A NEW Generation!

Posted on August 29, 2018 by

As a family owned business, generational growth is a key component to our sustainability. Over the winter, a pivotal transition occurred here at Bishop’s Orchards. 6th generation family members Sarah Bishop DellaVentura and Carrie Bishop Healy were promoted and took over new roles as the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Sarah has been with the company since 2007, where she started as the company’s Marketing Director and Pick-Your-Own Manager. Her background is in Business and Marketing, having worked for agencies in Boston and Fairfield County! As the new Chief Operations Officer, Sarah will oversee all Operations and Strategic Growth, both on the Retail and Farm side. Carrie moved back from Boston and joined the company in 2014.  She worked for seven years in corporate Accounting and Auditing for two different companies, prior to finally making the move back home. With her new position as the Chief Financial Officer, she will deal with the administrative side of the business, overseeing the Finance, HR and IT Departments.

Sarah and Carrie’s message to the business and community speaks volumes towards their hope for the company’s future:

“As members of the next generation stepping into this next level of leadership, we are excited for the future and what is to come. We have watched this business evolve over the years and we take pride in continuing what generations before us have built. We are committing ourselves to the business as well as each of you. As a family business, six generations in, we want to continue to carry on the business for future generations with the high reputation and regard that we always have both to our employees and community.”

Sarah and Carrie have exhibited dedication, hard work and growth in their time thus far in the family business. Their passion and vision for the farm and business mirror everything the business stands for… all things “family, food and recreation!” Bishop’s Orchards is sure to see exciting new things in the future, all of which will contribute to our growth and success within our community!

FEATURED PERSONALITY – RANDY PERHAM

Posted on August 29, 2018 by

Flowers, cheese, meats… you name it!!! A man of many traits, Randy Perham, the Grocery Team Manager at Bishop’s Orchards, manages the entire grocery department at the Farm Market! Coming to Bishop’s with a background is in Biochemistry from Cornell University, Randy has now been working in purchasing for 30 years, 10 with other various companies and 20+ at Bishop’s. Since his employment in 1998, he has had the pleasure of watching Bishop’s grow into what it is today!

On a day to day basis, Randy primarily deals with outside vendors, completing weekly orders for departments that include grocery, frozen foods, meat, cheese and floral department. One of Randy’s most important responsibility is studying food trends and bringing new items into the Farm Market. “As the company continues to grow, so does our product selection. With increased competition hitting closer to home now, it is mandatory for us to adapt and keep up with the ever so changing market. New items might only last a year because their product cycle is a lot faster. Items don’t have the same 5-10 year life span like they used to.”

In 2017 Randy introduced approximately 1,000 new products and is averaging roughly 80 items per month for 2018. When making the decision of what to bring in, he looks for the best quality items that are made with clean, all natural ingredients, while also having competitive pricing. There is a huge demand for locally grown items along the shoreline, so Randy tries to purchase from local businesses as often as possible. Another factor for bringing in new items is their uniqueness. “Two weeks ago we were eating goat cheese from Australia with green weaver ants! Where else can you find this rarity other than at Bishop’s?” Despite his busy schedule, Randy loves finding time to be on the retail floor, interacting with customers. “When I’m on the floor I enjoy talking with the customers and explaining to them the different foods and ingredients that Bishop’s has to offer. I enjoy helping customers find the perfect ingredients for that special family dinner.”

Randy’s long standing employment at Bishop’s Orchards comes with fond memories and standouts! One of his favorites… watching the people that he hired grow up and succeed at what they are doing. Whether it be at Bishop’s or somewhere else, it doesn’t matter, he enjoys watching them move up in the world. Two individuals stand out to him, Dana Howd our Administrative Assistant and Jeremy Waldman our Market Team Manager. These two employees he hired when they were 16, and has had the pleasure of watching them grow into their current positions!

Taking Over Pick-Your-Own!

Posted on August 27, 2018 by

Pick-Your-Own is NOW OPEN with 4 varieties for picking; Blueberries, Peaches, Raspberries and Apples! It has been an incredible year for our blueberry crop, never having lasted this long into August. By the end of this week picking will come to an end, but for the meantime, there are plenty of berries to be picked! Peaches opened up mid-August and have been maintaining sporadic hours up at our Main Orchard. Peaches are huge and super sweet… we couldn’t ask for anything more! Peach picking is a favorite on the shoreline, so you want to make sure you are handling and storing them correctly when you take them home. Make sure to spread them out as much as possible and check daily for final ripening. Peaches are perishable and need to be handled gently and kept from sunlight. They will not all necessarily ripen at once so keep your eye on them.

