All Over Albany

Apple raspberry pie from Yonder Farms

You can buy a pie at pretty much any supermarket these days -- either the bake-from-frozen variety or the strangely identical ones that hang out around the market's bakery section.

Some of these pies are OK, but in our experience they always kind of taste a little fake. And that probably shouldn't be surprising -- these pies aren't so much baked goods as they are the product of an industrial process.

Thankfully, it is possible to still buy a real pie. And Yonder Farms in Colonie is one of our favorite places to get one.

What's the difference between a Yonder Farms' pie and one of those supermarket things? Well, the fruit tastes like actual fruit. The filling isn't overbearingly sweet. The crust is nicely firm while still managing to be flaky. And when you pick up the pie's box, it feels heavy -- like you're really holding something.

Yonder Farms' real pies are made by a real person. Her name is Maryann Chiaro. And she's been making pies there since her husband's mother taught her the family recipe when she was a teenager. (The Chiaros have been selling pies and other baked goods since 1969.)

And the apples in our favorite apple-raspberry pie? They come from the Chiaro's orchard in Columbia County. Yep, that's local food.

Yonder Farms sells 17 different pies and usually has a good selection on hand. But if you're looking to score one around the holidays, Maryann recommends placing an order to make sure you get what you want.

One more thing: Yonder Farms has two retail stores -- one on Rt 155 in Colonie and the other on North Greenbush Rd in Troy. But the baked goods are only available at the Colonie location.