, friends, and visitors to come “taste and see” the abundance of our harvests. New and old customers alike get to enjoy the special and deeply satisfying experience of tasting the sweetest, flavor-packed fruit picked right off the trees, while getting to know the people who put so much love and care into raising it. What Keeps a Business Thriving for Three-Quarters of a Century?Loyal customers, personal service, a great product, and the ability to roll with the punches. Owned by Mary and Paul Patterson since 1985, now semiretired, the 120-acre orchard is situated on either side of Plumtrees Road Bethel. It was the first pick-your-own orchard in Fairfield County and is still the largest here attracting up to 5,000 weekend customers at the peak of the season. The bakery now turns out the hands-down favorite cider doughnuts and up to 1,100 pies during Thanksgiving week. Mr. Patterson's dream that Blue Jay Orchards would become a trove of memories for his customers seems to have come true. Many customers came here as a child, and are now bringing their grandchildren. Coming to Blue Jay Orchards is being a part of Bethel and the area, If you move away, you have to come back to get the apples and baked goods that you grew up on. Blue Jay Orchards Where Family Traditions Grow -since 1935- Blue Jay Orchards is a family fun tradition nestled in Bethel, Ct.  with over 122 acres to roam, we offer seasonal apple picking, a pumpkin patch, a farm market, and a bakery. Our customer base extends well beyond our NYC. Where people come to enjoy our “Famous Cider Donuts”. What Keeps a Business Thriving for Three-Quarters of a Century?Loyal customers, personal service, a great product, and the ability to roll with the punches. Owned by Mary and Paul Patterson since 1985, now semiretired, the 140-acre orchard is situated on either side of Plumtrees Road Bethel. Customer loyalty has been apparent from early on. As with any farm operation, hard work can be undermined by Mother Nature. In 1985, the first year the Pattersons took over, and again in 2004, the entire apple crop was devastated by a late May frost. Blue Jay Orchards began as a small orchard planted by Robert Josephy on a 50-acre dairy and vegetable farm he purchased in 1934. Over the next half a century, Mr. Josephy gradually added acreage and more apple trees. At that time most of the apples and cider were sold wholesale or from Mr. Josephy’s roadside stand. It was not until the Pattersons bought Blue Jay Orchards that the Pick Your Own aspect of the business originated. It was the first pick-your-own orchard in Fairfield County and is still the largest here attracting up to 5,000 weekend customers at the peak of the season. The bakery now turns out the hands-down favorite cider doughnuts and up to 1,100 pies during Thanksgiving week. Mr. Patterson’s dream that Blue Jay Orchards would become a trove of memories for his customers seems to have come true. Many customers came here as a child, and are now bringing their grandchildren. Coming to Blue Jay Orchards is being a part of Bethel and the area, If you