WHO WE ARE
Fruit Connections is a small company specializing in the growing of fruit, fruit trees and bushes.
Fruit Connections is a nursery and old-fashioned orchard founded in the 1950’s. It is steeped in the love
of nature and beautiful surroundings of Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region. It is surrounded by
beautiful farmland and the fresh air off Seneca Lake.
WHAT’S OUR PASSION
Our passion is to offer the public healthful living lifestyles and good nutrition through tree-ripened fruit, nursery-grown fruit trees and berry bushes at affordable prices. Eating well should not be an extravagance! A trip to the grocery store in 2024 seems to tell us it is. Now, by offering you a chance at growing your own food, you will be saving money, and will be feeling the same glorious connection with nature that we do, every day.
It sounds a little corny, but we think that there is at least a little bit of “farmer” in all of us. We think we
share a basic desire and innate yearning to dig our hands into rich soil, grow our own food, and nourish
our families.
WHAT MAKES US SO DIFFERENT
Most of our fruit trees and some of our berry bushes are offered and sold “bare-root”. This means that nursery trees and bushes are dug from the nursery, while dormant, and are bundled and kept moist in a cold storage until sold. * Seasonally, we
have special events which allow for the public to buy directly from the nursery. See “Events” on our
website menu. We are a smaller farm with an experienced orchardist- Joe- with 50 years of experience, who is on-site and available to give advice and pointers on growing. Our sales are seasonal- mostly in the early Spring and late Fall when conditions are best for planting. We sometimes offer classes with instructions for planting at our sales, and you can also find help on our website.
Why would anyone want to buy a tree that is “bare-root”?
Growing a tree in real soil, where the roots can grow and spread in a way that nature intended is better
for the tree. Growing a tree in a pot is a lot like a person wearing a way-too-small pair of shoes. Because
our trees and bushes are grown in Upstate New York, they are already acclimated to our “interesting”,
and diverse climate!
What We Produce
Fruit
As mentioned, we offer tree-ripened fruits in season. You know the quote, “To everything there is a
season”. Especially with fruit. Joe, the experienced farmer of 50 years, adheres to this belief. Growing
a good healthy tree of the right variety is the foundation for any good fruit production.
Bare-root trees
The trees are offered from cold storage and are ready for planting at the time of purchase. A complete
list of varieties follows in the Order section to include Apples, Peaches, Plums, Apricots, and Pears.
Note: With rare exceptions the trees we provide are saplings between 4' to 6' tall at the time of sale.
Elderberry Bushes
In "the olden days" every farmhouse had at least one elderberry bush that was used for pies, medicinal purposes, and perhaps even a little elderberry wine-to be drunk only on very special occasions! We offer a few varieties of elderberries. Much in demand, they can be purchased in small pots or bare-root. Easy to grow, elderberries love the sun, and are very thirsty. The French name for elderberries is "Sureau", meaning, literally, "on the water". When they are found in the wild, they will normally be close to a water souce; a stream, a culvert, pond, the side of the road, under a drainpipe, etc. You want to make sure, of course, that the water source is clean and not subject to run-off from treated road surfaces. At the moment, we have a good supply of Certified Organic Elderberry and Currant bushes available for purchase.
Elderberry bushes can be planted in the garden, of course, or also do well as patio plants. They do not
need 100% sun, but they do need a lot of water, especially during hot spells because their root structure is close to the surface. As you will see in the photos, the flowers are stunningly beautiful, fragrant and flavorful, too. Many people use the flowers for teas,
cordials, and other cooking purposes. The berries, in high demand, are great for elixirs, tonics, sauces for meats, desserts and more.
Currant Bushes
Red and black currants are available and are wonderful ingredients for exotic drinks, jams, jellies,
garnishes, and sauces for meats and poultry. The currants are also available in pots or bare root.
OUR 2024 APPLE TREE VARIETIES
*BALDWIN
The Baldwins have been growing in the nursery for 2 plus years. Because they are more mature trees, they should start to fruit after planting the first year. Baldwins were the largest producing variety in the 1920’s- and 1930’s and are good eating apples-a tangy and tart heirloom variety. The favorite of many people.
