What we grow
Plum Brook Farm primarily produces fruit: apples, pears (mostly Asian pears), peaches, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes. In the fall, we press fresh cider (apple and apple-pear) weekly, and we sell apple sauce and apple butter made from our fruit. We grow some garlic, basil, tomatoes, and sometimes pumpkins and other annual crops in limited quantities. We also sell some local products grown or produced by our partners, including Hives to Home honey from hives kept on our farm and other farms nearby.
How to buy
Our farmstand at 416 Bay Road in Amherst is generally open every day in season, starting sometime in June or July and ending sometime in November. Hours are generally 9am to dusk, but may vary. When open, our OPEN sign is always displayed. The farmstand is self-service using the honor system. We accept all major credit cards and digital payments using a Square terminal, Venmo, or cash in a cash box (no change available).
We do have an online store is limited to non-perishable items that we ship (apple butter) and items that we deliver to Brookfield Farm for their CSA members. When the farmstand season is over, we sometimes advertise opportunities to pre-purchase holiday or seasonal items and pick them up at the farm during specific time periods.
How we grow
All of our products are grown with inputs and methods that could qualify us for organic certification, but we have not yet taken the step of getting certified. Organic tree fruit is rare in New England, and it is hard to grow, but we think it’s worth the effort. We use mating disruptor pheromones, and a variety of mineral and biological products from old-fashioned sulfur to the extremely targeted “codling moth granulosis virus.” We pay close attention to pest and disease models to apply the right materials at the right time, following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. Unfortunately, some organic materials are very expensive and many are not as effective or long-lasting as their conventional counterparts, so our costs are high and we must find the beauty in cosmetic “imperfections.” Despite those challenges, we pride ourselves in producing high quality fruit with top-notch flavor at fair prices, and our loyal customers tell us we are succeeding.
Ok, one more time with this pic!!! Despite the truly frigid temps out there, the farm stand IS OPEN, and we have had a steady stream of customers today grabbing apple sauce, apple butter, and frozen cider! We have restocked countless times, which makes us so giddy, because it means you’re adding us to your holiday tables, holiday gatherings, holiday traditions, and possibly gifting our products to those with whom you choose to celebrate…and nothing could make us happier!
If you don’t make it by today, but want sauce or butter, you can order online with the link in our bio, for pick up at the farm stand even though it won’t be open. We are also now shipping those items, so if you’re far away and want some, we got you! We also have frozen cider out there, and will likely have that available for the next week or so, so watch here and/or emails if you’re on that list.
Again, we feel so fortunate to have you all as customers, near and far at this point, and take so much pride in helping to feed you and your families!
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The weather has been ALL over the place this fall, but New England got the memo that winter officially starts on Saturday, and truly cold temps are coming. That means the remainder of the apples have to make it from the farm to your kitchens! So…apples are $1/pound until they’re gone!!! There are still a few varieties out there, and they’re still amazing!
Stock up to eat fresh, and of course to make pies, crisps, even simple baked apples with a bit of cinnamon and maple syrup…YUM!
And if you’re stopping for apples, stock up on our apple sauce for the holiday table, apple butter for those yummy morning buns, popovers and toast you will make during the holiday break, some cider which is spectacular both cold and hot, and some gorgeous garlic for all of those holiday meals you’re cooking!
And, surprise, a crate of Asian pears was hiding in our cold storage, so they’re out there for the taking, literally! If you stop by, please grab some Asian pears, ON US!
As we wind down and start to target our final farm stand day for the 2024 season, we’ve added the apple sauce and apple butter to our website for order (link in bio here or off the main website), AND, if you’re a fan of the farm, or know someone who is, we’ve now got gift cards available to use next season, which basically provides a discount on next year’s produce. Check it out!!!
#plumbrookfarm #teamplumbrook #eatlocal #shoplocal #buylocal #whatsinseason #knowyourfarmer #smallfarm #fruitfarm #fruitfarmers #apple #pear #orchard #appleorchard #pearorchard #cider #applecider #freshcider #cidermaker #localfoodforever #communityfarm #fallseason #farmerhero #applesauce #applebutter #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #supportsmallfarms #supportsmallfarmers
Yes, we’ve posted this picture a good half dozen times already, but we LOVE it so much, because we LOVE these products SO MUCH!
In trying to keep our customers, near and far, in our healthy and delicious apple products well beyond the end of our true apple season, we’ve added these to our online store with the option to have them shipped. And we’ve worked to keep shipping prices as low as possible! So, even when the farm goes to bed for the winter, and before our apples are back in the fall next year, you can continue to enjoy the fruit we have the privilege to grow and share with you.
Our velvety smooth apple sauce is the absolute perfect addition to any holiday table, and if you’re a potato pancake family for any of your holiday celebrations, THIS IS IT for your apple sauce topping! If you’re more of a popover, toast, muffin, quick bread, or any other cozy baked carb option family, may we suggest our apple butter with its perfect tangy-sweet combo to spread on those treats!
Click or copy/paste the link below to order now, and bookmark it to restock once you’re out…we’re so excited to be able to have a place on your tables all year long!
And remember that these also make beautiful holiday gifts when you’re visiting family and friends. Order ASAP to get it in time for the upcoming holidays!
https://plum-brook-farm.square.site/?utm_source=sqmktg_email
#plumbrookfarm #teamplumbrook #eatlocal #shoplocal #buylocal #whatsinseason #knowyourfarmer #smallfarm #fruitfarm #fruitfarmers #apple #pear #orchard #appleorchard #pearorchard #cider #applecider #freshcider #cidermaker #localfoodforever #communityfarm #fallseason #farmerhero #applesauce #applebutter #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #supportsmallfarms #supportsmallfarmers
Just a heads up that we will be closed later into the morning today, and possibly all day, due to a power outage in the neighborhood from heavy snow-covered tree limbs falling on power lines. If you were planning to drop by, we hope you will shift your plans just a bit and plan to drop by tomorrow in case the power doesn’t come back early enough. THANK YOU for understanding
We’ve still got lots of apples, apple sauce, apple butter, honey, and yummy cider, so we DEFINITELY want to see you this week!
#plumbrookfarm #teamplumbrook #eatlocal #shoplocal #buylocal #whatsinseason #knowyourfarmer #smallfarm #fruitfarm #fruitfarmers #apple #pear #orchard #appleorchard #pearorchard #cider #applecider #freshcider #cidermaker #localfoodforever #communityfarm #fallseason #farmerhero #applesauce #applebutter #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #supportsmallfarms #supportsmallfarmers
Good Fruit
Plum Brook Farm’s mission is to build community by creating experiences on the land, sharing its bounty, and demonstrating good stewardship.