Days and Hours Open 

Please note our modified days and hours open to accommodate grape picking for the next several weeks:

Wednesday – 8 am to 6 pm
Thursday – 8 am to 6 pm
Friday – 8 am to 6 pm
Saturday – 9 am to 6 pm
Sunday – 9 am to 4 pm
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Closed

Call us at (269) 244-5690 or check for updates on our website: www.coreylakeorchards.com
We are into our fall harvest season at the farm with apple picking underway and grapes about to start with the scent of ripening grapes in the air!  However, the temperatures are rising this week to remind us that technically, it is still Summer until Sept. 22.

Catch next Tuesday’s Harvest Moon on Sept. 17.  This full moon appears every year just before the autumn equinox.  This year’s moon will be special – it is the “super harvest blood moon”, phenomena that don’t often occur together.  The “supermoon” is close to the earth in orbit and appears bigger and brighter than other full moons.  A “blood moon” occurs during a partial or full eclipse.  So, head outside and catch this unusual event next Tuesday!  And enjoy the mostly full moon on the days just before and after.
Below is a family visiting the orchard this past weekend.  We look forward to seeing you soon!
Fall Apples
Please watch the newsletter and website for updates on specific varieties and u-pick information throughout the season.

Already Picked
Current apples on the market:  Cortland, Early Fuji (not the later variety, keeping kind), Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Jonamac, Jonathan, McIntosh.  See descriptions of these varieties at the end of the newsletter.

Below are just picked Jonagold.
U-Pick Apples
This weekend the u-pick apple orchard will have: Cameo, Cortland, Crimson Gala, Empire, Golden Supreme (few), Ida Red, Jonathan (few), McIntosh (few), Mutsu, Red Delicious, and Spartan.  See descriptions of these varieties at the end of the newsletter.

See the webpage for more details on our u-pick apples.

  • Saturday – Orchard opens at 9:30 am, must be finished by 5:30 pm
  • Sunday – Orchard opens at 9:30 am, must be finished by 3:30 pm.
  • Check in at the market to prepay, get directions, and get your picking bag(s).
  • Need to pick a minimum of one peck
Fall Grapes
We grow two varieties of seeded grapes, ideal for juicing, jelly, and wine – Niagara (white) and Concord (blue).  We have a decent crop of Niagara but the Concord will be significantly lighter this year due to late spring frost damage.

Already Picked
We will have both available on the market in small quantities soon.  Please call the market at 269-244-5690 to place orders for bushels and half bushels.

U-Pick
The vineyards will open for u-pick starting:
— Niagara (white), Saturday, September 14
— Concord (blue), Wednesday, September 18

We have modified our days and hours open to accommodate grape picking.  Picking is by reservation only.

Reservation days and times:
Wednesday: 8 am to last at Noon, 3 pm to last at 5:30 pm, must be done by 7 pm.
Thursday: 8 am to last at Noon, 3 pm to last at 4:30 pm, must be done by 6 pm.
Friday: 8 am to last at Noon, 3 pm to last at 4:30 pm, must be done by 6 pm.
Saturday: 9 am to last at 4:30 pm, must be done by 6 pm.
Sunday: 9 am to last at 2:30 pm, must be done by 4 pm.

Please see our grape u-pick webpage for more information on how to pick, what to bring, what to wear, pricing, and the link to the reservation system.

The pricing will be the same as last year.  You will need to pick a minimum of one 5-gallon bucket (20 pounds).
 What is on the Market
Fall Apples – Cortland, Early Fuji, Gala, Jonagold, Jonamac, Jonathan, McIntosh available in quarter-pecks to bushels; Honeycrisp available in quarter-pecks and half pecks.

Bartlett Pears – quarter pecks, half pecks, and pecks; call ahead for half bushels and bushels.  Just a few left.

Grapes – Concord (blue) and Niagara (white) sold in quart and 2-quart boxes, starting this weekend.

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

Vegetables on the Market this week – potatoes,  sweet onions, shallots, peppers, tomatoes, and fall squash.

Sweet Onions – Our sweet candy onions are cured and available individually and in 5- and 10-pound mesh bags.

Hard Winter Squash for eating and decorating – Specialty squash: delicata, spaghetti, mashed potato, baked potato, carnival.  Fall squash: acorn, buttercup, butternut.