Harvest date: October 15
*CORTLAND
Cortland is a very popular apple with the locals from New York State. It is an all-purpose variety good for salads, baking, pastries and just plain eating! The flesh of the apple will stay white after cutting, so it’s wonderful for those fresh early fall salads.
Dwarf trees are 6’ – 8’ tall, 4’ in diameter, Large Dwarf trees are 8’-10’, 5’ in diameter
Harvest date: October 1
*ENTERPRISE
2 year old trees grown on Geneva 935 rootstock. Apple scab immune which will eliminate the need for a lot of sprays. A multi-use, long-keeping apple with a tart and tangy flavor.
Harvest date around October 20
*FUJI
As the name implies, it originated in Japan and is considered as “gourmet quality”. It is long-keeping, crisp, and has intense flavors. A world- class apple!
Fruiting around October 25
*GALA
The favorite apple of many apple lovers. Usually the first to harvest in the fall. Explosive apple flavor. One of the top choices for a desert apple in the USA. This variety is a 2-year-old tree grown on Geneva 41 rootstock. A good cropper and a multi-use variety.
Harvest around September 10
*GOLD RUSH
Is a late-maturing, a Golden Delicious-type of fruit. Sweet and juicy. This is a 2-year-old tree grown on 935 rootstock. It is a large dwarf variety and will grow 8 + feet. If you would like to grow organically, this would be a good variety for you. It is a more disease resistant variety and resists scab and other fungal diseases, reducing, or eliminating the need to spray. It stores exceptionally well, long-term.
Harvest around October 25
*GRANNY SMITH
“The superb juice, and pie apple.” Great for people who love “tart”. Easy to grow. Green skin.
Harvest around October 20
*GOLDEN RUSSET
An old-time vintage variety with russeted skin, high in sugar, exceptionally ong-keeping with some acidic tart and tangy flavors. Yum!
Harvest around October 20
*HONEYCRISP
The favorite among the “the younger generation of all ages”. An incredible crisp texture, loaded with sweetness and tartness. Usually sold at a premium, when available.
Fruiting around September 15
*GOLDEN DELICIOUS
An old-time variety and, because of its spicy flavor, it is frequently used in oldie-but-goodie recipes such as applesauce, baked apples, juicing, and pies. Joe’s favorite fall apple!
Fruiting around October 10
*MARGIL
A two-year old tree on Geneva 41 rootstock. A smaller apple, known for its French culinary connection.
Fruiting around October 5
*NEWTOWN PIPPIN
A two-year-old tree, known as the Ben Franklin apple. Started from a seedling in Flushing NYC. The apple of “The Big Apple”?
Fruiting around October 26
*NORTHERN SPY
A classic old variety from Bloomfield, NY. The standard for apple pies!
Fruiting around Mid- September
OUR 2024 APRICOT TREE VARIETIES
DESCRIPTION-DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING
Plant following the directions for other stone fruits- plums.
PLEASE NOTE THAT APRICOTS ARE THE FIRST TO BLOOM IN THE SPRING AND SHOULD BE PLANTED IN A PROTECTED SPOT WITH SOUTHERN EXPOSURE FOR MAXIMUM SUN. (ON A HILL, IN A PROTECTED SPOT.)
***Apricots are self-pollinating, but it’s always nice to have a friend!***
*HAROGEM
This variety has been grown on the farm in Geneva for 30 years. It ripens late-July in the Northeast and is of exceptional quality. The flesh is orange, with 30%- 50% red cheek. Exceptional quality!
Ripening around August 1
*HW460
“Joe’s Hidden Gem”
This variety is the best tasting apricot known to the team. It has been grown in Geneva for 25 years, and it ripens 10-14 days before Harogem. Unbelievable eating quality. Very orange flesh. Some red cheeks.
