08/19/09

We are a family owned and operated farm in the heart of Cattaraugus County.  Established in 1996 by Keith and Nadyne Litchfield, we have expanded from just strawberries (though that is still our main focus).  The farm now grows sweet corn, raspberries, blueberries and provides a variety of other fruits and vegetables. 

Remember to stop by the stand or call to find out what we have available that week.

5608 Humphrey Road

Great Valley, NY   14741

(716) 945-5221

Email us:  gvberrypatch@gmail.com

8-19-09

Again with the rain!  Yesterday's rain was needed, but only the first round!  The next 2 were a little overkill!  We have reluctantly ended the u-pick blueberry and raspberry season.  This has been a frustrating season!  Corn has finally ripened and is doing great!  We now have not only ears by the dozen but also have bushels available.  Those of you who are long-time customers know that I am committed to fresh product so if you would like bushels, call me ahead of time and I will pick for the time you plan to pick it up.

So far, the season has been kind to us with the zucchini, summer squash, patty pan squash and cucumbers!  We have some wonderful cukes, both slicers and picklers.  If you need quantities, call me and I will put together baskets to meet your needs. 

Now that we have dropped back to what we refer to as our "corn hours" (11AM to 6PM), I can start to get my canning and freezing done!  I am down to 2 pints of corn chowder on my canning shelves - this is unheard of!  Need to restock that so my husband doesn't go through withdrawal!  We are also looking for a source for tomatoes.  My shelves are empty!  As you may already know, we lost the majority of our plants to late blight.  It has been a horrible year for blight!  I understand at least 33 counties in New York State alone have been affected.  I know I can buy canned tomatoes but there are very few who produce a 'no salt added' variety and, let's face it, store-bought just isn't the same!  Besides, I like my homemade sauce better!

8/13/09

This summer has been completely unpredictable!  Sunday's rain forced us to close for a few days as we waited for the fields and walkways to dry out.  It took a while because at one point we had over two feet of standing water as both the creek and pond went over their banks.  The water has finally receded, and though it is still a little muddy from the seemingly constant rain, we have reopened. 

This is likely the last week raspberries will be available as we are coming down to the end of their season.  So any of you raspberry lovers might want to hurry up before you miss them!  Even with all of the rain the blueberries are still going strong and we should be picking them for a while to come (barring another monsoon, of course).  Fresh sweet corn is now available on the stand and should be available until frost, though with the way this summer has been, who knows when that will be! 

We have a bumper crop of pickling cucumbers available now in various container sizes, so any of you pickle lovers may want to come on down and check them out.  Slicing cucumbers are also available.  Zucchini, Summer Squash and Patty Pan Squash are also available on the stand.  Hot peppers and Banana peppers will be available shortly as well.  Cooking onions and garlic are still available for purchase as well.  Our winter squash and pumpkins are still growing nicely, and barring an early frost should be available in October.  The eggplant is just now beginning to blossom due to the cold weather, and should be ready in September. 

As stated in our last post, we sadly had to pull our tomato and potato plants so they will no longer be available on the stand.  We can only cross our fingers and hope that next year will be a better year for them. 

8/10/09

Unfortunately we will not have tomatoes this year.  Our fields were demolished by late blight and the plants had to be removed to protect the peppers and eggplant.  Our potatoes were also affected by this blight and will no longer be available on the stand.

7/12/09

After four weeks the 2009 strawberry season is now over.  The red raspberry season began yesterday and should last a couple weeks, weather permitting.  The blueberry season should begin shortly, within the next couple weeks.  They are beginning to turn now, so we will be keeping a close eye on the patch.

The peas are still growing strong and most of the plants still have blossoms on them so we should still have peas for another couple weeks.  After over a month our snow peas are finally beginning to blossom and we hope to get some on the stand within the next week or so.  Purple, yellow and green beans have blossomed and tiny beans are beginning to form so they should also be available in the next week or so.  We pulled our first batch of shallots a couple of days ago and are now letting them dry, so they too should be on the stand in a couple weeks.  Our early tomato plants are now beginning to form baby tomatoes and our later tomatoes as well as our cherry and grape tomatoes are beginning to blossom.  As long as we aren't devastated by another blight we should be able to get some tomatoes on the stand in late July/early August.  Our hot peppers and green peppers are beginning to blossom and should be available on the stand sometime in August.  Our summer squash and zucchini are also blossoming and should be ready in a couple weeks.  The cucumbers have been slowed by the horrible summer weather but are taking off with the recent heat.  We expect them to begin blossoming soon, so look for pickling and slicing cukes towards the end of July or beginning of August.  With the recent thunderstorms the corn has taken off and is now taller than my grandson! 

