The orchard will close Saturday, October 28, 2023.
July through October
CLOSED ON SUNDAYS
Special Offerings
The 2024 CSA membership contract is not yet available. Middlefield Orchard offers a regular season CSA - more details will be forthcoming. We look forward to serve you during the upcoming season.
The Rent-a-Tree program for 2024 is not currently available at this time.
What's Happening
The Orchard and Store opens Friday, June 14th for strawberry picking in 2024.
The orchard is open every (to be determined) from 9 am to 5 pm. The orchard and store is closed every Sunday.
Days/hours of Operation:
-
(TBD)
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Sunday Closed
Since apple season is here, all of us at Middlefield Orchard want to express our appreciation for your continual support over the years and make you aware of what we are planning this coming season at the orchard.
In mid-May 2023, Otsego County experienced a low temperature of 22 degrees during a major bloom period. As a result of that cold period along with a drought period, elevated high temperatures followed by heavy periods of rain and hail, Middlefield Orchard experienced a 100% loss of peaches, pears and grapes, a 50% loss of the berry crop and an 85% loss of the apple crop.
The orchard will still 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 14, 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;
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.