Days and Hours Open 

Thursday – 9 am to 6 pm
Friday – 9 am to 6 pm
Saturday – 9 am to 6 pm
Sunday – 9 am to 4 pm
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Closed
Wednesday – Closed

Call us at (269) 244-5690 or check for updates on our website: www.coreylakeorchards.com
If you live in the local area, then you know it’s been raining for about 24 hours.  This morning when we started work on the farm, the rain gauge measured 3 inches and it was still raining!

Because we are an open-air market, we had to secure the market items from the weather.  It is going to take us some extra time tomorrow to get everything put back out for sale, so we recommend you don’t come before late morning.  We appreciate you giving us this extra time.
Last week was a time of vacay with family and friends as we gathered to celebrate our nation’s 248th birthday.  Many of you stopped by the farm this past week, sometimes more than once a day!  It was great to see you and we appreciate your support for our family farm.

We enjoyed spending time with the ladies from “Camp Bachelorette” visiting from Chicago this past weekend.  Congratulations to the lovely bride Emily and we wish her all the best!
Produce Update
Seasonal produce is ripening several weeks ahead of schedule this year due to our warmer than usual weather.  Please rewire your brains and calendars to crops coming 10 days earlier than normal.  Watch our newsletter for updates so you don’t miss your favorite fruits and vegetables!

We expect sweet corn starting this weekend.

Cherries and raspberries are now finished for the year in our part of the state so we will no longer have them on the market.

Due to the recent rainy weather, we will not have already picked blueberries until Friday afternoon.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

Lodi Apples
We are picking our first apple of the year – Lodi, an early summer variety.  It is a tart and softer apple compared to fall varieties and is excellent for applesauce or fresh eating.  They are for sale in quarter pecks, half pecks, pecks, half bushel, and bushels.

We have a very limited supply this year due to the spring frost.  If you are interested in a peck or more of them, please call the market so we can set them aside for you for pick up this week.  These apples only keep for a few weeks.
Blueberry Update
We have already picked blueberries on the market from our long-term supplier, Brookside Farms.  They are available by the pint, quart, 5-pound box, and 10-pound box.  Reminder – we will not have any this week until Friday afternoon due to the rain.

We also have a small u-pick blueberry field open when the market is open.  We have plenty to pick right now, but if we run short of blueberries to pick, we may have to limit the amount that each family can pick.  Our small field is mainly a place where you can bring your family for a berry picking experience and leave with a few to take home.

If you are looking to pick a quantity to make pies, jam, freeze, etc. we recommend you contact Brookside Farms in Paw Paw.  They have many acres of u-pick blueberries and are very family oriented.  Call them at (269) 657-3500 or check their Facebook page for updates.

We have a number of blueberry products on the market.  Products include:  Fresh blueberries – already picked and u-pick; blueberry pie; blueberry fry pie; blueberry donuts; blueberry muffins; Blueberry-Zucchini bread; Blueberry Salsa; blueberry jam and dried blueberries.
July is National Blueberry Month
Blueberries are extremely popular berries in the US, and they are rich in antioxidants.  Raw blueberries also have a great flavor and many health benefits.  These factors are reason enough to get out of the house and go blueberry picking (or buying)!

Blueberries are delicate and perishable, and we advise to store them in the fridge and only wash them right before eating.  This will prevent them from becoming soft and breaking down.  They are extremely easy to freeze.  Just freeze them without washing in a single layer or in a small cardboard box.  They will become “frozen marbles” that you can use later.  Just rinse them in running water.
Michigan Blueberry Facts

  • Michigan is a top producer of blueberries in the U.S. with over 20 varieties grown. Michigan harvested 87.5 million pounds in 2023
  • The Michigan blueberry industry provides more than 6,600 jobs on an annual full-time equivalent basis.
  • There are more than 20,000 acres in Michigan grown by approximately 500 family farms.
  • Michigan is one of America’s largest producing blueberry states, with an average yield of 4,500 lb/acre.
  • Most of Michigan’s commercial blueberry production is located in southwest Michigan where sandy glacial soils and high-water tables result in excellent blueberry soils.
So, what kind of pie do we make during national blueberry month?
Culinary Corner
Make a Cold Noodle Zucchini Salad this Week
Stir-fry zucchini half-moons until they’re browned, not mushy, then toss with a savory blend of garlic powder, fish sauce, maple syrup and soy sauce.  The secret ingredient is ice, which quickly cools the noodles and makes the sauce brothy and cold enough to freshen a warm July evening.  Here’s the recipe for this summer salad!

