Current Days and Hours
Just check our website, FB, Google, or call us at (269) 244-5690 for days and hours as needed.

Closed      Monday
9 to 2       Tuesday
Closed      Wednesday
9 to 4       Thursday
9 to 6       Friday
9 to 4       Saturday
9 to 2       Sunday
Where did summer go?  We thank all of you who come to our lovely community in the summer, for weekends, or vacation, but have either returned or will be returning home soon for the start of another school year.  We are grateful to all who make us a stop here as you head out to take a taste of our farm back home.

Below two groups enjoying summer before it ends.
The Heat Continues
The start of school means fall must be near, but the temperatures of late tell us that we are still caught in summer.  Like many of you, the oppressive heat and lack of rain has caused our lawns, gardens and fields to not look their best.  The heat makes our crops grow too fast, and they miss having the cool of the night to rest and grow.  All of this makes for some challenges as we continue to harvest.  We appreciate your patience as Mother Nature seems to be in charge right now.

The sun rising over our back flower fields, another hot start to the day.
This is truly the season of heavy-lifting at the farm.  The days of picking up 10-pound boxes of blueberries seem like nothing now as our workers are harvesting bushels of tomatoes, peaches, apples, sweet corn – which all in turn come to the market to be lifted again and hopefully lifted into one of your vehicles!  Please pull up and park closer to the market when you are picking up bulk items.
Our Staff
So many of you have taken a minute in the last few weeks as you see our staff enduring the heat and “heavy lifting” to offer a simple thanks for all we do.  That has been very up-lifting.  Thank you!

This week you can say goodbye to most of our summer staff as they return to high school and college.  We will miss them but hope to lure a few of them back to help on some busy fall weekends.  Meanwhile, we have many new staff members starting this week so, please welcome them to our market.
Looking Ahead

  • Blueberries – In season, already picked only, available through August hopefully
  • Summer Vegetables –now and continuing through August.  We have a wide variety of vegetables; there is something for everyone.
  • Sweet Corn – Available in bulk quantities most days or pre-order
  • Canning Tomatoes – through August, pre-order recommended
  • Peaches – We are picking peaches and try to have small eating quantities on hand, with bushels coming soon.
  • Summer apples – Summer variety apples are typically softer and tarter, good for applesauce, fresh eating, and cooking.
  • Fall apples – Some starting around Labor Day weekend
  • Sunflowers – guesstimate bloom date of late August
  • Bartlett Pears – available in bulk toward the end of August
  • Concord and Niagara Grapes – probably starting mid- to late- September
Back to Packing School Lunches
It is the time of year to pack school lunches and stock up on after-school snacks!  Trying to decide what to pack and having your picks in the kitchen ready to go is a challenge for many.  Luckily for you, we can help with that!

To pack the lunch, start with proteins first and fill in with the rest.  High protein ideas are boiled eggs, sliced meat, cheese, nuts, and yogurt cups.  Several of these items also contain saturated “good” fats which are essential to a diet.

Late summer is a good time to find produce that are easily packable and portable, as well as colorful!  We have carrots, apples, peaches, blueberries, pears, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuces, sweet peppers, cantaloupe, zucchini and yellow squash.  All can be served raw, and some can be cut up in advance to make it easier to eat.

Much of our early fall fruit this time of year is smaller, especially due to the heat and drought, which is ideal for smaller appetites and won’t go to waste.

Add your carbs and whole grains, and another lunch is packed!

Stop by and stock up for those lunches and snacks!  The fresh-picked season only lasts a little while longer!
On the Market

Peaches and pears straight from the orchards!
Another nice bouquet made from our flower Bar this past weekend.
Our hibiscus, this lovely large pink flower, is abundant right now and so amazing to look at.  Sadly, they are not flowers you can cut and keep very long.
Across the Market
Bulk Produce
If you need produce in bulk quantities, please stop by or call the market for pricing and to preorder.  Some produce is not available in bulk yet.  269-244-5690.

  • Sweet Corn – 5 dozen mesh bag, usually some available each day
  • Peppers, bell, sweet banana, hot Hungarian, jalapenos – bushels, half bushels, pecks, coming soon
  • Tomatoes, canning – bushels, half bushels
  • Apples, Jersey Mac and EarliBlaze – bushels, half bushels, pecks, and smaller.  Medium sized, juicy, sweet/tart.  A soft, early apple used for fresh eating, pies, and applesauce.  Has a short shelf life like other summer apples.

We have made the transition from our greenhouse tomatoes to our field tomatoes.  For those of you who placed an order for canning tomatoes, we will be calling you soon as we work our way down the pre-order list.

If you miss us, please leave your name and phone number on the recorder and someone will call you back to get the details and confirm.  We do not accept orders left on voicemail.
Bakery
We are busy making assorted baked goods.

In our freezer section, just “bake and enjoy”:
–Fruit pies in assorted farm fresh flavors, large and small
–Stromboli’s – various types in breakfast, sandwich, and pizza styles

Freshly baked (whenever we are open)
–Assorted cookies, breads, and muffins

Freshly baked – Friday through Sunday
–Homemade cinnamon bread and cinnamon rolls, a favorite of many of our customers
–Mini fruit pies, already baked

Freshly baked – Saturday and Sunday
–Donuts – buttermilk, blueberry, and cherry flavors
–Iced “googly” eye yeast ring donuts

We start making donuts on Saturday morning at a very early hour.  Below our cake and yeast donuts are getting ready for the day!
Grocery
We offer select grocery products like salad dressing, jam, jelly, salsa, fresh eggs, cheese, yogurt, fresh milk, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, crackers, chips, meats, dog treats, and more.  We focus on offering products from companies located in Michigan, to support Michigan-grown and Michigan-made!

Looking for a wholesome farm-to-table experience?  Compliment our seasonal fruits and vegetables with locally-raised pork products, frozen fresh, from Jake’s Country Meats in Cassopolis.  They are a 7th generation family farm that specializes in raising heritage breeds outside on pasture and in woodlands.
Alcohol
We have a variety of spirits, wines, and hard ciders – most made on the farm using our surplus fruit and cider.

Our Hubbard Red is a favorite of the Hubbard family, especially Beth who named it for us.  It’s a dry red blend, dry like our wit and fruity like our farm.  Tastes even better when served in a CLO tumbler!
Gifts
We carry an assortment of gift items from local artisans.  Perfect for when you need a gift, especially for those who are difficult to shop for.  We also have gift bags, tissue paper, and cards.
The Recipe Rack
Ideas for Using Fresh Produce
Over the years, we’ve collected an assortment of recipes that use our produce.  We haven’t tried them all, but we look for recipes that we would like to eat and are relatively easy to make.  We invite you to visit the recipe page on our website for ideas.
Fresh Corn and Black Bean Salad with Corn Chips
While sweet corn is still in season and it is still “salad weather”, try this easy salad.  The recipe calls for raw corn but you can partially cook the ears with husk on in the microwave.  The corn, black beans, cilantro and vinaigrette can mingle up to four hours ahead, so this make-ahead dish is perfect for a picnic, potluck, cookout, or simply dinner.  For best results, toss in the corn chips and avocado just before serving.
How to Preserve Food
Ball Mason, a leader in home canning supplies, has a set of canning and preserving guides available.  They describe the process and include how-to information on canning, freezing, pickling, dehydration, and making jam for a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Ball Mason Canning and Preserving Guides

We also have information on Storing and Preserving Food on our website.
Thank you for your continued support and for buying local.
Everyone at Corey Lake Orchards wishes you a safe
and happy summer!
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