Beautiful berries
Ithaca is a very eco-friendly community, with many efforts to reduce waste and energy consumption as well as the overall effect that we have on the environment. One way that the community is able to have an environmental impact is to eat local and to that end there are a great deal of farm stands and local products in grocery stores, as well as an enormous (and fun!) Farmers Market. These are efforts of which most people (even short-term visitors) are keenly aware; but one exciting way of participating in the eat-local movement is to visit a U-Pick farm or orchard. In the Ithaca area, there are a large number of farms and orchards that give you, the consumer, the chance to go out in the fields and pick your own produce. At first, it may seem like a lot of back-breaking work, but it is actually a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.
My wife and I have lived in the area virtually all our lives, but have never taken advantage of this opportunity until very recently. I love fresh fruit but I really didn’t relish the idea of “working” for it until I actually got out to the orchards, where I found that it really was A LOT of fun to hunt for the best-looking, perfectly ripened cherries, raspberries, black raspberries and strawberries. The prices are extremely low (as you’ve effectively “cut out the middle man”) and when the weather is nice, I can’t think of a more enjoyable way to spend some time – you’re outdoors and surrounded by the freshest fruits you can find.
I have but one word of warning – for locals, clear a little room in your freezer; for visitors, just make sure your eyes aren’t bigger than your stomach! Once you’re out there and “in the groove”, it’s hard to stop!
For a list of U-Pick Farms in the Ithaca area, click here.