We have been greatly encouraged by the growth of two new products that will be available next year, asparagus and rhubarb.  The rhubarb has grown nicely and has even begun to put out new shoots.  And while our asparagus gave us a scare and didn't appear to take in the ground, it has since grown wonderfully and has put out wonderful ferny shoots.  Weather permitting rhubarb and purple and green asparagus will be available on the stand during the 2010 season.

6-23-09

We are beginning our second week of strawberry picking and have opened our second field of strawberries today.  We still have one small late field to open.  We need a lot more sun (which thankfully we've been getting this week) to help the berries to ripen in order to keep up with our customers. 

The peas are looking fabulous.  They have pods and are beginning to fatten up with peas.  Look for u-pick and we-pick sometime this weekend (we will have road signs). 

The blueberries and raspberries are absolutely loaded with baby berries and the bees are still hard at work making more.  The blueberries are starting to change color and the raspberries are on track for early July picking with blueberries coming about two weeks later.  Stay tuned for more on them.

Our tomatoes are now blossoming and the cucumbers and squash are growing steadily.  Peppers and eggplants have all been transplanted outside and are growing well.  The shallots and onions are beginning to bulb.  Snow peas are up but have yet to blossom.  Beans are beginning to blossom.  And as a side note for home gardeners, the slugs this year seem to prefer yellow beans over the green or purple.   

Corn is about knee high and the heat and sun of the past few days will help it continue to grow (not to mention the thunderstorms).  Potatoes have finished blossoming so we should have New Potatoes on the stand within the next two weeks. 

If you have any questions, please call or e-mail us.

6-10-09

Berries are getting closer!  They are ripening at a leisurely pace and should be ready soon.  Please call or check back here for the actual opening date.

I picked a large bunch of radishes the night before last.  Some ended up in potato salad for dinner last night but most will just be eaten fresh.  Lettuce won't be too far behind.  Now if only I could solve the puzzle of The Early Tomato, our first, fresh-out-of-the-garden salad would be complete!  The beans are growing like weeds; the peas have blossoms.  I love this time of year!

Pam and I planted more tomato plants this morning; still many more to go.  I tried San Marzano paste tomatoes this year.  They seem to be the Cadillac of paste tomatoes according to the Food Network.  We will see!  My stash of homemade sauce was depleted early this year and I have had to buy (horrors!) cans from the store.  The early tomatoes look good and we will add the mid-season and cherry/grape tomatoes to the field starting tonight.  The first plantings of zucchini, summer squash and cucumbers are in, as are the lima beans.  Potatoes are being hilled as I write this.

Time to stock up on supplies of pectin, sugar and jars.  Clear space in your freezers!  Berry time is almost here!

6-2-09

We ate our first ripe strawberry yesterday.  Just one, but they are coming.  The field is currently turning orange so we are on schedule for our usual opening of between the 15th and 20th of this month.  Keep checking back or calling for a more accurate date later. 

We put in our first test bed of asparagus last night.  First harvest should be next year and we should have green and purple asparagus.  A new bed of rhubarb was also planted this year.  Again, first harvest should be next year.  Onions and scallions are doing well.  This is also a first for us and it looks like it should be a good crop.  These will be available this year.  Lettuce, spinach, snow peas, Swiss chard, beans, herbs, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are all planted and growing well.  Garden peas are blossoming and should be available for picking during strawberry season.  The potatoes look fantastic, in spite of the frost.  The corn is up and on schedule.  Baby blueberries and raspberries are forming, and are also on schedule for July picking.  Tomatoes, eggplant and peppers should be transplanted outside in the next few days.  The planting locations of these have been moved from last year so hopefully we won't have a repeat of last years destroyed crop for all of you tomato lovers.