Raspberries have just opened up within the past week! Our raspberries are considered fall berries, becoming ripe in the late summer/early fall timeframe. Raspberry picking generally lasts until late October, with September being its peak time. There are many ways to use raspberries in salads, yogurt, juices, sauces and desserts! If storing fresh, we recommend using them within days of them being picked. For optimal freshness, keep raspberries dirty. If you introduce moisture to the berries, it will cause them to go downhill quickly. Only wash the amount of berries you plan to eat at the moment. Make sure to store raspberries dry and in a container in the fridge. Avoid keeping them in the coldest part of your fridge or in the crisper. The best place is where you will see them best, as to not forget them. Frozen raspberries will keep from 10-12 months!! If freezing, you can wash ahead of time, and then dry them laid out on paper towels to remove excess moisture. Place them on a cookie sheet and pop them into your freezer to freeze until frozen. Once they are frozen, store in an airtight plastic zip bag or in a freezer-proof container. They will be great in smoothies, baked goods or on top of your morning yogurt or oatmeal.

Right now we only have one variety available for pick-your-own apples, Zestars. This is an early variety, with Ginger Gold and Paula Red two others not quite ready for pick-your-own, but available in the farm market. Shortly after Labor Day, more varieties will come available, including McIntosh, Gala, Crimson Crisp and everyone’s favorite… Macouns!! Always check out our Bishop’s Cookbook, featuring recipes that highlight our in season crops. Here are a few favorites:

Peach Sorbet

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 pounds peaches
  • 1 ½ cups syrup
  • 1 lemon

DIRECTIONS:

Score bottom of peaches with an “X” and boil about 10 seconds in boiling water and peal off skin.  Remove peach pits and puree peaches in a food processor or blender. Pour puree into a bowl and stir in simple syrup and lemon juice.  Taste and adjust syrup or lemon juice to taste. Freeze in an ice cream maker using manufacturer’s instructions.

Raspberry Cobler

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 6 cups raspberries
  • cooking spray
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup buttermilk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl, and set mixture aside. Add raspberries, and toss gently to coat. Spoon raspberry mixture into a shallow 2 quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine 1 cup flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add low fat buttermilk, tossing with a fork just until mixture forms a soft dough. Spoon dough into 8 mounds on top of raspberry mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and filling is bubbly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Raspberry Apple Pie

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 package of 2 pie crusts
  • 2 cups raspberries
  • 2 cups Zestar apples
  • ⅔ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:

Peel and cut apples into thin slices. Layer apple slices on bottom crust, then raspberries.  Mix sugar and flour or cornstarch and sprinkle over fruit. Cover with top crust. Seal edges by fluting, then brush the top of crust with milk or water.  Bake for 10 minutes at 425º then reduce to 350º for approximately 40 minutes. Cool on rack-serve cool.

 

High Quality Produce

Posted on August 24, 2018 by

What conditions constitute “high quality” produce? Let’s start with observing the perception of perfection and if perfection really matters when it comes to produce… or anything at all. Does high quality produce mean fruits and vegetables with no scratches or flaws? Does a high quality apple have a shiny skin? Or fancy packaging? No. It’s been suggested that perfection means high quality but perfection does not always apply to high quality produce. Simple, fresh and as nature intended is the best way to get the highest quality produce regardless of any imperfections. We have to remember that fruits and vegetables are meant to grow outside where they’re exposed to the elements of wind, sun, rain, variable temperatures and humidity. Here at Bishop’s Orchards we have our own locally grown produce. If you want the highest quality, pick Bishops because it will always be crisp, fresh, hydrated, juicy… and local of course! If it’s not home grown here on the orchard we choose as many products as possible from local sources, like spinach, corn and microgreens, just to name a few.

