All the way back in 1916, G. Gordon Mead purchased a diversified 100 acre farm in Tivoli, which included some dairy, chickens, and hogs, with a variety of grain and fruit crops. Soon he began shipping apples in barrels to NYC down the Hudson River by boat. At that time, the farm was known as White Clay Creek Orchards - named after the creek that meandered through the property. It wasn't until the late 1980's that the name was changed to what it is today, Mead Orchards.

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When Gordon's son, Sid, took over the farm in 1959, he specialized in selling apple crops wholesale, and planting many new varieties! Sid's son, Chuck, became a co-partner in 1982 and worked alongside his father for more than 20 years.

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Gradually, Sid and Chuck planted even more apple varieties as well as pears, peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines. In the 1990's, the father/son team began shifting their focus towards retail markets and started to grow more varieties of produce, including berries, cherries, pumpkins, sweet corn, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables.

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Now rather than shipping down the river as his great grandfather did, Chuck and his helpers bring their goods to local farmers' markets. Visitors of the farm can pick their own strawberries, blueberries, plums, cherries, peaches, and apples during the season.

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All three generations of Mead men attended Cornell College of Agriculture, and Chuck continues to study safe, effective, and innovative methods for raising these crops.

 

Plan your visit to the orchard TODAY!