Notes from Brockport and Sweden

A monthly look at preserving Brockport/Sweden's heritage

The flyers mentioned in last month's article were available at the Agricultural Heritage Festival in the village of Brockport on October 25. They can also be found at the Sweden Town Hall and soon in the Village Hall, the Morgan Manning House and Bittersweet.

Last month, we took a look at Lori's Market Basket in Holley, and Sodoma Farms at the corner of Sweden Walker and Route 31. Among other heritage farms and farm markets featured in the flyer are Hurd Orchards and Colby Homestead Farms.

Hurd Orchards has been growing and selling fruit for more than 150 years, growing more than 45 varieties of apples, some of them, heirloom Early American types. The customer can buy from the little road side market in the front or pick his own. The season opens with asparagus picking on May 1 and goes throughout the summer with berries and tree fruits as they ripen. Located on the corner of Routes 104 and 272 in Holley, Hurd's is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Colby Homestead Farms, recently featured in a feature article in Suburban News and Hamlin Clarkson Herald, has been operated by a Colby for seven generations. Founded by Abraham Colby, an emigrant from New Hampshire who came to western New York by ox drawn sledge, crossing the Genesee River on ice, the farms are now run by Jim Colby and his sons, Robert and Charles. Today they grow cabbage and potatoes and operate a large cow dairy. The family operation no longer includes a roadside stand but you can be sure that their produce ends up on local tables through the auspices of nearby grocery stores and eateries.

Next month we'll take a look at two more heritage farms in our area.