Orchards aren’t just for apple picking.

For the past 49 years, Ontario Orchards has served the community as a year-round farm and market. The 30-acre farm is a place for students, children and families to come and purchase fresh produce, pick from the orchards and celebrate various holiday seasons.

Established in 1965, Ontario Orchards is known for its Fall Jamboree, which brings together the spirit of the season with pumpkin picking, music, food and other fall activities. Although the jamboree takes place earlier in fall, there are plenty of pumpkins left to pick in time for Halloween.

“People can come out to Ontario Orchards to purchase or just look,” said Dennis Ouellette, owner of Ontario Orchards. “We usually have something for everyone from ages 2 until 92.”

As the end of October nears, Ontario Orchards is in the prime season for apple and pumpkin picking. At the farm, guests are welcome to pick their own pumpkins from the orchard or purchase ones that have already been picked. Along with pumpkin picking, visitors also have the option to tour through the corn mazes or go on hayrides.

Kathy Ouellette, the manager at Ontario Orchards, also recommends that visitors stop by the winery, the Cider Mill.

“We have a winery section and a home brewing section,” Kathy Ouellette said. “We offer wine- and beer-making supplies, and all kinds of juice kits from sweet wines to dry wines. Students can come here and sample the products.”

Along with the U-Pick orchards and roadside stands, guests can also go shopping at The Shack, Ontario Orchards’ farm market. The Shack sells many of the orchard’s farm fresh products like fruits and vegetables, as well as apple cider, cheese and other products.

Some of the big name products sold at The Shack are Buck’s Seasoning, Hinerwadel’s Salt Potatoes, Croghan Bologna and Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans and Soups. The market also sells the orchard’s homemade products such as Ontario Orchards licorice, salad dressings, mustard and fruit butter.

Those with a sweet tooth can find their way to the bakery at Ontario Orchards. Everything sold in the bakery is homemade, and most items include products straight from the farm, such as the apple pie made from the orchard’s apples. The bakery also sells homemade farm breads and rolls, cinnamon buns, croissants, apple fritters and cider donuts.

Since the orchard remains open seven days a week year-round, students can visit any time throughout the school year. As the winter approaches, Ontario Orchards swaps out the pumpkin picking for U-Cut Christmas trees.

Regardless of the time of year, there is one thing Ontario Orchards continues to promote: agritourism, which it has worked to spread throughout the area.

Dennis Ouellette defines the agribusiness as an initiative started by New York State. The agribusiness initiative works to create an alliance between the local farmers and the public.

“We definitely encourage students to come to Ontario Orchards because many of them don’t live in the immediate area,” Dennis Ouellette said. “They are from out of town, so this is a great opportunity for them to experience the agribusiness.”

By bringing the works of farmers into the public eye, the public can become educated on the culture and importance of local agriculture. Dennis Ouellette said this is a unique system that’s becoming more popular in New York.

Ontario Orchards aims to promote the growing agribusiness, while providing guests with farm fresh products and a fun experience.

Said Dennis Ouellette: “It is a great place to visit 12 months of the year, but there is especially a lot of things to do and see during our harvest time.”

Published on October 30, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Abby: ammaddig@syr.edu