Ripening around July 20
OUR 2024 PEACH TREE VARIETIES
*CRESTHAVEN
Cresthaven is a freestone peach of high quality. It is wonderful for eating fresh, or for culinary use. The tree grows to about 8’ tall, and trees should be planted approximately 8’ apart. Plant on a “burm”, if possible (slightly elevated). Cresthaven is self-pollinating.
The fruit matures around the 3rd week of August.
OUR 2024 PLUM TREE VARIETIES
DESCRIPTION-DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING
A larger tree than apples, these are full- sized trees and need to be planted at least 12’ apart with maximum sun potential. Plant to a depth to cover the roots and the knuckle.
*** Plums need to be cross-pollinated. Buy two!***
*EARLY GOLDEN
They usually ripen mid-July in the Northeast of the USA. If allowed to become golden color, they are of exceptional eating quality. Occasional pink “cheeks”. This is a hardy plum that can be planted in the colder climes of the USA.
Fruiting around July 20
*SATSUMA
This variety dates back to the 1890’s, developed by the legendary Lester Burbank. Burbank was a fruit breeder of notoriety. Burbank, California was named after him. The fruit is of an exceptional quality and, if allowed to tree ripen, will develop a dark red skin and red flesh. Yum!
Ripening around August 18
OUR 2024 PEAR TREE VARIETIES
DESCRIPTION-DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING
The pear trees are grown on hardy, dwarf (quince) rootstocks. This provides a smaller tree that can be planted 5 feet apart. This rootstock also helps to produce larger than normal fruit. *Pears improve in quality with cross pollination.
*BARTLETT
The number 1 pear grown in the United States. An ideal pear for canning, poaching and eating fresh. Requires off-the-tree chilling for 2 or 3 days to ripen.
Harvest end of August
*FLEMISH BEAUTY
This heirloom pear originated in Belgium in 1847. It is of exceptional quality, ripening mid to late September in the Northeastern USA. A self-pollinating pear, it will produce better with other varieties near-by. It has good cropping habits and is an exceptional keeper (keeps long in the refrigerator), and can be eaten crisp, or allowed to ripen to “melting flesh”. It is grown on OHF 87 stock and is 2/3 size of a standard tree, approximately 15’ tall x 8’ wide.
Ripening around September 15
*SUMMERCRISP- Not available at this time.
A summer pear meant to be eaten “crisp”. It ripens from the 12th-15th of August in the Northeast. The best, “first pear” of the season. Smaller in size- approximately 1 3/4” to 2 1/2” in size, with a red cheek.
Ripening around August 12-15
*HAROCRISP
Developed in Canada. A disease resistant variety that can be eaten crisp or “melting flesh” if allowed to ripen fully. Superior to the Bartlett.
Pick around Labor Day.
OUR 2024 CHERRY TREE VARIETIES
*BALATON
Balaton, originating from Hungary, is described as a tart/sour cherry but is wonderful for eating fresh or used for culinary purposes- Think Pie! Balaton is unusual in that it is red-fleshed- a surprise inside every bite! It is self-pollinating, but the quality of the fruit can improve with another friendly cherry tree close by. Originally from Hungary.
The fruit matures the 10th-15th of July.
*EMPEROR FRANCIS
Also called “Mahaleb” is a white sweet cherry with a pink cheek. An excellent and reliable cropper.
Ripening around July 5
*METEOR
A lighter colored, red tart cherry. A massive cropper! Excellent for all uses; eating fresh, pies, juice, tarts and wherever your imagination takes you!
Ripening July 20
*HUDSON
A crunchy, hard, dark sweet cherry, named in 1925 at the NYS Experimental Station, Geneva, NY
Ripening July 25
*ROYALTON
An earlier, dark large cherry of excellent, high quality.
Ripening around July 6
** WE WILL SOON HAVE ADDITIONAL VARIETIES OF FRUIT TREES AVAILABLE, AND A SELECTION OF TREE-RIPENED FRUITS TO OFFER BY MAIL ORDER! **
