What a beautiful weekend for picking!

The weekend of October 24th & 25th was outstanding for picking apples and pumpkins. The crisp cool air was stirring the leaves on the trees, the birds were flocking and the sun was shinning.

If you missed it don’t despair. We will be open Saturday October 31st from 9am to 3pm and Sunday November 1st from 10am to 3pm.

And the best part is all YOU PICK IS HALF PRICE! See you this weekend.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back and get that extra hour of sleep! Yippee……

This week on the farm.

The weekend weather was wonderful for picking.

The Canada Geese are heading south. While out in the orchard you can see and hear them as they start the journey.

The You Pick Pumpkins will start this weekend. We will continue with the Apples, Red Raspberries & Blackberries.

Unfortunately we had a light frost very early Sunday morning which impacted the squash, peppers and tomatoes. The plants may not produce much longer.

This year has been a challenge with the rain, cold temperatures and now an early frost.

But that is farming the biggest gamble in the world.

This week on the farm!

Our employees started picking processing apples this morning. They will start picking fresh fruit tomorrow.

The Bartlett pears are picked and in the cooler for the season.

This past weekend was the 1st weekend for You Pick Apples. The Gala and Jonamac are sweet. The Cortland and McIntosh have their traditional sweet/tart flavor. Soon the Empires will be ready.

Late season Red Raspberries, Blackberries and Blueberries also available.

We look forward to seeing you for picking every weekend Saturday 9am to 3pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm. Weekdays by appointment.

Don’t have time for You Pick the Farm Stand is Open Daily 8am to 6:30pm.

See you in the orchards!

You Pick Apples starting September 12th!

The You Pick will re-open on Saturday September 12th at 9am. The hours during September and October will be Saturdays 9am to 3pm and Sundays 10am to 3pm. We will be picking Apples, Red Raspberries, Blackberries and Blueberries. Picked fruit and vegetables are available at the Farm Stand every day of the week. You Pick Pumpkins in October!

Question: is there any interest in You Pick Bartlett Pears?

Did I miss the You Pick Blueberries this season?

We will be open for You Pick Blueberries one more weekend in August, the 22nd and 23rd. The hours are 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. Then we will close the You Pick until September 12th. Already picked Blueberries will be available at the Farm Stand which is open daily from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm and at Fairport Farmers Market on Saturday mornings for the rest of the month of August and into September.

We will reopen You Pick Saturday September 12th with Apples, Red Raspberries, Blackberries and late Blueberries. Picking will be available weekends from Saturday September 12th thru Sunday November 1st. Weekday picking may be scheduled by appointment.

How long will the Blueberry season last?

The length of the season for Blueberries depends on the weather. If the temperatures continue to stay cool at night it will delay the ripening so the season will last longer. The increased amount of sun we have been experiencing lately has really sweetened the fruit.

We traditionally have Blueberries on the Farm Stand located at 4572 Lincoln Rd and at Fairport Farmers Market thru the Labor Day weekend.

You Pick will be open every weekend from 7:30am to 2:00pm while the supplies last. Call 315-524-3823 to double check or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/GandSorchards.

Don’t forget to try the delicious Blueberry crisp recipe on the Blueberry page.

August is the best month for Blueberries!

Be sure to You Pick your Blueberries during the month of August. They are at the peak of perfection. Large, sweet and juicy. If you don't have time for You Pick we have already Picked fruit available at the Farm Stand or Fairport Farmers Market.

Great for fresh eating and baking but they also freeze well. Just wash, drain and place on a cookie sheet in the freezer. Once frozen roll into the storage container and use as needed.

What a treat to have your own local Blueberries in the middle of winter. Pancakes, muffins, crisp, pie, waffles with Blueberry sauce. The possibilities are endless and yummy!

How long will the 2009 You Pick and Picked Sweet Cherry season last?

The last day scheduled for You Pick Sweet Cherries will be Sunday the 2nd of August. After that day you will be able to find Sweet Cherries on the trees but they will be softer than usual and have marks, cracks and splits. As the fruit over ripens the sugars really increase and this causes the fruit to break down much faster.

We do have and will have already Picked Sweet Cherries on the Farm Stand located at 4570 Lincoln Road for the entire Month of August. The fruit was harvested at its peak and held in our cooling facility. This maintains the quality and freshness our customers have come to expect from G and S Orchards.

When and Why is the You Pick closed?

When: every afternoon.

Why: we are a true operating farm and it is necessary to close in order to accomplish the field work.

When: if the fields are very wet or it is raining.

Why: many diseases are transferred in moisture. If you are picking when it is raining or very wet you will move the disease (if there is any) between plants.

Why: the ground compacts when it is walked on during a wet or rainy period.

Why: the fruit you pick will not keep well when picked wet.

Why: certain fruit (raspberries) have less sugar content when picked in the rain.

