Sunflower season is in full bloom at Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils, a family-owned and -operated farm in Dutchess County. That means people will once again be traveling from across the region to soak up the beautiful views of Dutchess County’s summer landscape, from the Catskill Mountains to fields of waving sunflowers.

The farm grows and produces sunflower products, including cold-pressed sunflower oil; a high-protein, gluten-free sunflower flour; gluten-free baking mixes; and sunflower-oil-based skincare products. Its sunflower oil was a finalist in the 2021 Good Food Awards. The farm’s mission statement is “Producing health and happy for your body and soul through the power of sunflowers.”

“This is our busiest and favorite time of the year,” says Jeffrey Haight, operator at Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils. “It allows us to share our farm and story with the community while giving back to local charities. You can come and walk through the fields, take pictures, pick flowers, enjoy a bite to eat, and sit above the fields, listening to live music while watching the sunset. It’s a very relaxed farm.”

This is the fourth year of events at the farm. This year they’ll be serving food off the grill Thursdays through Sunday, for lunch and dinner. The menu will be standard fare, including burgers with veggie and gluten-free options; lemonade and frozen popsicles; and homemade banana, pumpkin and zucchini-chocolate chip breads made with the farm’s sunflower flour.

Events are weather dependent. For exact dates, check the website and then recheck the day of travel. Admission to the farm is free, or $5 per car after 5 p.m. on evenings with live music. The charge to pick flowers is $3 each or a bucket’s worth (they provide the buckets) for $25.