The orchard will open Friday, June 14th, 2024.
2274 State Hwy 166, Cooperstown, NY 13326
607-547-8212
Open Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm
July through October
CLOSED ON SUNDAYS
July through October
CLOSED ON SUNDAYS
Special Offerings
The 2024 CSA membership contract has been completed for the year.
The Rent-a-Tree program for 2024 is not currently available at this time.
What's Happening
The Orchard and Store schedule for the remaining 2024 season is as follows: Open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm until Saturday, November 2nd - thereafter, every Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm - closed for the season after Saturday, November 23rd.
Strawberry U-Picking starts June 10th through mid-July from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. The orchard and store is closed every Sunday.
The orchard schedule for U-Pick and store hours after the strawberry season (mid-July) is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm until Saturday November 2nd. The orchard and store will be closed every Wednesday and Sunday.
Raspberry u-pick schedule starts the first of July through the end of October.
Blueberry u-pick starts mid-July to early September.
Apple picking starts in early to mid-August through the end of October.
The orchard will have u-pick pumpkins, u-pick raspberries, squash, and other fresh produce for sale along with fresh cider donuts, sparkling apple cider, jams, pickles, and applesauce.
Free family fun activities will still be offered: corn maze, hay fort, and hay rides. (Hay rides offered on Saturdays only.)
You can also find us in the Cooperstown farmers market, Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm, the Oneonta farmers market, Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm, and in the Delhi farmers market Wednesdays from 9 am to 2 pm June through October.
EVENTS HAPPENING
The orchard and store opens, June 10, 2024 for strawberry picking.
The store offers a new addition, "Sparkling Apple Cider" along with apple cider, apple cider donuts, baked goods, fresh produce, jams, pickles, salsa etc.
Please be aware that public safety requires that you use safe practices while at the orchard and please be courteous to others while at the orchard.
Absolutely no animals in any of the berry patches or in our store facility - this is a health issue. Dogs MUST be on a leash at all times.
We strive to have the orchard as a family friendly place to enjoy. However, damage to the fruit, plants and/or trees is not acceptable.
Orchard Updates ****
Strawberry Patch: Two additional acres were added in 2022 making a total of over 6 acres for the 2024 season. Picking season starts mid-June and continues through mid-July.
Raspberry Patch: Two additional acres were started last year to increase the total to two acres of raspberries to harvest from late June through late October.
Blueberry Patch: Currently there are two and one half acres of blueberries with harvesting starting early/mid July through the end of August/early September.
Apple Orchard: New apple varieties were planted that include EverCrisp and Pink Lady.
A VERY NICE ARTICLE BY SHANNON KIRCH
Shannon Kirch, Cooperstown Farmers Market manager visited the orchard and wrote the following;
"If you wander around the 80+ acres in production at Middlefield Orchard near the end of August, you may start to get the sinking feeling that the growing season is almost over and any day now storage crops will be our only option. Many beds have already been harvested and turned over, ready for a winter's sleep. Weeds are beginning to overtake the rest because soon they will give their final harvest as well. But then you pass the raspberry patch where branches are inches from the ground, heavy with green fruit still on its way to ripening in the coming month. Down a ways the rhubarb plants are almost ready to make their fall comeback. You look beyond the Pristine and Zestar apples which are currently at their peak to see the Gala, Blondie, Honeycrisp, Macoun, and others that are still yet to come. Finally, you notice the steps of corn, planted in waves, the youngest ones still only 12 inches high with plenty of time to grow their sweet ears, and you realize the season is far from over. Many people consider September to be peak harvest in our region and with 10,000 apple trees tilted like the Leaning Tower of Pisa from this year's bumper crop, no where is that more true than at Middlefield Orchard.
Believe it or not, there was a time when no one had ever heard of a Honeycrisp Apple. It was back in the day when Willy and Joan Bruneau had a mere 1,000 apple trees and sold their humble crop from a small table at the back of the market. Flash forward fifteen years and Honeycrisp might just be the #1 apple variety in the country while the Bruneau's have expanded their offerings to include vegetables, baked goods, honey, and preserves, making them one of our largest vendors attending market every Saturday, year round.
You would think additions like an automated mower with sensors that allow it to cut between the trees while avoiding the trunks to replace the task of weedwacking an entire orchard by hand 5 times a year would allow for some welcomed leisure time. Instead, Willy and Joan have decided to continue expansions by breaking ground on a store front complete with a commercial kitchen and hydraulic cider press. If you mention retirement, Willy simply smiles and states, "I am retired." Dig a little deeper and you'll learn that he truly believes working the land is one of the only things keeping him alive and well. This isn't just a business, it's the life they chose with purpose and there is no end in sight. They will be planting, harvesting and building as long as apple picking and corn maze adventures remain at the top of everyone's to do list on breezy fall weekends."
Fresh Vegetables
We offer a large variety of fresh vegetables throughout the season at our farmers markets and at the orchard.
Rent-a-Tree
If you or your family eat a lot of apples or process any apple products this is by far the least expensive way to go. The Rent-a-Tree program is not accepting any new contracts for the upcoming season.
Farm Safety Plan
A Farm Safety Plan is now implemented for any and all visitors to the orchard to enhance the safety of all concerned.
Enjoying the Harvest
FRESH FRUIT & FRESH VEGETABLES at any of our markets in Cooperstown (Sat 9 am to 2 pm) year round, or Oneonta (Sat 9 am to 12 pm) year round, or Delhi (Weds 9 am to 2 pm) June through early November.
CSA Customer comment:
"The Middlefield Orchard CSA is a way to provide healthy food for your family while supporting our local farmers and region. All the produce and fruits are fresh, sweet and flavorful. Favorites of ours are the blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Our family enjoys going out to the farm and hand-picking the raspberries, apples and pumpkins. Nate and I have done the math, and for the amount of produce and goods we receive it would be more than twice that at the store- and likely grown outside of our country and months old. You can bet we will be back for another summer and winter CSA again this year. Nate and Suzanne FurmanYou may sign-up for our seasonal CSA program by printing and filling out the contract form located on the bottom of the CSA page or pick up a contract at one of our markets. Click on the CSA button on the left hand navigational bar and scroll down to the bottom of the page.