Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Fresh Cider in Stock!!

 

Fresh Cider Has Landed!

I thought I didn't like 'apple juice' basically my whole life - til we pressed our own cider!

There is nothing like fresh cider, so preservatives, no pasteurization. Just delicious! Just pure apple goodness.

Just a reminder how "cider season" rolls here at the farm --> We press 4-5 times, depending on stock, etc. and that's it! It's available when it's on the shelf, in season, then it's gone. Grab it while it is here, freeze extras for later -- they freeze beautifully (maybe just take a little off the top for expansion. I usually put 3-5 in the freezer for recipes and popsicles.

Try the recipe below with our cider as well!

Organic Apples

Zestar! remains the star apple at this time and is fresh picked in the farm store and at market. Kindercrisp is coming in, but limited (Honeycrisp loves like these.) This week is a little lull before September apple bounty begins!

Farm Store Hours

Grab cider and apples at the farm Tuesday - Friday 9-7 and Saturday 9-2.


Make this!!!

Apples Baked in Cider

“If possible, use cider from a farm stand or farmer’s market—it has a deeper, more concentrated flavor than the grocery store brands, which wash out.” 

Serves 4

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 4 firm cooking apples
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 pinch salt

Heat the oven to 375°F.

Pour the cider into a small skillet and bring it to a boil. Continue to boil over medium heat until the liquid reduces by slightly less than half. It should be vaguely syrupy, but it will not be too thick. It will take less time in a skillet than in a saucepan because there is more surface evaporation. Either way, don’t just walk off to another room and leave it—you might set off your smoke alarm if you forget it. I speak from experience.

While the cider is reducing, peel the skin from the top third of each apple. Use a melon baller to dig out the apple core, leaving about 1/3-inch of the apple intact at the bottom. Place the apples in a pie pan or baking dish.

Stir the cinnamon, butter and brown sugar into the cider syrup. Pour it into the apple cavities, allowing it to overflow into the baking dish. Bake the apples for 40 to 50 minutes, until they are pleasantly soft but not collapsing. Baste the apples occasionally in the cider syrup if you happen to think of it, and add more cider if the liquid starts to dry out completely. The exact cooking time depends on the variety and size of the apples—some take longer than others.

Serve the apples warm in dessert bowls with the extra syrup spooned over them. If you want to dress them up, drizzle them with some heavy cream, or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Custard sauce would be even better if you’re feeling ambitious. If any apples are leftover, warm them up for breakfast and eat with yogurt.    Source: Food52.com


“You can eat the sweet, mellowed apples bare -- a more virtuous cousin of the apple pie -- to restore you when you're feeling cold and low. Or you can dress them up with creme fraiche or ice cream, to celebrate the season.”


Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Now Picking :: Zestar!

 

Early season fav Zestar! starts us off!!

Late July apple Pristine, cropped little this year and had pest damage, so Leo has eaten what was harvested there! Paula Red is another early season fav often spotted at the Market, but it is not cropping this year. Coming soon - John is watching the Chestnut Crab.

Did you know Zestar! was the big apple before Honeycrisp?!

Zestar! has a pleasing crisp texture, juicy, sweet-tart flavor with a hint of brown sugar. Excellent for fresh eating, storage and great for cooking too. Excellent storage qualities. Keeps 1-2 months.

Parentage: State Fair x MN 1691.

Offspring: SweeTango.

History: This apple was developed by horticulturalists at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Horticultural Research Center and was introduced in 1998. It was bred to survive in cold climates. 

Apple Shares close August 20th!!

Update 8/17 - Apple Shares are now closed.

Sign up now open for everyone!! Closing Aug. 20.

2026 will be our 15th season on the farm and 13th year of Apple Shares CSA! Email us to join the wait list. :) Email Brooke and John at info@alternativerootsfarm.com



Fall Apple Share Offerings for 2026



Each week enjoy a 4 lb bag of fresh & local apples.
Each bag sports 1-2 varieties of our organic apples. A mix of standard, lesser known and old heritage types. We'll send out a short weekly newsletter, with apple facts, orchard notes and a recipe. Begins the first week of September.

Three weekly pick up locations:
A.R.F. farm store (Th., Fri., or Sat.) - 6 or 8 weeks
New Ulm Pick Up, Turner Halle Lot (Th. at 5:00pm) 6 or 8 weeks
Saturdays at the Mankato Farmers Market (8am-12pm) - 6 weeks

$60 :: 6 week Fall Apple Share
$78 :: 8 week Fall Apple Share *best price
*We are maintaining 2025 pricing for this season.

*4 lbs not enough? The option to sign up for 2 shares is available.

READ MORE & SIGN UP LINK   --> Fall Apple Shares

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Egg Sale + Closed Hours

 

Egg Sale!

Everything is so darn expensive right now. I feel it, and I know others do to, as it's crept into regular conversation.