Let’s examine what makes an apple a “high quality” apple. When you go to your local chain supermarket, pick up an apple and give it a gentle squeeze (by the way, don’t ever do this with a peach). Does the skin on the apple wrinkle slightly? If so, that’s because it’s an older apple that’s becoming dehydrated most likely from being in too cool temperatures for too long. Our cooler at Bishop’s Orchards runs cool enough that it keeps the produce fresh but not so cold that the foods start to dehydrate. Another misconception about apples is that shiny skin means high quality and perfect. The shiny coating on an apple in a conventional supermarket is a wax layer that is added to make the apple shiny the way we want our cars to shine… but who wants to eat an apple that tastes like wax?  Our apples are not shiny but that’s what actually makes them perfect and high quality, just as nature intended.

Remember to be mindful about how to store your produce to keep them “perfect” and extend the quality for as long as possible. On your next visit to the Farm Market take a look at the “Garden to Table” fresh storage guidelines posted in the produce section. It will give you the best instructions on which items are best kept at room temperature or in the fridge in addition to washing instructions.

Shoreline Wine Festival Coming Soon!!

Posted on July 25, 2018 by

It’s that time of year again when the wine is pouring, music is playing, and the food trucks are lined up!!! Bishop’s Orchards is less than a month away from hosting their 12th Annual 2018 Shoreline Wine Festival! August 11th and 12th  is your chance to celebrate fine wines from Connecticut Wineries and Vineyards from all over the state. The festival is hosted & sponsored by Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market and Winery in Guilford, CT, bringing close to 3,000 attendees over the weekend. Other wineries participating in this year’s festival include Hopkins Vineyard, Jonathan Edwards Winery, Jones Family Farm Winery, Paradise Hills Vineyard, Sunset Meadow Vineyards, and Taylor Brooke Winery.  Enjoy our featured wineries from around the state, all offering their fine wines that range from grape wines to fruit wines.

This festival has grown triple the size from its first year, now hosting around forty vendors and seven to eight food trucks. One of the many benefits for attendees at the Shoreline Wine Festival is that all wine that is sampled by the vineyards at the Festival are available for sale that weekend to take home with you. This is something that many festivals do not and cannot offer. This two day festival is a ticketed event that affords you the opportunity to taste the wines from all of the wineries, enjoy a tour of the Bishop’s Orchards Winery, live music and entertainment, and a chance to visit with local vendors and artisans.  Food offered at the event is from our eclectic food truck line, at an additional charge. Food trucks will include tacos, steamed burgers, lobster rolls, BBQ, grilled cheese, mac n cheese, fresh squeezed lemonade, Italian cuisine and pizza.

Vendors attending the event range from home remodeling and renovation companies, to olive oil, hand painted wine glasses, clothes and accessories and more!! Pair this with fine food, the backdrop setting of a beautiful farm orchard and background sounds of tasteful music to put you in a relaxing mood. Entertainment is provided by Music in Motion DJ/MC services and renowned local band, “The Ticket.” This year’s festival could not happen if not for the support of our sponsors. Our sponsors brought in over $30K to help fund the event. Sponsorships include Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets, Foxon Soda, Mosaic, Proforma, Miranda Creative, WFSB/CBS, Shore Publishing, Old Amsterdam, Outfront Media, and Becker’s Jewelers.

Tickets for the event may be purchased ahead of time online and at Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market at a discounted rate. Prices for tickets are $30 for Adults, $60 for VIP, and $10 for Designated Driver Tickets. Starting August 4th and at the festival gates, ticket prices will go up for Adult and VIP tickets. Entrance into the festival, as well as a tasting ticket, wine glass and attendee gift bag are all included in an Adult Ticket. In addition to the previously mentioned, the VIP tickets also include two “wine by the glasses” tickets, access into the VIP tent (refreshments and lounge), Clinton Crossing Premium Outlet Gift Bags and a free bottle of wine, pre-determined by the hosting winery. Foxon Soda is our Designated Driver Sponsor, giving soda and water free of charge to all DD ticket holders. The hours of the event are Saturday, Aug. 11th, 12 pm – 7 pm and Sunday, Aug. 12th, 12 pm – 6 pm. For more information visit our website at www.shorelinewinefestival.com.

