What’s on the Old Mission Peninsula farm stands this week? Apples! Honeycrisp Apples! It hardly seems possible that we’re into apple season already, but there you have it. The proof is on the farm stands.
Also, lots of late summer/fall produce like tomatoes, potatoes, pears, peaches, flowers and prunes. Or … would that be plums? Growing up on a farm out here, we always called the oblong blue varieties “prunes.” Stanley and Damson were popular back then, and still are. And the varieties that are red and round we always called “plums.”
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But through the years, even the oblong blue ones have morphed into being called plums, with the dried version of those known as prunes. I will attempt to embrace that change. Oh, who am I kidding? They’re prunes, people. Prunes. Come at me.
If you are looking for pears, they have them at Warren Orchards’ Between the Bays Farm Stands on Center Road (near Fire Station 2) and Island View Road. And don’t forget that Wendy Warren makes a variety of delicious baked goods – call her at (231) 590-2363 or fill out the order form on their website here.
You’ll also find pears, prunes, grapes and other in-season veggies and flowers at Island View Vineyard, 12467 Center Road (near the Island View Road intersection). Call owner Margrit Kuehnis for more info, (231) 223-4642.
Steve Sobkowski has U-Pick pears at his house, 18367 Mission Road (past the Old Mission General Store on the left). Pears are 80 cents/lb., and they also have a few peaches as well. Stop by or give him a call at (231) 223-4452 or (231) 499-0072.
At Little Fox Farm, 15402 Center Road (on the north end of the Hogsback), you’ll find a variety of fall flowers, including lots of Mums ranging from $5 to $30. They also have adorable ornamental pumpkins in all colors, and they’re having a sale right now through the end of September – 25 percent off all perennials, including trees, shrubs, flowers and more.
While you’re at Little Fox Farm, gather your family together for a cozy photo on the “hay bail couch” in front of their sweet truck. Here are a few photos I took today.
Earlier this year, I managed to sneak in a photo of owner Erin McManus. Thank you, Erin! Read more about owners Erin and Nate McManus here.
I spotted a few pumpkins already at Edmondson’s Cherry Connection Farm Stand on Center Road, catacorner from Peninsula Community Library. They have lots of other fall produce there, too.
Also on Center Road across from the library, Lou Santucci has a variety of nectarines, peaches, blackberries, raspberries, and peach and blackberry hand pies at his farm stand, 12602 Center Road.
Ginny Coulter has a variety of flowers at Old Mission Flowers (corner of Center Road and Ladd Road), including lots of sunflowers. Here are those charming Teddy Bear Sunflowers I’m extremely obsessed with. Don’t you just want to hug them?
A hidden gem of a farm stand is Jennifer Venigoni’s “Hen’s Homemade” at their house, 16213 Center Road (she and her husband Bob are the current stewards of the old Ogdensburg School House). She carries a variety of items from their farm, including plenty of baked goods in a cooler there. One of everything, please.
At Bern Kroupa’s Old Mission Fruit Company Farm Stand on Center Road across from the Old Mission Tavern, we spotted a good supply of Ginger Gold apples on the stone wall yesterday. They always carry a variety of apples throughout the season.
While you’re out that way, check out Manigold’s Farm Stand on Center Road on the right before you get to Swaney Road. They have a variety of fall produce, including tomatoes, squash and peaches.
Don’t forget Jim and Shirley Sullivan’s historic farm stand on Center Road about a quarter-mile north of Mapleton, and Mario Tabone’s Farm Stand on Peninsula Drive near AcenTek. Both of these carry everything under the sun. Here’s Jim Sullivan at his stand a few weeks ago.
And here are Mario and Mary Ann Tabone at their stand during cherry season this summer.
The Farm at Cherry Hill, 13200 Center Road, still has a variety of gorgeous flower bouquets.
At Fred Dohm’s Twin Maples Farm Stand, 16625 Center Road, you’ll find a variety of apples, fall produce and maple products. Here is Freddy at his stand earlier this summer.
Need home-made ice cream? (Raising hand here.) Buchan’s Blueberry Hill carries the best, along with a variety of apples, blueberries, peaches, cider, home-made jams, jellies and baked goods. They are located at 1472 Nelson Road, off Peninsula Drive. Visit their website here for hours and more info.
Below are a variety of photos taken yesterday of farm stands around the OMP. Note that these are just a sample of what’s on each farm stand. Most are filled to the brim with a variety of late summer/fall produce.
Local Yokels Farm Stand
They are located at 13130 Center Road (near the Township Hall, but on the other side of the road). Read more about them here, and visit their website here.
True story – I picked up a cantalope there about a week ago, brought it home, and ate most of it while Tim was trying to cut it into chunks. So I bought another one when I went up to a meeting at the Town Hall that night. Their melons are something else!
Here’s the second melon I bought, along with a few other photos I took yesterday.
Cory and Elise Holman’s Farm Stand
They’re located in the village of Old Mission on Grand Street, which runs between Brinkman Road and Traverse Street.
Look for Cory Holman’s Pumpkin Patch to open soon at their home farm, 12926 Center Road. We’ll keep you posted!
Johnson Farms Farm Stand
This stand is at my brother Dean Johnson’s cherry cooling pad on Center Road, about a half-mile north of Mapleton on the right. The honeycrisp apples are always good, but they seem especially sweet this year.
Walter and Ward Johnson Co. Farm Stand
This is my nephew Nic Johnson’s stand on Center Road near the Smokey Hollow Road intersection. I love that my brother Ward has kept our dad’s name on the farm and farm stand. Way to keep the family legacy going, Bro.
Warren Orchards’ Between the Bays Farm Stands
They have two farm stands, one at 8169 Center Road, near Fire Station 2 in towards town, and the other at their farm at 2705 Island View Road.
The annual Alzheimer’s Walk is coming up, and Wendy will be walking in honor of her husband Gary, who passed away from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Donate to her “Gary’s Gang” page here.
If I’ve missed your farm stand, let us know in the comments below where you are and what you have available right now. Or feel free to email me, [email protected], and I’ll be happy to add you.
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
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[…] right now, so you can find a wide variety of apples at most of the farm stands out here (click here for a list). Georgia says this recipe works great with apples, as well as other fruits, like […]