Find other zucchini recipes on our website.
Lavender Watercolor Paint and Sip
Register for our “Lavender Watercolor Paint and Sip”
Sunday, July 21 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Cost is $39 per person; leave with a set of floral notecards to use or frame!

Relax in the Michigan summer shade with an all-materials-included class and two favorites – lavender and watercolor!  Great for beginner artists or those who want to relax and play.  We will be using simple watercolor techniques to create a series of notecards!  You’ll leave with at least three 5″X7″ watercolor greeting cards (and envelopes) which you can frame, give away, or mail!  Taught by Kalamazoo artist Anna Barnhart.

Hard ciders, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks will be available as well as snack items while you work!

Open to adults and students 16 and over.  Class size is limited so register now!
Registration:  Please call the market (269-244-5690) to register or use the link below at least 24 hours in advance of the class to reserve your space.  Drop-ins accepted, but space and availability of materials are not guaranteed.  (If registering through Facebook, press and hold, versus clicking the link.)

Registration link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44AAA82FA0FDCE9-50166226-whimsical

To inspire your painting, check out the lovely lavender blooming by the farmhouse!
And look at the very nicely painted creations made by the “artistic” attendees from our recent Hydrangeas Paint and Sip!  Through Anna’s guided instruction, everyone left with something that they were proud of!
 What is on the Market
We can now accept SNAP
We are happy to announce that we are now authorized to accept SNAP benefits at our market!  SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program aimed at providing food assistance to many families locally and across the U.S.  If you are using SNAP, please let our clerk know before we ring you up so we can check the eligibility of your items.

Lodi Apples – an early summer variety, tart, and soft

Blueberries – pints, quarts, 5- and 10-pound boxes – not arriving until Friday afternoon.

Bankson Lake Produce
Fresh spring vegetables: Just Lettuce, Spicy Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula, kale, and mushrooms.  The lettuces are prewashed, bagged, and ready to use.

Tomatoes – from our greenhouse and taste great!
Vegetables this week – broccoli, yellow squash, zucchini, potatoes, cukes, cabbage, cauliflower, and green beans

Sweet Candy Onions – with green tops, fresh dug from our field.  Many of you have asked if these onions are the same large onions that we hang up on the market to cure starting late August before bagging in mesh bags.  Yes, they are.  We are just harvesting some early and providing you with the green tops that are great to cook with, because they are our favorite onions!

Don’t worry, we still have about 20,000 in the field left for your late summer and winter onion needs!
And they smell good, too!
U-Pick Herbs – This is the best time of year to use those recipes that call for fresh herbs!  You will find the herb listing on signs in front of each row.  Herbs include: cilantro, dill, basil, parsley, mint, thyme, rosemary, chives, oregano, and others.

Flowers – Fresh cut flower bouquets from Flowerfield Farmstead.  Fresh cut flower bouquets from Flowerfield Farmstead.  Or come cut your own bouquet from the terrace garden of flowers next to the parking lot.  Check in at the market first for scissors and directions.
Baked Goods
We have lots of wonderful baked treats available!

In our freezer section, just “bake and enjoy”:
— Fruit pies in assorted farm fresh flavors.  Rhubarb pies are available for a short time longer.
— Stromboli’s – various types in breakfast, sandwich, and pizza styles.  These make an easy meal, especially when combined with a side salad.

Freshly baked:
— Assorted cookies, breads, muffins
— Our specialty breads: blueberry zucchini, vegetable, and cinnamon.  Who can resist this seasonal blueberry zucchini bread?
— Or our homemade vegetable bread full of bits of seasonal vegetables?  It makes a wonderful grilled cheese sandwich!
— Donuts in buttermilk, blueberry, and cherry along with iced yeast donut rings decorated with sprinkles and “googly eyes”
— Cinnamon rolls, a favorite of many of our customers, available starting this Friday afternoon through the weekend or until we run out!

The joy of waking up to cookies!
Alcohol
Hard Cider and Wine Sampling – this Saturday, from 11 am to 1.  Stop by the market aand try a sample of several of our hard ciders and wines.

Check out our assortment of alcohol products – wine, hard ciders, and spirits.  Our products are made on-site in small batches.  We distill the brandies on the farm and use our fresh apple cider as the basis for fermenting our hard ciders.  This week we made another batch of cherry hard cider.