Featured Personality – Russ Geary

Posted on July 25, 2018 by

Who isn’t a sucker for love stories?!! At Bishop’s we don’t prohibit dating amongst co-workers because we are a family run business. You never know when cupid might strike you! Yes, it maybe just be a bee sting in the orchard, but sometimes employees find love in the simplest of environments! Let us tell you about a love story from back in the day at Bishop’s Orchards. It all started in 1984…

As a young college student, he was doing what most kids his age were doing that summer, looking for a summer job! Between his kind heart and charm, he managed to land a position as a stock clerk for that summer. At first, Russ didn’t think he would be here long, but low and behold a beautiful young lady came walking in! Lisa was her name and boy was Russ smitten! Employee relationships have never been prohibited at Bishop’s, being a family owned business and all. So after 4 years of being at Bishop’s Orchards, Russ began dating Lisa! Hands down this has been his proudest moment at Bishop’s, now having been married to Lisa for ## years!! It all started with two employees in love and now many many years later, they are both STILL valued employees. They have two beautiful children, Rusty a certified accountant and Linnea a college student studying Pathology at UCONN.

Falling for Lisa wasn’t the only love Russ found. He fell in love with our family company, and seeing its growth throughout the years. Since then, Russ has been the Produce Team Manager here at Bishop’s, now going on 30 years! Russ enjoys engaging with the customers when he is on the floor. “One of the best parts of my job is interacting with the customers on the floor,” says Russ. “I sometimes see familiar faces that have been shopping at Bishop’s since I first started in 1984! Engaging with them makes me feel like our department is holding up to our company’s mission statement and making the customer’s happiness our number one priority.”

Russ’ day to day responsibilities are divided up into two sections; purchased produce and Bishop’s own produce. January through May is mainly focused on outsourced purchased produce. Then, once June hits, Bishop’s own produce, as well as other local farms’ produce, starts coming in. “This starts to be a very exciting time on the farm,” says Russ. “Some things you will see are berries and squash from our own farm field, as well as tomatoes, lettuce, corn and more from local farms like Anderson Farm, March Farms, and Cecarelli Farms.”

Multiple times a week, Russ is responsible for researching prices, placing all orders and checking inventory upon arrival in the Produce Department (bulk items included). “To help ensure our customers are getting the best and most fresh produce, we do an extensive quality control check. We have exceptional staff who goes through every pea pod, green bean, brussels sprouts… you name it! There is no “bad egg” to be found when you have this hands-on technique.” Russ expresses the importance of this process so the customers are getting the most for their money, with the quality they deserve.

As the business continues to grow, Russ hopes to see the Produce Department expand in many different ways. He sees the potential for our farm to increase available land made for produce that we currently grow. “At times some of our produce, such as our strawberries and blueberries, is limited during the early parts of their season. We then have to resort to purchasing from other farms to keep up with demand. It would be great to find more space for growing more, therefore increasing our on-hand supply for customers.”

Raspberries & Peaches Coming Soon

Posted on July 25, 2018 by

The Pick-Your-Own season is going off without a hitch! We have FINALLY wrapped up Pick-Your-Own strawberries, which surprisingly lasted into the second week of July! A first here at Bishop’s, we were able to sustain such a long season due to a later variety of strawberries coming in, and coming in strong. They were delicious and such a sweet surprise! As soon as we wrapped up the season, Pick-Your-Own blueberries was ready to start the next day!!

Our blueberry season usually lasts through late August, with approximately a six to seven week harvest period. As with our strawberries, we grow several varieties of blueberries that continuously ripen throughout the season. Blueberries have always been a small, mighty treat!! They are very versatile and great for cooking, freezing, or simply snacking on them at the beach or at summer camp. We are currently right at the peak season where the flavor is unreal! When picking make sure the berry has a full blue color. This will guarantee a sweet flavor, instead of a sour taste.

Blueberries are one of the easier fruits to store. Keeping them fresh is easy, simply arrange the berries (without washing) on a paper towel-lined tray and cover with plastic wrap. Make sure to not rinse or remove the stems until you are ready to serve. Blueberries should be kept in the refrigerator and can store well up to one week! If you are looking to freeze your berries, wash them gently and drain on a paper towel. Once dried, sort them over and remove any small stems. Place all your berries on a cookie sheet in a single layer and place in the freezer to quick freeze. Once they are frozen, place them into a plastic bags. Leave ½” to ¾” head room in the bags. When you are ready to use, remove them from the freezer and defrost ONLY long enough to thaw. Frozen blueberries can store well up to 3 months.

