November Bus Tour – 2006

Farm Fresh’s November 2006 Bus Tour to New York State
Date: Sunday, November 12 to Wednesday, November 15

Download the tour description (324KB ) or read the summary below.

Summary: This was Farm Fresh’s 23nd tour. Since 1987, we have been touring markets, pick-your-own operations, entertainment farms, some related businesses, and some “just plain fun” places. A few of the years we did 2 tours, and on three of the years we took 2 buses!

New York State is rolling out the red carpet for the OFFMA tour. Gary and I spent a week in June visiting markets in and around the Hudson Valley region and we found some wonderful examples of marketing and agritourism operations. Here’s a glimpse of some of the businesses we are planning on visiting during the 2006 tour. Web sites have been included whenever possible, take a minute to browse through them for a more complete vision of our travels.

• Prince Edward County, Ontario.
  ‘The County’ as it is affectionately known, tempts visitors with its unique character, charming people and scenic landscapes. Lots to see, taste and explore.
• Eagle Mills Cider Co. & Family Fun Center – www.eaglemillsfun.com
  Craig Boyko has done a fabulous job selling old time American nostalgia. A visit to Eagle Mills is a step back in time. Eagle Mills is also the home of upstate New York’s largest annual craft show, held on the last two weekends of September.
• Liberty Ridge Farm – www.libertyridgefarmmaze.com
  Liberty Ridge Farm is entering its 7th exciting season and becoming a tradition for families and friends in the Albany Region. The recipient of NYS 2005 Agritourism Destination Award, Liberty Ridge Farm offers Corporate Team-Building Adventures and Company Socials.
• Indian Ladder Farms – www.indianladderfarms.com
  Indian Ladder Farms began in 1915 as a Guernsey dairy farm and orchard. Today, Indian Ladder Farms strives to provide apples of superior taste and quality, while maintaining a healthy ecologically-balanced growing environment.
• The Apple Barn & Country Bakeshop – www.theapplebarn.com
  The Apple Barn’s history is deeply rooted with the Southern Vermont Orchards that was established in 1912. It is the latest generation that has transformed the business from a 100 year old orchard covering the hills south of Bennington into a thriving bakery and produce market.
• Green River Farms – www.greenriverfarms.com
  Green River Farms is an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) development-protected farm and a proud member of the Berkshire grown organization of locally owned, environmentally conscious agricultural businesses. Green River Farms also runs a greenhouse and nursery operation as well as a petting farm.
• Ioka Valley Farm – www.taconic.net/IokaValleyFarm
  Nestled among the Berkshire and Taconic Hills in the beautiful Hancock Valley is Ioka Valley Farm, established is 1936 when Robert and Dorothy Leab drove 13 head of cattle over Brodie Mountain. In 1966, one of Bob and Dot’s children, Donald took over the farm.
• Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard – www.flycreekcidermill.com
  The Fly Creek Cider Mill was built in 1856 by Hosea Williams and has been operating ever since. The mill quickly earned a broad reputation for its delicious sweet apple cider. Today, 150 years later, that reputation is still nurtured but great apple cider is just the beginning.
• Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
  Bass Pro takes shopping to a new level. They claim to be the World’s Greatest Outdoor Store and I tend to agree with them. Bass Pro Shops are not just an outdoor retail store but a vacation destination and we’re going to experience them for ourselves.
• Cooperstown, New York – “America’s Most Perfect Village”
  Cooperstown is home to three world-class museums but for many, Cooperstown means baseball. Residents of the Cooperstown area love their community, its scenic surroundings, it’s rural traditions and most especially it’s ‘Main Street’ way of life. The Village itself inhabits a picture postcard setting on the south shore of Lake Otsego. Creative horticultural displays are a seasonal hall mark.