Fall Ornamentals – Stacking and specialty pumpkins ready for fall decorating along with mini bundles of colored popcorn and full-sized colored corn, assorted mums, and gourds.
Baked Goods
In our freezer section, just “bake and enjoy”:
— Fruit pies in assorted farm fresh flavors.
— Stromboli’s – various types in breakfast, sandwich, and pizza styles.  Moe will be making her last batch for the year this Thursday in case you want to stock up on your favorites.

Freshly baked:
— Assorted cookies, breads, muffins
— Donuts in Fall flavors – buttermilk, pumpkin, and apple, available Saturday and Sunday.
— Iced yeast donut rings decorated with sprinkles and “googly eyes”, available Saturday and Sunday.
Alcohol
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.

We will have hard cider and wine tasting this Saturday from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on the market.

If you like dry cider with a tinge of tartness, try our Dry Apple Hard Cider.  It’s pure apple cider with no additional flavorings.
Grocery
We have local grocery products we know you will enjoy.  As we transition to Fall, we are focusing on items that you will want to have handy for the winter months, like honey.  We still have other grocery items in stock, but we will not be reordering them.

  • 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 Barrel-Aged Bourbon Maple Syrup (non-alcoholic) made by Maple Row Sugarhouse using our bourbon barrels.
  • Sunflower oil and butters

Limited stock:

  • 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.
  • Olive oil, vinegar, and salad dressings
  • Snacking items: potato and tortilla chips, sweet potato chips, crackers, pretzels, flavored mustards, and snacking cheese.
  • Locally made vanilla ice cream from Plainwell Ice Cream
  • Dried cherries and blueberries, dark and milk chocolate covered cherries

Our Olipop prebiotic soda is now available in two fall flavors – apple crisp and grape!
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, notebooks, coffee cups, key chains, magnets, shirts
  • Corey Lake Orchard gift certificates

New Apple Story Book
New on the market is The Apple that Fell Far From the Tree is a humorous and heartwarming picture book that celebrates the courage to be different and the enduring bonds that connect us to our roots.  We have the book and the plush.
Happenings on the Farm
Falling over Fall Ornamentals 
Is there such a thing as having too many fall ornamental displays of color on the farm?  We didn’t think so as we unloaded more gourds, colored corn, stacking pumpkins, beautiful mums and more this week.  Many are on sale, and are ready to go home with you for your own fall decorating.  The colorful displays make nice photo ops.
The Big Pumpkins are Here!
We have anxiously awaited the arrival of our big pumpkins, grown in Three Rivers by Keith Whitford.  Come check them out.  The three weigh in at: 608, 595, and 505 pounds each!
The Spookley Story is Back
Take a moment to read the Spookley story of anti-bullying together with your children on our storyboards located between the farmhouse and the red apple truck.  We also have the Spookley book and plush on the market.
Apple Variety Descriptions
Already Picked:
Cortland.  Slightly tart, great for eating, cooking, and baking, a descendent of the McIntosh and slightly sweeter, juices well.
Early Fuji.  Sweet flavor with a low acid content, good for all purpose use like snacking, baking, and cooking
Gala.  A great eating and cooking apple, a crisp snappy bite over a mellow sweetness.
Honeycrisp.  A popular favorite, crisp, an excellent sweet flavor with a “bite” to it, great for eating fresh or using in salads.
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.
Jonamac.  A good cooking or eating apple, combines the best qualities of a Jonathan and a MacIntosh, a favorite for apple sauce.
Jonathan.  Pretty and popular, used for fresh eating and cooking, a favorite for apple butter and taffy apples.
McIntosh.  An old time favorite, aromatic, juicy, sweet, and tangy tart, makes good applesauce.

U-Pick: 
Cameo. A firm, crisp, and sweet apple that resists browning.  Great for fresh eating, applesauce, or baking.  Keeps well in your refrigerator.
Cortland.  Slightly tart, great for eating, cooking, and baking, a descendent of the McIntosh and slightly sweeter, juices 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
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. It can be kept for months in refrigerated storage.
Ida Red.  Good for fresh eating or cooking. Tastes both tangy and tart.  Crispy 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.
McIntosh.  An old time favorite, aromatic, juicy, sweet, and tangy tart, makes good applesauce.
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.
Red Delicious.  A favorite, best for fresh eating and snacks, full-flavored sweet taste, crisp texture.
Spartan.  A cross between a Macintosh and an unknown variety, a bit smaller in size, aromatic and crisp white flesh, juicy, good for fresh eating, cooking, and juicing.
Thank you for your continued support and for buying local.
Everyone at Corey Lake Orchards wishes you a blessed and bountiful Fall!