Looking for a farm

[DomesticatedFeminist]

I know there's the farm in clarence, but I am looking for one I can take my kids to in the south towns. Are there any farms open to the public out that way?

[shipdadip]

Complete U-pick farm guide for 2009
By Andrew Z. Galarneau NEWS FOOD WRITER
Updated: June 04, 2009, 10:47 AM / 0 comments
When Kathy Smith and her husband, Rex, moved to Western New York 18 years ago with their four children, their household budget was so tight it squeaked.

To make ends meet, the Smiths joined the U-pick crowds, bringing their baskets to farms in the countryside whose fruit trees and bushes hung heavy with cherries, peaches and apples. The children got to help, or at least run around and tire themselves out. Meanwhile, the Smiths loaded up on dirt-cheap fruit that could not have been fresher.

The kids aren’t kids anymore, but the Smiths are still waiting for U-pick season. “Now we go fruit picking to de-stress,” said Kathy Smith. “We work long hours, but when we need to escape our office we get in the truck and go pick.”

Smith cuts out some of the work at Kappus Farms in Burt by buying a 25-pound bucket of freshly pitted sour cherries. (Last year the 25-pound bucket cost about $40, the best deal going on fresh Niagara County cherries.)

Whatever she doesn’t turn into pies immediately gets frozen, to reappear over the year in dishes like her cherry bars.

In the end, it’s about more than fruit, she said. “Somehow being that close to nature grounds you,” Smith said. “You can analyze your problems in the orchard. I can’t promise you they will be resolved, but perhaps a tad less important.”

U-pick veterans count down the summer in seasons. June is strawberries, which give way to cherries and raspberries in July, peaches, plums and other stone fruit in August, then apples in September.

As the 2009 U-pick season begins, The News presents a list of U-pick operations in Western New York, offering everything from apples to zucchini. Interested in picking your own strawberries, apples, or Concord grapes? Raspberries, cherries or tomatoes in bulk among your summer shopping?

Here is a complete guide:

Allegany County

• Austin’s Rhubarb, 4935 B Route 19, Belmont 14813. 585-268-5735. U-pick or ready picked rhubarb. March-August.

Cattaraugus County

• Blueberry Meadows, Rowe Ave., Westons Mills 14788. 373-2865. U-pick blueberries. Late July-August, Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a. m.-6 p. m.

• Bockmier’s Farm Market, 3809 Old State Road, Allegany 14706. 373-2161. U-pick red and purple raspberries. Vegetables including sweet corn. Mid-July-October.

• Burdick Blueberries, 8267 Thompson Road, E. Otto 14719. 257-9760 or 800-642-4245. U-pick blueberries, 40 acres of hand-pruned bushes, mowed grass rows. Late July through August.

• Childs Blueberries, 3207 Cooper Hill Road, Hinsdale 14743. 557-2529. childsblueberries.com. U-pick blueberries, many varieties. Currants. Mid-July-September, 8 a. m.-8 p. m.

Chautauqua County

• Abers Acres, 884 Route 394, Kennedy 14747. 267-2431. abersacres.com. U-pick and picked strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, currants, flowers and vegetables from this certified organic farm.

• The Berry Bush, 2929 Route 39, Forestville 14062. 679-1240. U-pick and fresh strawberries, red raspberries, black raspberries. Picked blueberries. Mid-June to mid-August, 8 a. m.-7 p. m.

Blueberry Hill Farm and Greenhouse, 10016 Allegany Road, South Dayton 14138. 532-2920. U-pick blueberries, mid-July to late August Plants and flowers earlier from greenhouses.

• Charles Carris Fruit Farm, 10671 Carris Road, Ripley 14775. 736-6844. U-pick blueberries. July 15-Sept. 1, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Falcone Farms, 1707 King Road, Forestville 14062. 965-2503. U-pick apples and grapes. Ready apples, pumpkins and squash. Mid-September to early November, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Farmer John’s, 350 E. Main St., Fredonia 14063. 672-2148. U-pick and ready sweet and sour cherries. Vegetables including corn, squash, zucchini, peppers, beans, cucumbers, potatoes. July 4th to Labor Day.

• Meadows Farm, 10459 Prospect Road, Forestville 14062. 965-2674. U-pick apples and fresh apples, apple cider, pumpkins, squash, broccoli, cauliflower. September-November, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Olde Chautauqua Farms, 6645 W. Main Rd., Portland 14769. 792-9440. U-pick asparagus and cherries. May through July.