As we head into August, you will see our own peaches available for Pick-Your-Own sometime in the middle of August, and raspberries towards the very end. So much flavor is still yet to be seen, and we are excited for you to get a taste! Remember, if you don’t have time to make it out to our Pick-Your-Own fields, you can always head to our Farm Market where plenty of our own Bishop’s produce is available. So much is in season right now and we have the PERFECT recipes to pair with our produce. You can find recipes online at our Bishop’s Cookbook, but in the meantime, here are a few to highlight with the upcoming crop!

Blueberry Dessert Smoothie

With extra fruit on hand, make this tasty fruit smoothie with a base of blueberries.

Makes 2 Servings

  • 1 cup ice cream
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • ½ cup peaches
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup yogurt

Place all ingredients in a blender. Cover and mix until smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. Yields 2 servings (about 1 ¼ cup per serving).

Peach and Blueberry Cobbler

This simple cobbler uses fresh peaches and frozen blueberries covered by the easiest crumble topping, so you can have a taste of summer all year.

Makes 6 Servings

  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 5 cups peaches
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons orange liqueur
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup light cream
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • whipped cream

For filling, mix sugar with cornstarch and toss with peaches and blueberries.  Transfer to the bottom of a lightly buttered shallow baking dish (9” or 10” pie plate or 8” square). Preheat oven to 425°.  For dough, in food processor, combine flour, baking powder and salt; cut in chilled butter and process with cream to make a dough.  Roll out to about ½-in thick into a shape to fit your baking pan. Or, cut into biscuits touching each other over fruit. Drizzle with melted butter and sugar and bake for 40 min. or until biscuits are golden and fruit is bubbling. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature, with or without ice cream

Grilled Peach and Bell Pepper Salsa

A colorful topping that will add sweet peaches and crisp peppers to your flaky fish or moist chicken entree.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon basil
  • 2 teaspoons mint
  • 1 garlic
  • 1 ¼ peaches
  • ⅓ cup bell peppers
  • 2 teaspoon cider vinegar

Prepare grill or turn on broiler. Combine first four ingredients and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Lightly brush cut side of peaches with half of oil mixture. Grill or broil peaches about two minutes on the cut side only until golden. Do not allow to burn. Transfer to a rack to cool. Chop peaches and combine with remaining ingredients and oil mixture in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss.

Product Care

Posted on July 25, 2018 by

Product care is very important to retain our valued customers and deliver the high quality products they expect. We do not participate in many of the commonly practiced methods of most conventional grocery stores. We do not have any products on an automatic delivery and we hand check each item that comes in the store before it hits the shelf. Doing this allows us to keep a watchful eye on proper packaging and ensures food safety! Every item is ordered by hand on a daily basis which allows us to manage inventory and always have fresh products available.

One fun fact that you may not know is that we have a very extensive Olive Oil selection. We currently have over 25 different types of Extra Virgin Olive Oil from regions all over the world. We have an extensive variety of Greek, Italian, Spanish, American and Turkish olive oils ranging in flavor from light and fruity to robust and peppery! When choosing your olive oil it’s helpful to know about the different grades so you choose the best product for your meal preparation. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is cold pressed mechanically versus chemically and is also less than 0.08% acidity for maximum flavor and aroma. U.S Virgin Olive Oil has a pretty good flavor and odor with a low level of defects. Rated below U.S Virgin Olive Oil is what’s called: “U.S Lampante Virgin Olive Oil” is virgin olive oil which is lacking in flavor and odor and is usually not fit for human consumption and is usually used for refining and non food uses only.

Product Care is not limited to shelf stable products within our store, in fact the most attention to detail is allocated to our produce items. Starting in May with every spear of asparagus through the Fall with our apples, every item is inspected one by one before it goes to our shelves to ensure maximum color and overall quality. Brad Isnard is our CSA Director and has over 40 years experience with growing and handling all kinds of produce. In the most recent CSA newsletter Brad writes in detail how peaches should be handled and how we structure the timing into picking our peaches to ensure they get to your kitchen when they taste best.

