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 6 Tuesday
9 to 12 Wednesday
9 to 4 Thursday
9 to 4 Friday
9 to 4 Saturday
9 to 4 Sunday
NOTE: Seasonal Hour Changes
Please note our extended market hours through Sunday, Oct. 12 to better accommodate those who are picking grapes. |
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Grape Picking Season is Here!
It’s that time of year again – the vineyard is buzzing, and grape minds think alike as we gather for harvest! The market has been busy this past week with many grape pickers! Thanks to everyone who came out to pick Concord and Niagara – the weather and picking were very good – and our hope was for everyone to leave satisfied. With every row we pick, we carry grape expectations for the remainder of the season!
There are still many grapes to pick so make your picking reservation now for the week ahead (see below). We invite you to step into the grape outdoors and breathe in the crisp autumn air while you smell the wonderful aroma of sweet grapes.
Below, a beautiful load of grapes picked by our customers departs this week! |
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Our Praying Mantis
A large praying mantis has been on the market this week (see top right corner of photo), which has been enjoyed by all who see it gracefully walking about, inspiring awe and an appreciation for nature. Praying mantises have a long history of spiritual significance, and if you’ve ever seen one in person, you know their poise and grace is something to behold. Many cultures believe they are symbols of good fortune. We are taking this as a sign for a successful and safe harvest of our apples and grapes, and we appreciate that we can share our fruitful bounty with all of you. Thank you for completing our circle |
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Fall Produce and Pure Michigan Weather
Please note that the apples, grapes, pumpkins, squash, fall ornamentals, and other produce are at their peak in cool, crisp, fall weather. Our current Pure Michigan weather is unseasonably warm and can cause perishable produce to spoil quickly.
Please keep your items ventilated, as cool as possible, and away from direct light. Hopefully our seasonal fall weather will return soon.
If you are looking for something specific on the market, please ask. We are keeping our produce refrigerated as much as possible and will gladly get the item(s) for you. |
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The Next Full Moon is Tuesday, October 7
This full moon is also known as the Harvest Moon because it is the closest occurring full moon to the autumn equinox. It will be the first supermoon of 2025, making it the largest and brightest full moon of the year, and will illuminate the sky for several nights. Undoubtedly, it will provide us with more light to harvest this year’s grape and apple crops! |
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Grapes – Concord and Niagara
Already Picked and U-Pick |
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U-Pick Grapes
We encourage you to pick your own, picking is by reservation only. We grow Concord (blue) and Niagara (white) grapes. These grapes have seeds and are primarily for juicing, wine, and jelly.
How long will the season last? We expect both grapes to last through early October. They may last longer depending on the weather and how well they hold. We have many acres of grapes and do not anticipate being picked out.
Please check for updates on the website or call us.
We measure the grapes by 5-gallon buckets or a half bushel basket, which weigh 20 pounds. Minimum quantity to pick is 20 pounds (one 5-gallon bucket). Discounts when picking 100 pounds or more (5 buckets).
Link to the u-pick grape page – pricing, days and hours open, what to bring, and more
Link to the reservation system page – call us if you need assistance, 269-244-5690
Through Sunday, Oct. 12 we are extending our hours for grape picking. Please check our website for the vineyard days and hours and reservation schedule.
- Tuesday late afternoon/early evening
- Wednesday morning
- Sunday, extended hours
Below, two customers picking Concords. |
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Already Picked Grapes
If you are interested in Concord and Niagara grapes that are already picked, please call the market at 269-244-5690 to order and schedule a day for pickup. We are also trying to have some available on the market for walk-ins, but calling in advance ensures we will have them ready for you. |
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| Apples – Already Picked and U-Pick |
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Current varieties available: Cameo, Cortland, Crimson Gala, Early Fuji, Empire, Golden Supreme, Ida Red, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Red Jonagold, Northern Spy, Snow Sweet, Spartan, Yellow Delicious. See descriptions of these varieties at the end of the newsletter.
- Orchard is open each day the market is open
- Orchard opens at 9:30 am, must be finished 30 minutes before the market closes
- Closed Mondays and Wednesdays
- Check in at the market to prepay, get directions, and your picking bag(s).