Erie County

• Andolina Farms, 10719 Brant Angola Road, Brant 14027. 698-6825. U-pick strawberries, sweet corn, vegetables. 8 a. m. to dark.

• Awald’s Berry Farm, Gurney Avenue, North Collins 14111. 337-3162 or 337-2997. awaldfarms.com. U-pick or ready blueberries, raspberries (red, purple, and black), and currants. Pumpkins in fall. 8 a. m.-6 p. m. July-October.

• Bowman Farms, 11259 Gowanda State Road (Route 62), North Collins 14111. 337-2965. U-pick berries and tomatoes, farm fresh produce. 9 a. m.-5:30 p. m., June-October.

• Greg’s U-pick Farm, 9270 Lapp Road, Clarence Center 14032. 741-4239. gregsupickfarm@aol.com. U-pick strawberries and blueberries. June-August.

• Stonehill Orchard, 2356 Shirley Road, North Collins 14111. 337-2380. U-pick and ready apples, 20 varieties. U-pick and ready Concord grapes. 9 a. m.-6 p. m., late August-November.

• Thorpe’s Organic Family Farm, 12866 Route 78, East Aurora 14052. 655-4486. U-pick organic strawberries, and other seasonal vegetables. May-November.

• Vacco Farms, 1524 Cain Road, Angola 14006. 337-2578. U-pick berries. Also grapes, sweet corn, and pumpkins. July-September.

Genesee County

• Balonek’s Produce, 6124 Quaker Hill Road (Route 98), Elba 14050. 585-757-9377. baloneksproduce.com. U-pick and ready strawberries, sweet corn. 10 a. m.-6 p. m., June-August.

• Duyssen Family Farm, 9187 Bater Road, Stafford 14143. 585-356-1405. U-pick and ready strawberries. Bring own containers. June, sunup to sundown when berries are ripe.

• Hill ’n’ Hollow Blueberries, 7087 Rogers Road, Pavilion 14525. 585-584-3978. U-pick blueberries, pesticide free. July 20-mid-August.

• McPherson Orchards, 8067 Oatka Trail, LeRoy 14482. 585-768-7094. Apples, pears, prunes, cider, honey, beeswax products, jams, jellies, maple syrup, pumpkins, winter squash, gourds. Late August-December, 9 a. m.-6 pm.

• Pully’s Farm Market, 8160 Lake Road, LeRoy 14482. 585-768-2280. pullysfarmmarket. com. U-pick strawberries, asparagus, sweet corn, seasonal vegetables, cherries, peaches, pears, apples, cider. Open daily May-mid-November, Mon.-Fri. 10 a. m.-7 p. m., Sat. 9 a. m.-7 p. m., Sun. 9 a. m.-6 p. m.

• Roanoke Apple Farms, 6370 E. Bethany-LeRoy Road, Stafford 14143. 585-768-2042. U-pick or ready apples, 12 varieties. Early September-early November, 10 a. m.-6 p. m.

Niagara County

• Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards, 3760 Quaker Road, Gasport 14067. 772-2211. beckerfarms.com. U-pick strawberries, cherries, peaches, peas, apples and more. June-Oct.

• Blackman Homestead Farm, 4472 Thrall Road, Lockport 14094. 434-7116. U-pick apples and pears at Niagara Escarpment family farm. Open September-December, 9 a. m.-5 p. m.

• Bye’s Farm, 6023 Ridge Road , Lockport 14094. 434-1803. U-pick and ready strawberries, raspberries. U-pick tomatoes. On Route 104 at the corner of Ewings Road. Mid-June, raspberries in July, tomatoes in September.

• Coulter Farms, Route 93 at Route 425 (stand); U-pick at 3871 N. Ridge Road, Lockport 14094. 433-5335; U-pick information 434-5700. U-pick strawberries in June, cherries, raspberries, blueberries. Vegetables throughout the summer. June- October, 8 a. m.-5 p. m.

• Ellis Fruit Farm, 4748 Thrall Road, Lockport 14094. 434-1854. U-pick apples, plus pears and apples at stand. September-October, 10 a. m.-5 p. m.