Why: it is not a pleasant experience for our customers.

Sweet Juicy Huge Blueberries are here!

You Pick Blueberries have started. We also have picked Blueberries on the Farm Stand and at Fairport Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.

Blueberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C and Antioxidants. They are delicious eaten fresh or after being frozen. Watch for future suggestions and recipes for Blueberries. Add your comments if you have a recipe you would like to share.

You Pick etiquette compliments of the North American Blueberry Council!

» Most You Pick farms post a per pound or per bucket rate for Blueberries. If in doubt, ask before you pick.

» Who could resist a sample of Blueberries in the field. But, take it easy! This is how the farmer makes his living. Sample don't eat.

» Wash your hands before and after picking.

» Stay on trails and in between rows. Do not walk or stand on the plant root mounds as it will hurt the growth of the Blueberries.

» Bring your family, tell your friends and have a great time!

What is a “Bonus” day?

When we are able to extend the picking past the normal or average picking time we refer to it as a “Bonus” day. The cool night time temperatures of the last several weeks prevent the strawberries from becoming over ripe. But the sun of the day makes them extra sweet. Get them while they last. Delicious!

Sweet Cherries are at the peak of perfection!

Sweet Cherry season is in full swing and at the peak of perfection. We have both Dark and White Sweet Cherries. You Pick is available daily: Monday thru Friday from 7:30am to 11:30am, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am to 2:00pm. If You Pick is not an option for you please stop at the Farm Stand or call 315-524-3823 and place an order for pick up.

For some you can never have enough Sweet Cherries. For others moderation is the key. But remember you can freeze these little nuggets whole for a great taste treat in the winter months. Here is how: Fresh Sweet Cherries, remove stems, wash, and dry in a colander or on a towel. Place a single layer on a cookie sheet and place that in the freezer. Once the Sweet Cherries are frozen remove them from the cookie sheet by rolling into a storage container. Put the container back in the freezer. Remove from the container only what you are going to eat within 15 minutes and they will not get soft.

Sweet Cherries are great for dehydrating/drying as well. Be sure to remove the pits before drying and place halves on the tray for drying.
For the more adventuresome canning is a great option. Either whole (without stems) or with the pits removed. Don’t have a pitter just use a small kitchen knife, cut into the cherry and spin around the pit. The pit will just pop out.

Don’t wait too long the season will be over before you know it!

The Sweet Cherries and Red Raspberries are loving the sun and so are we!

What a difference in the flavor and size of all the fruit when the sun shines.

The Sweet Cherries are getting sweeter and bigger everyday. The You Pick season should last the entire month of July. We have many varieties to pick but we do not grow "Bing" because they crack very easily. They do not meet our quality expectations.

You Pick Red Raspberries are at their peak so don't delay.


Soon the Black Raspberries will be ready along with the Gooseberries, Black Currants and Blueberries.

Come visit G and S Orchards to enjoy the sun and country. Just 15 minutes from Rochester.

You Pick Sweet Cherries starting July 4th.

Celebrate the 4th of July Holiday at G and S Orchards with You Pick Sweet Cherries!! The trees are loaded this year - no ladders needed. Saturday and Sunday 7:30am to 2:00pm. Don't forget that you can now follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GandSorchards for real-time orchard conditions and picking schedule updates.

You Pick Strawberries.

The Strawberries are holding up well. Please keep in mind the season will be done in less than 2 weeks. If you want to You Pick please make your plans NOW. Check Twitter for field condition updates.

Will it ever stop raining?

After a rather dry spring it now feels like the rain won't stop. Fortunately we have very good ground which drains fast but the Strawberries, Red Raspberries and Sweet Cherries can only take so much. Keep your fingers crossed that the storms predicted for this week won’t last long or even better miss us completely. One good aspect of all the rain is it will make the Blueberries big and juicy!

Summer is here!

Welcome to G and S Orchards first official Blog! We need to thank Lance Topping for pushing us into the “Techno World”. Suzanne and all the crew at BizWonk Inc have done a wonderful job.

Summer appears to be here. You Pick times for Strawberries are: 7:30am to 11:30am every day (unless it is pouring). The Strawberries are at their peak. Please don’t disappoint yourself or the family by waiting too long. We anticipate having Strawberries until the week after the 4th of July.

Red Raspberries are ripening fast and should be ready soon. Every one is asking for Sweet Cherries. The cool spring weather really slowed things down. We had Sweet Cherries last year on June 24th. We hope to start You Pick by the 4th of July this year.

Ribes what? These are Currants and Gooseberries. We have many colors and varieties to choose from. They should be ready Mid July. Check out the picking schedule for other Berries and Produce.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter.

See you in the Strawberry field!

Strawberry picking begins June 22!

Welcome to the G and S Orchards Blog!

We expect strawberry picking to begin June 22.

Check back for updates and to confirm that picking is open in case of bad weather.