“We pick peaches every two days (the same tree will be picked up to five time), so we try to pick them at the cusp of ripeness when you’ll still be able to handle (not squeeze) them. Peaches go from darker green to lighter green to yellow on the tops. We try for that just-yellowing spot for the proper timing of picking,” says Brad. Even if the picking season is only a couple weeks, growing our produce is a 365 day/year engagement that requires diligence and patience with product care in order to bring you the best quality you will find. Beyond our local Guilford Farm, our careful inspection process doesn’t stop with our own. All produce items here at Bishop’s Orchards are also inspected carefully when they are delivered before they get to your basket. We keep a close and consistent eye on what we receive which helps us to notice any changes that may have occurred in the picking and handling process.

FEATURED PERSONALITY: ERICA DENUZZO

Posted on June 27, 2018 by

Erica DeNuzzo has been a fundamental addition to the team and marketing department here at Bishop’s Orchards. Coming from a Graphic Design company 5 years ago, Erica has taken on a role as the Marketing Coordinator. She assists in handling aspects of marketing and public relations including the development and implementation of  marketing campaigns, tracking analytics, planning meetings and media purchases, budgeting, preparing reports, knowledge of social media platforms, creating visual & verbal content, and organizing the company’s promotional outreach efforts. Her creative background has also made her the in-house graphic designer and event coordinator.

“I know my strong suites are my organization, communication and ability to multitask. Being a Type A personality has definitely been helpful in my professional life with pushing deadlines and strategically planning,” says Erica. “There is however a huge creative side to me. I try to create a healthy balance of building structure while also being able to step outside the lines and push the boundaries. The best part of my job is visualizing an idea and seeing it run through to execution.”

Since joining the business, Erica has become more aware of the constant changes within the food industry. Bishop’s Orchards and the food industry is constantly keeping the marketing team on their toes. “Demands, trends and demographics are constantly changing, keeping the marketing team on our toes. It is up to us to determine how to approach each segment effectively,” explains Erica. On top of market segmentation changes, the marketing department is also tasked with staying up-to-date with media outlets and new resources for advertising. In the past year, Erica has been a part of the incorporation of Digital Advertising. Digital is only one aspect of Bishop’s advertising, but handled so differently than other mediums. “It was an expensive addition, but one needed to keep our brand visible, in the eyes of those searching for us.”

This time of year for the Marketing Department is filled with preparation for the Pick-Your-Own season, booking small scale events, staying on top of changing content for advertisers, and planning for the 2018 Shoreline Wine Festival on August 11th & 12th. “The Shoreline Wine Festival is a great event! Attendees can enjoy CT Wines from all over the state as well as live music, wide stream food trucks, local artisans and so much more! A lot of time, planning and organization goes into this event and it shows in how well it runs and both customers and vendors enjoyment.”  

As for future growth for Bishop’s Orchards, Erica hopes to see the addition of more events, specifically becoming a venue in the wedding industry. “Bishop’s would be a beautiful and unique location to add to wedding venues on the shoreline. People are always getting married so jumping into this industry would definitely be a smart investment on our part, as well as an enjoyable avenue to explore.”

#PickBishops Campaign

Posted on June 27, 2018 by

As if spending an hour or two with family and friends at Pick-Your-Own isn’t appealing enough, we at Bishop’s Orchards run a contest to go along with the season. Our “#PickBishops” campaign was created as a way to share our customer’s experience, while also rewarding them for their continued patronage. What is the importance of a hashtag you might ask? Hashtags are used to categorize online content, making the detection of new or related content easy to do! At Bishop’s we enjoy using our customer’s materials as a way of promoting our family friendly experiences on the farm. Whether that be an image off Facebook, or a blog written about a CSA Share! If you see something you posted, reused by us, it was most likely found because of your hashtag!

The #PickBishops contest is simple and easy, only extending your social media posts by one word! While you are out at one of our Pick-Your-Own locations, simply snap a picture of your experience and upload it to either Facebook or Instagram, using the hashtag, “#PickBishops!” You can also “tag” us in the photo by using the following usernames, Instagram- @BishopsOrchards and Facebook- @Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market. A random winner is chosen every week and notified to stop into the Farm Market to pick up their prize! At the end of the Pick-Your-Own season (approx. October 31st), all the winners from each week are pooled together and out of those, the winner of the Grand Prize is chosen!!

So this summer when you are out at Pick-Your-Own, snap a picture, and share your experience with us on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag, #PickBishops. Every week there is a new winner chosen, so why not you? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this “trending” campaign. For further details on the #PickBishops contest click here.