• Kappus Farms, 6285 Jockey Road, Burt 14028. 778-8396. U-pick cherries, sweet and sour, end of June through July. By the pound, or pitted, by the 25-pound bucket. Raspberries.

• Lisiecki Produce, 8427 Chestnut Ridge Road, Gasport 14067. 772-2213. U-pick cherries in July, then plums, tomatoes and squash. Farm stand. June-October, 9 a. m.-7 p. m.

• Murphy Orchards, 2402 McClew Road, Burt 14028. 778-7926. murphyorchards.com. U-pick and picked strawberries, cherries, mulberries, peaches, plums, currants and apples. Vegetables. May-November, 8:30 a. m.-6:30 p. m.

• Peter Baker Farm, 2100 Youngstown-Lockport Road, Ransomville 14131. 791-3440. U-pick and ready picked apples. Pumpkins. September-October, 8 a. m.-4:30 p. m.

• Pipiles Farm, 3370 Lockport-Olcott Road, Lockport 14094. 778-7366. U-pick blueberries. June-August 10 a. m.-5 p. m.

• Sanger Farm, 852 Youngstown-Lockport Road, Youngstown 14174. 745-7297. U-pick sweet cherries in July. Peaches, strawberries, apples, pears. Homemade pies with their fruit. Vegetables in season. Starting June, 9 a. m.-7 p. m.

• Singer Farms, 6620 E. Lake Road, Appleton 14008. 778-7858. U-pick sweet and tart cherries in July. 9 a. m.-6 p. m.

• Vincent Wood, 2350 Coomer Road, Burt 14028. 778-5354. U-pick Concord grapes in October.

Orleans County

• Brown’s Berry Patch, 14264 Roosevelt Highway (Route 18), Waterport 14571. 585-682-5569. brownsberrypatch.com. U-pick berries and cherries. April-November, 8 a. m.-8 p. m.

• Hurd Orchards, 17260 Ridge Road, Holley 14470. 585-638-8838. hurdorchards. com. Extensive array of U-pick fruit, including cherries, raspberries, peaches and currants. Flowers, vegetables and herbs. May-December.

• Kirby’s Cider Mill, 3461 Butts Road, Albion, 14411. 585-589-5981. U-pick cherries, tomatoes, and apples. Fresh cider.

• Lynoaken Farm, 11540 Maple Ave., Lyndonville 14098. 765-2021. U-pick and ready apples. September-October.

• Partyka Farms, 1420 County Line Road (Route 272), Kendall 14476. 585-659-9131. partykafarms.com. U-pick strawberries, raspberries, cherries, tomatoes. June-November.

• Roberts’ Farm Market, 11170 Maple Ridge Road (Route 31A), Medina 14103. 798-4247. U-pick strawberries, fruits and vegetables in the summer, and apples and fresh pressed cider in the fall and winter. Mon.-Sat., 9 a. m.-6 p. m., Sundays in May-October.

• Watt Farms Country Market, 3121 Oak Orchard Road (Route 98), Albion 14411. 585-589-8000. wattfarms.com. U-pick apricots, peaches, raspberries, cherries, and apples. May-December.

Wyoming County

• Kelly’s Fruit Farm, 6806 Swyers Road, Castile 14427. 585-493-5637. U-pick apples and pears, roadside stand. August to November, 9 a. m.-6 p. m.

• Mehlenbacher Strawberries, 6513 Lamont Road, Castile 14427. 585-493-2773. U-pick strawberries and roadside stand. Mid-June to mid-July, 8 a. m.-6 p. m. Closed Sundays.

• Welch’s Farm Market, 1420 Saltvale Road, Wyoming 14591. 585-495-6509. U-pick strawberries in June, seasonal produce through Indian corn and pumpkins in October, 10 a. m.-6 p. m.

• Wells Berry Farm, 5567 Route 19A, Castile 14427. 585-493-3365. U-pick or ready blueberries, rhubarb and strawberries.

. . .

U-pick tips

• Call the farm first, a day or two ahead. Otherwise, weather and other customers may leave your drive fruitless.

• Prepare a Plan B. If the first place doesn’t work for you, try alternatives that you mapped out already.

• Bring sunscreen, bug spray, your own fruit baskets, drinks and snacks. You might need none. You might want them all.

• Decide what you’re going to do with your bounty before you go. Fresh berries do not take kindly to indecision.

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