I like to know where our food comes from. Last week, a good amount of our fresh produce came from western Onondaga County.
On Sunday, I took a leisurely drive -- partly because it was a beautiful day, partly because I wanted to get out of the house and partly because I wanted to visit three farm stands. En route to the last stop, I passed two other roadside farm stands. It is a blessing to live in an area with such an abundance of agricultural riches, this time of year and during the time of COVID-19, especially
Delaney Farms
Corn is king at this family-owned and -operated farm and farm stand at West Seneca Turnpike and Kasson Road, near Marcellus. The stand has three types of non-GMO corn (butter and sugar, Silver Queen and good, old-fashioned yellow).
Maybe it's something about the soil and the care with which the corn is raised -- Delaney's consistently has some of the best corn around. Here's what one fan has to say on Facebook: "People who know me know I'm very picky about my corn on the cob. And this place is hands down, bar none, THE BEST EVER. And I wait very impatiently for them every summer.''
The farm stand is staffed and also features homegrown tomatoes, peppers, cooking greens, salad greens, okra and other produce.
Delaney Farms is at 3633 W. Seneca Turnpike, at the corner of Kasson Road. Enter on Kasson Road.
Black Brook Organic Farm
Heirloom and cherry tomatoes for sale
Schoolhouse Farms
The farm stand is shaded by tall trees. Heirloom tomatoes and sauce tomatoes are the main draws, but since I already had tomatoes, I purchased a quart of green beans packed to overflowing. Also available were potatoes, blackberries, squashes, poblano peppers and sunflowers. I wanted to buy one of everything.
Information: 315-469-1668, website
Black Brook Organic Farm
I've been following this farm on Instagram for a long time but had never been out to the farm stand. So I set my GPS for the corner of Rickard Road and Pork Street, near Skaneateles, and found a self-serve farm stand under a tent in the countryside. It was brimming with heirloom tomatoes, green and yellow beans, squashes and more, and there was even a small selection of health-focused food books for sale.
Kendra and Paul Porter farm 10 acres here and take pride in growing a diverse selection of organic vegetables. The Porters also own and operate the Potatoes & Molasses Food Truck. I came home with an extra-large heirloom tomato for Caprese salad and a quart of orange cherry tomatoes to enjoy in salads and snack on -- they are so incredibly sweet.
The Black Brook Organic Farm stand is open every day, in season. Payment is by the honor system (cash only). Bring small bills if you can.
Information: 315-237-3856; Facebook
Schoolhouse Farms
Schoolhouse Farms is a micro-farm between Otisco and Skaneateles lakes. It's in Borodino, about seven miles from the village of Skaneateles, near the intersection of Routes 41 and 174.
The farm stand is shaded by tall trees. Heirloom tomatoes and sauce tomatoes are the main draws, but since I already had tomatoes, I purchased a quart of green beans packed to overflowing. Also available were potatoes, blackberries, squashes, poblano peppers and sunflowers. I wanted to buy one of everything.
Schoolhouse Farms is at 1848 Rose Hill Road, Borodino. The stand is self-serve (cash only; bring small bills).
Information: 315-673-0744; Instagram
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A family and its heirlooms (a prior visit to Schoolhouse Farms)
All photos by Margaret McCormick unless otherwise noted
