FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2021
Contact: Andrew Santillo, (518) 853-8334
SAND FLATS ORCHARD NAMED MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S
SEPTEMBER SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
Family-Run Farm & Apple Orchard Has Been A Destination For Three Decades
FONDA – Throughout the past three decades, Sand Flats Orchard has seen many familiar faces and regular visitors return to its family farm and orchard. The Hoffman family takes pride in welcoming visitors to its orchard and they consider themselves lucky enough to live on an apple farm in Montgomery County. If you haven’t stopped by Sand Flats Orchards yet, they cordially invite you and hope to see you soon.
Sand Flats Orchards has been named Montgomery County’s September Small Business of the Month by County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort and the Montgomery County Business Development Center because of their family orchard and farm being a longstanding part of the Montgomery County community.
“Sand Flats Orchard is synonymous with good family fun,” County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort said. “No matter the season, Sand Flats Orchard is a must-visit, with its tremendous selection of fruit to pick, local products for sale and exciting things to do like the corn maze. During the fall, there’s nothing like picking apples and enjoying their fresh apple cider donuts.”
At Sand Flats Orchard, the mission is to cultivate family memories, provide agricultural experiences, grow delicious food, and share their love of the farm with the Mohawk Valley community and beyond.
Behind the business is the Hoffman Family — Jim, visionary and creator of Sand Flats Orchard, and his wife, Meg, accountant and donut maker. Their son, Mitch, is the orchard manager and his wife, Emily, is the greenhouse manager, making Sand Flats Orchard a family-run operation and they invite you to come visit.
“We live in the most beautiful area of the country nine months of the year,” Jim Hoffman routinely tells friends and customers. “However, January, February and March, you have to look a little harder to see the beauty.”
The farmland at Sand Flats Orchard is unique in its sandy soils, which were deposited by ancient lakes many years ago. The well-drained sands allow the ground to dry quickly after rainfall. This drying quality is especially well-suited to growing apple trees. The first 500 apple trees were planted in 1993 and the first apple harvest came in the fall of 1996.
“Sand Flats Orchard is a great, family-run agricultural business,” Montgomery County Business Development Center CEO Ken Rose said. “The county’s economy has always and continues to be tied to farming and agriculturally-based businesses like Sand Flats Orchard. The growth of agritourism has allowed family farms to expand on the products that they offer, increase employment where necessary and find new and different ways to thrive and be successful.”
Sand Flats is open in spring, summer and fall. Current fall offerings include apple picking, flower picking, apple cider donuts, a corn maze, pumpkin picking and more. Breakfast and lunch are offered on the weekends, as are hayrides across the farm.
Sand Flats Orchard is located on 371 Martin Road, in the Town of Mohawk. You can reach them by calling (518) 853-4999, and their website (www.sandflatsorchard.com) has much more information on the family farm, what’s available, when they are open and even items for purchase. They are also on Facebook — www.facebook.com/SandFlatsOrchardandGreenhouse/.
The small business of the month initiative recognizes local Montgomery County businesses that are making a difference in the community. Anyone wishing to nominate a deserving small business for recognition next month should contact the Montgomery County Business Development Center at 518-853-8334 or email vnicosia2@co.montgomery.ny.us with a brief note about the positive impact the company is making on the community. Nominations can also be submitted by sharing a post and tagging the business on the Business Development Center’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
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ABOUT MCBDC
Montgomery County Business Development Center (MCBDC) provides professional economic development assistance to businesses interested in expanding or relocating to Montgomery County. It offers real estate solutions, financial assistance and incentives, as well as business development and technical assistance. MCBDC acts as the county’s Department of Economic Development, & Planning, the Industrial Development Agency, and Capital Resource Corporation. To learn more visit www.MontgomeryCountyWorks.com