The Market is looking Berry good! 6-5-2024

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 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 Note:  During strawberry season, we may open on additional days.  Stay tuned to our website (www.coreylakeorchards.com) or Facebook page for that information. We are often working somewhere around the farm, so if you need something on a day we are closed, just call for an appointment and we can try to meet up with you.  269-244-5690. Our market is looking ‘berry good’ this week!  We have strawberries and many strawberry items for sale on the market.  Sadly, strawberry season is a short one so go crazy and enjoy this delightfully delicious fruit while you can! Below are great-looking jars of strawberry jam made by our staffer Alyx and her grandmother last week. (For their personal use, not for sale, sorry). We look forward to seeing you at the market this week!  And, we have the best staff! Strawberry Update The strawberry season is underway, but with the rain and heat, this may be the last weekend.  As weather permits, we will try to have some for sale each day by the quart, box (5-quarts, like the one pictured below), and flat (8 quarts).  With strawberries being in high demand, we recommend you call us and have us hold some for same-day pickup.  Please note that we will no longer maintain an advance “strawberry order list” like in past years.  See more on our ordering process below. Please watch for updates before driving out as things may change throughout the day.  We know your time and the cost of fuel is valuable and we don’t want you to come for berries if we are sold out. We will be using our website and Facebook page to communicate the availability of strawberries throughout the season.  You can also call us (269-244-5690) or talk with one of our staff for updates. We are no longer growing strawberries on our farm and will be getting them locally from River Valley Farm in Constantine, as we have done for the last two years due to our partial crop failures.  This means that we will not have any u-pick strawberries.  River Valley Farms offers u-pick from 8am until 12pm.  Contact them for pricing and days open. Strawberry Ordering We will accept same-day orders only.  The quantity picked each day will vary depending on growing conditions and weather (such as not picking when it is raining). Strawberries are picked fresh each morning and will not be for sale until mid-morning.  We ask that you come after 10:30 please.  We need time to pick them, transport them to the market, and package them before they can be sold. Once we have an estimate of our picking numbers for the day, we will accept “set aside” orders.  The overall quantity may fluctuate as our crew continues to pick. To have us hold some for you, please call us at (269-244-5690). Do not leave orders on voice mail.  If we miss your call, leave your name and phone number, and one of our staff will call you back as quickly as possible. All orders must be picked up by closing time.  We ask that when you leave an order, you give us an estimate about what time you are picking them up. All Things Strawberry on the Market We have several unique strawberry items for sale on the market, for a limited time only. –Strawberry jam, Amish-made –Strawberry milk, single-serve bottles –Strawberry-flavored honey sticks –Strawberry probiotic soda –Strawberry muffins – baked fresh in our bakery We also have strawberry shortcakes, made from our baker’s family recipe.  Make your own strawberry shortcake dessert from our fresh strawberries, our bakery shortcakes, Plainwell vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream. While on the market, check out Beth’s vintage strawberry collection, (really, can anyone really have that much strawberry stuff?)  And leave with one of our seasonal, strawberry tee shirts! Yoga at the Farm – starting this Saturday! ‘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.  What is on the Market Senior Project Fresh coupons Our market is authorized to accept Senior Project Fresh coupons, a program to assist low-income recipients in obtaining fresh Michigan grown produce.  These benefits can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, fresh-cut cooking herbs, and honey.  The coupons must be redeemed by October 31. Asparagus – last chance! We have freshly picked asparagus pre-bagged on the market in various pound sizes.  If you want some, we recommend you call to have us hold it for you as we will sell out any day now. Rhubarb – last chance! Rhubarb is nearly over for the year also.  If you want some, we recommend you call to have it saved for you.  Sold by the pound. Bankson Lake Produce – starting Friday Fresh spring vegetables – Just Lettuce, Spicy Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula, Kale, radishes, and mushrooms.  The lettuces are prewashed, bagged, and ready to use. Tomatoes While we all impatiently await tomatoes from our own greenhouse, tomatoes from our farming friends in Indiana are finally producing.  You will find these on the market this week (until we run out.) U-Pick Herbs – now ready! Bring your recipes!  You will find the herb listing on signs in front of each row.  Please just pick the larger plants as some are still growing.  Herbs include: cilantro, dill, basil, parsley, mint, thyme, rosemary, chives, oregano, and others. Straw Bales Perfect for your gardening needs. Flowers Fresh cut flower bouquets from Flowerfield Farmstead in Three Rivers.  Pick up one of these lovely bouquets for the weekend! Baked Goods We have lots of wonderful baked treats available! In our freezer section: Fruit pies in assorted farm fresh flavors – just “bake and enjoy”.  Rhubarb pies are only available for a limited time. Stromboli’s – various types in breakfast, sandwich, and pizza styles – just “bake and enjoy” Freshly baked: Assorted cookies, breads, muffins.  Below are our fresh baked, strawberry muffins.  Available for a limited time only. Homemade shortcakes to go with your strawberries (and we have whipped cream and vanilla ice cream also)! Saturday and Sunday only, or until we run out: Donuts in buttermilk, blueberry, and cherry Special iced yeast donut rings decorated with sprinkles and “googly eyes” Cinnamon rolls, a favorite of many of our customers Alcohol Hard Cider and Wine Sampling – this Saturday, from 11 am to 1 pm Stop by the market and try a sample of several of our hard ciders and wines.  It’s a great way to discover which one(s) are your favorites so you know which to buy! 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. If you enjoy a semi-dry wine, you’ll like our Market Red.  It’s a semi-dry red, best served chilled while chilling with your friends and family. Grocery We have a great selection of local products we know you will enjoy: Whipped cream to go with those strawberries – new this week! Brown eggs from local farms Amish Fry Pies from Yoder’s Deli in 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 in nearby Jones. Gluten-free items from Gluten Free Sensations in Three Rivers.  Find cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, granola and more in the freezer section. Oat Bites snacks in several flavors. Amish made jams, jellies, and salsas, made by Scherger’s Kettle in Shipshewana Hand-crafted popcorn (new) – in Lavender Lemonade, Cheddar Gold, and Birthday Cake flavors. 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. 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 Seasonal lakeside living gifts Corey Lake Orchard branded items – golf balls, insulated bags 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 and chairs set up in the “onion barn”, and 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. This family really enjoyed their quiet time together coloring strawberry pictures, we thank them for leaving it for us! 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. The Three Rivers High School Class of 1975 Reunion Committee met here last week to begin planning their upcoming reunion. Happenings on the Farm Blueberries coming.  The blueberries are getting nice sized and will probably be ready around the beginning of July this year.  Watch our newsletter for updates on our u-pick field. Field tomatoes.  Our field tomatoes are large enough for us to begin staking them up. Developing apples.  Look how big this baby red delicious apple is getting!!  If you look closely at the bottom of the apple, you’ll see its little bumps that identify it as a red delicious. Pesky Pests.  This has been a busy week for us picking strawberries and trying to keep up with the grass and weed growth.  No doubt you are seeing the same in your own yard and gardens.  The weather is also bringing out many bugs who are crunching on new leaves, and baby vegetables and fruit.  So, keep an eye on what you have growing! Thank you for your continued support and for buying local.  Everyone at Corey Lake Orchards wishes you a happy Summer season!