- Need to pick a minimum of one peck ($12 value)
See the u-pick apple webpage for more details on pricing, picking tips, orchard etiquette, and more. |
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| The ‘Apple of our Eye’ this Week!
This week’s featured apple is the favorites of past generations who grew up eating these popular apples back in the day and still do! This week we feature Red and Yellow (Golden) Delicious. We have two large orchards of these with 40-plus year old trees that are still going strong.
They are available to bag yourself in the driveway at a discounted price of $12 a half bushel or $8 a peck. You can mix and match between them. Or we have them already bagged in all sizes on the market. |
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Here’s what we will have:
- Fall Apples – Braeburn, Cortland, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Ida Red (few), JonaGold, Jonathan, Jonamac, McIntosh (few), Mutsu (few), Northern Spy, Nu-Red, Red Delicious, Wolf River.
- Bosc Pears – a winter pear, available in small boxes to bushels
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- Fall vegetables – garlic, onions
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Apple Specials
With 15 apple varieties on the market this week, it can be difficult choosing which one(w) to buy. We have apple samples on the market to help you select the perfect one(s) plus you can get advice from our knowledgeable staff.
Current Apple Specials: Cortland, Gala, Jonamac – buy any two bags, get a third same sized bag free
- Apple “seconds” or processing apples – Discounted apples with small blemishes, rust marks or are misshapen. They are perfect for making pie filling or applesauce. Sold by the half bushel, apple varieties can vary each day.
- Animal apples –Good for feeding your furry friends or to make cider. Sold by the half bushel, apple varieties can vary each day.
- Bag you own special – Look for specially marked bins straight from our orchard. Bag your own half bushel or peck from the varieties available for a discounted price.
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Wolf River Apples
Come see and try the huge Wolf River apples! Brenda and Beth grew up with this old-fashioned heirloom variety planted in the original orchards on the farm. When those orchards were converted to grapes, Beth replanted 5 trees in a newer orchard. They make the best baked apple, and one is enough to share with several people. |
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Halloween Pumpkins
The jack o’ lanterns have arrived from a neighboring farm! Halloween is nearly a month away so how do you keep them until then? Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight and do not carve it until the end of October. |
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The Great Pumpkins are Here!
Stop by to see the great pumpkins! They weigh in at 411, 387, and 339 pounds – truly giants in their field! They were lovingly grown by Keith Whitford in Three Rivers. |
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Already Picked Apples
Braeburn. Sweet with a hint of tart, and a firmness that stores well. These traits plus the fact that they bake well have made them a very versatile apple.
Cortland. A hint of tartness makes this a great eating, cooking, and baking variety. It’s a descendent of the McIntosh, but a bit sweeter than its ancestor. Juices really well.
Gala. A great eating and cooking apple. It has a crisp snappy bite over a mellow sweetness
Honeycrisp: This seems to be many people’s favorite. It is crisp with an excellent sweet flavor and a “bite” to it. Great for eating fresh or using in salads.
Ida Red. Suits your every use! Eat fresh or for cooking. Taste is both tangy and tart. Flesh is white, crisp and juicy. Favored for sauces, pies and desserts. Texture holds up well when baked.
JonaGold. Superbly crisp and juicy with shades of tart and sweet in each apple, very large and aromatic. Cross between a Jonathan and Golden Delicious.
Jonathan. Pretty and popular, used for fresh eating and cooking, a favorite for apple butter and taffy apples.
Jonamac. This is a good cooking or eating apple. It combines the best qualities of a Jonathan and a MacIntosh. A favorite for apple sauce.
McIntosh. Aromatic, juicy, sweet, and tangy tart. The tender white flesh of the McIntosh makes it an old time favorite. Few left
Mutsu. Also called Crispin, it is a cross between Golden Delicious and the Japanese Indo apple. It has a sweet-honeyed flavor mixed with sharp, tangy, and acidic notes.
Northern Spy. The ‘professional baker’s dream’, cooks up well in applesauce, pie and other dishes. Stores well, easy to remember by saying “Spies for pies”.