SO let's have an egg sale! Cause it's fun to find a good deal. :)

Eggs are $5 a dozen (regularly $7)      Thru Friday ONLY! July 28-31   (Not Aug. 1)

This is also the last week for blackberries!!

Chickens are free-range, fed Organic feed.

You can see them when you pop out to the farm store, in their new run John built last year. We are currently renovating this area from old winter pig pasture and working on establishing new permanent pastures for the flock.


Closed Next Week!

Regular hours are Tuesday-Friday 9:00am to 7:00 pm and Saturday 9-2:00. 

CLOSED-----August 4-7 for a little pre-apple season reset!

Regular farm store hours resume Saturday, August 8th.




Blackberries last week!!

This is the last week for blackberries!!! 

We are past the 10ish day peak of harvest. Picking every other day.

Closed August 4-8

For BEST updates on peak seasons make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our e-newsletter (roughly 2 a month, maybe 3 if I'm on top of things. :P ).

Thank you for shopping local!!

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Raspberries are PEAKing! + Farm Store 7/7

 

July at Alternative Roots Farm

When I think of July on the farm I think raspberries. The beauty, flavor and abundance usually defines the month!! A solid 3-4 weeks of berries - shorter in drier years - with the middle portion of that time defining peak season. During peak it's the best time to buy more for freezing berries, or making jams (or freezing berries for making jams later). 

We freeze all the seconds for use all year. For us they mostly go into muffins, oatmeal and top bowls of yogurt. Then July raspberries move into blackberries! And apples!! The farm store cooler only begins to fill. Garden produce will begin to show up as well. 


What's in the Farm Store?

Let's take a peak at even more reasons to visit the farm! Aside from connecting with the land your food comes from... :)

Canned Goods:

-Applesauce
-Apple Butter
-Jam/Jelly - will return to stock soon!

Eggs - $7 per dozen - Organic fed free range hens.

Fresh Produce:
-Organic Raspberries $4/half pint
-Coming Soon: Organic Blackberries, Early Season Apples, Garden Produce
*All of our produce is Certified Organic!

Herbal Wellness & More:

Indispensable for summer adventuring --> Cottonwood Salve (all the cuts, scrapes, rashes & burns), Bug Bite Salve (soothe & heal), Herbal Bug Spray (kiddo safe, vanilla & citronella round out a spray for mosquitos & gnats), Calendula Lotion Bars (rehydrate skin parched or after pool skin).

-Tick Away Spray - A blend of essential oils that help to repel and deter ticks; spray on pant legs, shoes, on your dog between the shoulder blades.
-Herbal Bug Spray - catnip and yarrow tinctures, blended with vanilla and citronella EO
-Elderberry Syrup Kits - DIY kits with ginger and cinnamon
-Digestive Bitters NEW - herbal tincture blend that stimulates digestion, helps sluggish digestion, balance blood sugar and so much more.
-Herbal Sore Throat Spray - use for sore and dry throats, as well as when you get that little tickle in the back of your throat
-Herbal Tinctures - Willow Bark, Stinging Nettles, Holy Basil, Astragalus, Ashwaganda, Elderberry
-Calendula Lotion Bar - solid lotion bar, lightly scented with lavender EO
-Knitbone Salve - sprains, strains, broken bones, pain and soreness, tendonitis/artritis, external use only
-Bruise Salve - prevent or treat bruises, good for small wounds also
-Cottonwood Wound Relief Salve - all your cuts, burns, hangnails, general wounds, big and small, a natural neosporin + pain relief
-Bug Bite Salve - rub as needed on bug bites for relief and healing; plantain is a drawing herb that helps pull out what shouldn't be there - also great for splinters.

Farm Store Open Tuesday - Friday 9-7 & Saturday 9-2


I basically bring this with me everywhere. :D

Monday, July 6, 2026

Apple Shares Sign Up is OPEN!

Sign up now open for everyone!!

2026 will be our 15th season on the farm and 13th year of Apple Shares CSA! Email us to join the wait list. :) Email Brooke and John at info@alternativerootsfarm.com





Fall Apple Share Offerings for 2026



Each week enjoy a 4 lb bag of fresh & local apples.
Each bag sports 1-2 varieties of our organic apples. A mix of standard, lesser known and old heritage types. We'll send out a short weekly newsletter, with apple facts, orchard notes and a recipe. Begins the first week of September.

Three weekly pick up locations:
A.R.F. farm store (Th., Fri., or Sat.) - 6 or 8 weeks
New Ulm Pick Up, Turner Halle Lot (Th. at 5:00pm) 6 or 8 weeks
Saturdays at the Mankato Farmers Market (8am-12pm) - 6 weeks

$60 :: 6 week Fall Apple Share
$78 :: 8 week Fall Apple Share *best price
*We are maintaining 2025 pricing for this season.

*4 lbs not enough? The option to sign up for 2 shares is available.

READ MORE --> Fall Apple Shares