GLORIE Farm Winery

Our Fruit Farm

Long before there was Glorie Farm Winery, there was Glorie Farms (also previously known as Stoneside Farm). We grow about 20 acres of fruit: summer and fall raspberries, blackberries, plums, peaches, pears, apples, and wine grapes. Though we do not offer pick-your-own, our fresh-picked fruit is available to our visitors for purchase in season. If you've never had a peach straight from the tree, you are in for an incredible treat! Once you've had a true fresh fruit experience, you'll look differently at the fruit in the grocery store. You will know that if peaches bear stickers saying they're from Georgia, then the sign above them that says "Tree-Ripened Peaches" simply isn't true. Our peaches ripen on a tree; their peaches ripen on a truck. There's a world of difference between the two, and anyone who says there isn't is either sadly misinformed or just lying.

Please forgive us. The following article was written last fall in anticipation of the new website being uploaded at that time. We'll replace the text soon with something more appropriate to spring. In the meantime, there's still plenty of good information in here, so don't stop reading now!

We're also right in the middle of the apple harvest. Varieties picked so far include Gala, Cortland, Macintosh, and my personal favorite, Macoun. Many more are still to come, including my favorite apple for applesauce and baking, Jonagold.

The Bartlett and Seckel pears have all been picked. The Bosc should be done this weekend. Many folks tell me they don't care for Seckel or Bosc pears. When I ask why, they'll often say the fruit is too hard. Well, if the fruit is too hard, then it's not ready to eat. It's that simple. These pears are delicious if you'll just be patient and give them time to go from ripe to ready. Just because they were ripe enough for picking doesn't necessarily mean they're ready for eating. Those little seckel pears are just like candy if given the chance to soften up just a little.

If you still need convincing to try the Bosc, how about trying this: Slice the Bosc pear in half from top to bottom. Scoop out the seed section. Put the pear halves on a plate with the cut side up. Put a little maple sytup in each half where the seeds used to be. Now cover it with wax paper and microwave it on high for 1.5 minutes. Take it out, slice it, and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Have we changed your mind yet?

Soon we'll put a schedule here of what fruit will be ready when. We offer "seconds" of fruit, too, for those who want to freeze or can to have out-of-season fruit that still tastes fresh. We'll also try to put notes in here about what's happening on the farm at any various times throughout the year. If you have questions about farming or fruit, feel free to contact Doug. When he comes in off the tractor, I'll have him give you a call back.