Nu-Red. A crisp, tart, hard, crunchy apple. An improved version of a Red Rome. Good for fresh eating, applesauce, pies, and baking.
Red Delicious. America’s most popular apple, known for the “five little bumps” on the bottom. Best for fresh eating and snacks. Full-flavored sweet taste, yellowish flesh, and crisp texture.
Yellow Delicious. A gingery-smooth, sweet taste under a thin skin. It is the most popular yellow apple, good eaten fresh, baked or cut in salads. Makes a nice applesauce and canning pie filling.
Wolf River. A large, heirloom apple with a hint of tartness. Good for cooking and baking; will keep its shape. Beth and Brenda’s favorite apple for making baked apples.
U-Pick Apples
Cameo. A firm, crisp, and sweet apple that resists browning. Great for fresh eating, applesauce, or baking. Keeps well in your refrigerator.
Cortland. A hint of tartness makes this a great eating, cooking, and baking variety. It’s a descendent of the McIntosh, but a bit sweeter than its ancestor. Juices really well.
Crimson Gala. An intense-coloring strain of Gala with a bright, cherry red color. Has the characteristics of a Gala; great for eating and cooking.
Early Fuji. A fantastic sweet flavor with a low acid content. Excellent all purpose use like snacking, baking, and cooking. Use within several weeks, these Fuji do not keep.
Empire. Red with a few white tints, creamy white interior. They are juicy and sweet. A cross between Red Delicious and McIntosh.
Golden Supreme. A medium sized apple with a sweet juicy flavor. It is good for drying, baking, and making cider. Keeps for months in refrigerated storage.
Ida Red. Suits your every use! Eat fresh or for cooking. Taste is both tangy and tart. Flesh is white, crisp and juicy. Favored for sauces, pies and desserts. Texture holds up well when baked.
Jonathan. Pretty and popular, used for fresh eating and cooking, a favorite for apple butter and taffy apples.
Northern Spy. The ‘professional baker’s dream’, cooks up well in applesauce, pie and other dishes. Stores well, easy to remember by saying “Spies for pies”.
Red Delicious. America’s most popular apple, known for the “five little bumps” on the bottom. Best for fresh eating and snacks. Sweet taste, yellowish flesh, and crisp texture.
Red Jonagold. Large, tangy/sweet taste, firm and crisp, good for fresh eating or baking.
Snow Sweet. Has a bronzed red blush and crisp crunch. Rich sweet, buttery flavor with a bit of tartness. Slower to oxidize than many varieties, so it can last a bit longer when raw. Best used for fresh eating.
Spartan. A cross between a Macintosh and an unknown variety. It is a bit smaller in size, has a crisp white flesh that is aromatic and juicy. Good for fresh eating, cooking, and juicing.
Yellow Delicious. A gingery-smooth, sweet taste under a thin skin. It is the most popular yellow apple, good eaten fresh, baked or cut in salads. Makes a nice applesauce and canning pie filling. |
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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.
Apple Cake
This cake is a bit of a choose-your-own adventure. Make it as is, without any topping at all, for a simple apple-packed treat, or pump up the flavor with a coating of cinnamon sugar that bakes up into a crunchy crust in some spots and gooey glaze in others. If you really want to take it to another level, add a drizzle of cream cheese icing that takes this cake into cinnamon roll territory. Use tart, firm baking apples: Mutsu, Cortland, Braeburn, Northern Spy and Stayman Winesap are all great options. We’ll leave it to you whether to peel or not to peel.
Time: About 1 hour 10 minutes, plus cooling
Yield: 1 (9-by-13-inch) cake |
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Apple Cider Dressing
Try this salad dressing made with fresh cider on your salad this week!
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh apple cider
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon thyme
Combine ingredients. Whisk to emulsify the dressing. Refrigerate until ready to serve (whisking again to ensure dressing is emulsified). It can be made a couple of days in advance. |
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Thank you for your continued support and for buying local.
Everyone at Corey Lake Orchards wishes you a safe, enjoyable, and fruitful harvest season!
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