Farms and Agricultural Experiences in the Finger Lakes

On This Page: Farmers Markets | U-Pick Farms | Farm Stands and Local Food | Family-Friendly Farm Experiences | Farm Tours & Agricultural Learning | Agricultural Events | Supporting Local Agriculture

Discover Farm Experiences Across the Finger Lakes

Agriculture is part of both the landscape and everyday food culture of the Finger Lakes. A farm visit might mean picking fruit in an orchard, touring a maple sugarhouse, meeting alpacas, navigating a corn maze or shopping for vegetables and locally produced foods directly from a grower.

Naples Maple Farm shows the process of turning sap into maple syrup and sells maple products on-site, while its Sugar House is a decidedly unique option for a farm stay. At Lazy Acre Alpacas in West Bloomfield, try touring the 100-acre farm with more than 50 alpacas and shop for products made with alpaca fiber.

Also, at Kaizen Ridge Farm, goat yoga experiences offer another fun way to connect with local agriculture.

Farmers Markets

Community farmers markets make it easy to see what is growing and being produced around Ontario County. Markets in Canandaigua, Geneva, Victor and Farmington bring together seasonal fruits and vegetables with flowers, eggs, meats, baked goods, honey, maple products, preserves and other locally made foods.

Canandaigua Farmers Market, for example, includes more than 30 farmers and small-scale food producers and operates in both summer and winter. Victor Farmers Market adds activities such as cooking demonstrations, entertainment and children’s programming during its summer season.

Check the dedicated Farmers Markets page for current schedules, locations, and more places to shop.

U-Pick Farms

U-pick seasons change along with the harvest. Summer brings blueberries at Embers Rising Farm in Clifton Springs and lavender at Aurora Lavender Farm in Honeoye, while fall shifts to grapes, apples and pumpkins.

In Naples, Jerome’s U-Pick grows 14 grape varieties, with picking generally beginning shortly after Labor Day and continuing into October as fruit ripens. Pick’n Patch in Stanley pairs an orchard with more than 20 apple varieties with pumpkins, a corn maze, farm animals, and other fall activities.

Visit our U-Pick Farms page before heading out, and make sure to call ahead, since crop availability and picking dates depend on weather and growing conditions.

Farm Stands and Local Food

Roadside farm stands sell seasonal produce such as sweet corn, plums, berries and vegetables, plus some smaller stands still use an honor system for payment.

Farm stores expand the selection beyond fresh produce. Duvall Farms in Bloomfield operates a year-round farm market with its own seasonal fruits and vegetables alongside products from more than 50 local small businesses. Embers Rising Farm produces maple and hickory syrups, maple candy, and maple cream. Sweet! The Ontario County Buy Local Food Guide provides more options for sourcing food directly from area farms and producers.

Family-Friendly Farm Experiences

For families, a farm experience can turn agricultural learning into part of a day outdoors. Pick’n Patch combines apple picking and pumpkins with a corn maze and farm animals. Tours at Lazy Acre Alpacas give children a chance to meet alpacas and learn about the fiber they produce.

Seasonal markets and agricultural events provide other hands-on introductions to local food and farming. Activities vary by farm and time of year, so check schedules and reservation requirements before visiting.

Farm Tours and Agricultural Learning Opportunities

Farm tours let visitors look more closely at how familiar foods and agricultural products are made. At Naples Maple Farm, visitors can follow maple production from tapping trees and collecting sap through boiling, then sample and purchase the finished products.

Maple season creates additional opportunities in early spring. During New York State Maple Weekends, participating sugarhouses welcome visitors to see how sap becomes syrup, while other farm tours and demonstrations throughout the year introduce everything from livestock to agricultural practices.

Agricultural Events and Seasonal Celebrations

Agriculture also comes into focus at community events throughout the year. New York Kitchen’s occasional Meet Your Local Farmer events bring farmers and food producers together with visitors through farm-to-fork cooking demonstrations, samples, local food and beverages, and information about programs such as CSAs. The free events are designed for families as well as adults interested in learning more about local ingredients.

The Ontario County Fair celebrates local agriculture each summer, with 4-H animal displays among the experiences for visitors. Every other year in late September, Fun on the Farm invites the public onto a local dairy farm, where more than 100 exhibitors can include farmers, veterinarians, equipment dealers, food producers, 4-H and FFA members. Displays, games, food samples, and animal presentations show how food is produced on a present-day farm.

In September, the Naples Grape Festival marks harvest season with grape pie, food and craft vendors, regional beverages, live music, and the annual grape pie contest.