Do you have a houseful of family or guests visiting this summer?  This may be the week to stock our Full House wine, a semi-dry white full-bodied wine that bursts with ripe apple and pear flavor.  Serve chilled alone, with sweet to spicy entrees. or with a fruit dessert.  It is quickly becoming one of our best sellers!
Grocery
We have a great selection of local products we know you will enjoy:

  • Brown eggs from local farms
  • Amish Fry Pies from Yoder’s Deli, Centerville.  These individual, hand-held size pies are available in Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, Strawberry-Rhubarb, Black Raspberry, and Red Raspberry.
  • Pork products from Jake’s Country Meats, Jones.
  • Gluten-free items from Gluten Free Sensations, Three Rivers.  Find cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, granola and more in the freezer section.
  • Oat Bites snacks and granola in several flavors.
  • Amish made jams, jellies, and salsas, made by Scherger’s Kettle, Shipshewana
  • Pure honey from bees buzzing just a couple of miles away at Babcock’s Apiary.
  • Maple syrup products including the new Barrel-Aged Bourbon Maple Syrup (non-alcoholic) made by Maple Row Sugarhouse using our bourbon barrels.
  • Olive oil, vinegar, and salad dressings
  • Snacking items: potato and tortilla chips, sweet potato chips, crackers, pretzels, flavored mustards, and snacking cheese.
  • Greek style freshly made yogurt in pints and quarts from Mattawan Creamery.
  • Locally made vanilla ice cream from Plainwell Ice Cream
  • Fresh, local, milk in gallons, half gallons, and single-serve bottles from Amish Country Dairy.
  • Dried cherries and blueberries, dark and milk chocolate covered cherries
Gifts
Check out our wide range of hand-crafted gift items and original artwork, most of it made by our local artisans.

  • Paintings
  • Jewelry
  • Kitchen items
  • Tote and shopping bags
  • Candles
  • Note cards
  • Seasonal lakeside living gifts
  • Corey Lake Orchard branded items – golf balls, insulated bags (see below) to carry your refrigerated and frozen items
  • Corey Lake Orchard gift certificates
Inviting Spaces
While at the market, we invite you to take a moment and relax in our many outdoor spaces.  There are tables and chairs in the play area, tables set up in the “onion barn” and tables and chairs, coloring/games, and kids activities set up on the west side of the market that we call “the breezeway.”

Find a place to savor our baked goods and beverages like slushies, milk, coffee, hard ciders, and sodas while conversing with friends or families, or just taking a much-needed “escape”.  Please color a page and feel free to add it to our wall.

We also rent out the space for private events.  For more information on reserving the space, please see our event space website page or contact Brenda@coreylakeorchards.com.
‘Yoga at the Farm’ – Saturdays @ 10:30am
‘Yoga at the Farm’ is back for the summer each Saturday morning through August 17!  Join us for a rejuvenating and beginner-friendly yoga experience presented by Harmony Yoga Three Rivers!  Ages 8 and up (with a parent), all yoga abilities welcome.

Saturdays, 10:30-11:30 am
$20 per person, includes a small slushy.  Class is free for Harmony Yoga members; Class Pack Holders – use one of your classes.

–Registration through Harmony Yoga is recommended but not required.  To register or learn more go to harmonyyogatr.com/events.
–Parking:  Park west of the market and farmhouse by the greenhouses, next to the yoga yard.
–Check in with the instructor in the area in front of the farmhouse, next to the red truck.
–Please bring your mats as they have a limited number to borrow, bottled water, a beach-size towel, and shoes for walking to the class.
Happenings on the Farm
Giving Things a “Happy” Look
Two of our local artists, who also sell their artwork here at the market, took time out of their schedule last week to help us freshen up some of our wood items.  Many thanks to Eileen Mazurski and Dawn Parker!
Fresh for You!
Each day our picking crew goes out to the field to pick whatever fruit and vegetables we need for the market.  We are blessed to have such a great group of individuals who work in all types of weather conditions to help plant, grow and harvest our many crops!

Our harvest continues to be “heavy lifting” as the daily picking grows with more and more types of produce.

And from the rain of a recent weeks, you can see how much mud we have to tread through to pick, and this is not even close to what will have to face tomorrow when we go in after the 3-plus inches of rain!
Sharing our Bounty
Our squash plants continue to produce, and so for the fourth week we were able to send fresh squash to the 12 Baskets food pantry along with the Three Rivers Food Site.
Thank you for your continued support and for buying local.
Everyone at Corey Lake Orchards wishes you a safe and
happy summer!