The last two tours of the season at the Wegmans Organic Farm near Canandaigua will be offered this Thursday (October 2) and next Thursday (October 9) at 2 p.m.
If you're heading to the Finger Lakes, if the weather stays like this -- gorgeous! -- and if you're curious about growing food and what goes into running an organic farm, you'll find the tour of interest and value.
Put on your walking shoes, leave the dog at home and bring a jacket (and an umbrella, in the event of rain). Tickets cost $10 AND MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE at Wegmans stores. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
The farm tour lasts about two hours and covers about two miles, some of it hilly. About 23 people took the tour on the day I visited.
If you've been to the grocery store lately, you know that organics is a huge "growth category." The Wegmans Organic Farm was established in 2007 on a 50-acre property about eight miles from the city of Canandaigua, overlooking Canandaigua Lake. Approximately 10 acres are certified organic.
The purpose of the farm is not to supply all of Wegmans stores -- that would be impractical and impossible. It's to learn what works and what doesn't in the field and to share knowledge and good practices of growing food naturally, without pesticides, with Wegmans' partner growers -- and the public, as well.
Produce grown on the farm stays close to home: It's sold primarily at Wegmans’ Canandaigua and Pittsford stores, and is used at the Next Door Bar & Grill, a popular restaurant next door to the Pittsford Wegmans. Some of the produce makes it to Wegmans stores in the Syracuse area -- ask your store or produce manager what might be available from the Wegmans Organic Farm.
Radishes, Roma tomatoes and hundreds of pounds of salad greens were harvested the day I visited. Also grown this year: cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, beets, micro greens, fingerling potatoes, peppers, kale, pointed cabbage, Swiss chard, spinach, green and yellow squash, to name a few. Dozens of herbs are planted, as well, like basil, borage, chives, dill, chervil and others.
You'll see chickens -- eggs are used by the Wegman family, according to our tour guide. You'll also see rabbits. Their waste is added to the compost pile, which is huge -- good organics begin with good soil, after all. There's also an apiary. Honey from the farm can't be labeled "organic,'' because the bees travel off the farm, to areas that aren't certified organic.
New at the farm are six "high tunnels,'' which extend the growing season for salad greens, herbs and some vegetables. Step inside and see why -- they really retain heat.
You'll see chickens -- eggs are used by the Wegman family, according to our tour guide. You'll also see rabbits. Their waste is added to the compost pile, which is huge -- good organics begin with good soil, after all. There's also an apiary. Honey from the farm can't be labeled "organic,'' because the bees travel off the farm, to areas that aren't certified organic.
New at the farm are six "high tunnels,'' which extend the growing season for salad greens, herbs and some vegetables. Step inside and see why -- they really retain heat.
Last call to check out the Wegmans Organic Farm this year!
I don't think so, Lynne, but you would really need to ask that question of Wegmans. You need to make reservations for these tours in advance. Find info at the Wegmans website.
Posted by: Margaret at Eat First | 07/27/2015 at 03:49 PM
Can you access the tour arriving by boat?
Thanks much!
Posted by: Lynn Bender | 07/21/2015 at 11:59 AM