AboutSchoharieValleyFarms
OurHistory
Intheearly1700s,GermanandDutchimmigrantsarrivedintheValleytoworksomeoftherichest
soilsofAmerica.Theirfirstcropofwheatwassownandproducedasubstantialyield.Afew
decadeslater,theSchoharieValley’swheatfedGeorgeWashington’stroopsandearnedtheValley
thetitleof“BreadbasketoftheAmericanRevolution.”.
Throughtheyears,thiswarmanddurablelandwasadaptedtoflax,broomcornandother
importantcrops.Bythemid‐1800s,thecultivationofhopshadbecometheSchoharieValley’smost
famousagriculturalindustry.Today,wewholiveinthisspecialplaceproudlytillthesamesoiland
enjoyaqualityoflifebuiltonouragriculturalheritage.
We’rededicatedtogrowingonlytop‐qualityproduce,topreservingthishistoricresource,andto
continuingouragriculturalheritageforgenerationstocome.Ourfamilywelcomesyouandyour
familytotheSchoharieValley.Enjoyitsbroadfieldsandsoaringcliffs,takepartinitshistory,and
bringhomethebestofitsabundancefromtheCarrotBarnatSchoharieValleyFarms.
GrowingSeason
Ourproduceispickedfreshdailystartingwithspringspinachandasparagus.Celebrateyour
summerwithripetomatoes,tendersweetcorn,peppersandallthesummerfarmbounty.Savor
autumnanditscolorwiththeharvestofpumpkins,squash,carrots,potatoes,parsnipsandother
fallvegetables.Andthere’s
alwaysthebesthand‐chosen
non‐seasonalfruitsand
vegetablesavailable.
OurGreenhousesoverflow
withseasonalselectionsof
plants.Colorfulspringbulbs
welcomethenewseason.
Decorateyourhomewith
beautifulhangingbaskets.Fill
yourgardenwithflowering
annualsandperennials,herbs
andvegetables.Hardymums
heraldthecolorsofautumn.
Poinsettiasfillyourhomefor
theholidays,complementing
thebestinhand‐selectedtrees
andwreathsfortheholidays.
Thechartshowsthegrowingseasonandavailabilityofsomeofourmostpopularitems.We
continuallytrynewcropsandvarieties,sostopinoften.
Affiliations
 SunshineFoundation
 SchoharieValleyAssociation
 SchoharieCountyFarmBureau
 NYStateFarmBureau
 NYStateAgriculturalSociety
 NYStateVegetableGrowersAssociation
 SchoharieCountyChamberofCommerce
 NYSDepartmentofAgricultureandMarkets
 SchohariePromotionalAssociation
 SchoharieColonialHeritageAssociation
 andmore
AboutRichardBall
RichardhasbeentheownerandoperatorofSchoharie
ValleyFarmsinSchoharie,NYsince1993.Schoharie
ValleyFarmsconsistsof200acresandproducesawide
rangeofvegetablecrops,smallfruits,andgreenhouse
crops.Thefarmservesbothretailandwholesale
customersthroughanonsitefarmmarketknownas“The
CarrotBarn”aswellasshippingtobrokersand
restaurantsintheAlbanycapitaldistrictandNewYork
City.
Forthe20yearspriortoowningSchoharieValleyFarms,
Richardworkedonandthenmanagedavegetablefarmin
R.I.andhasmadehislivinginagriculturesincehewas18
yearsold.Hisinspirationtobecomeafarmercamefrom
hisgrandparentswhowerelifelongdairyfarmers.
Inthefallof2013RichardwasaskedifhewouldbeinterestedinbeingtheCommissionerof
AgricultureandMarketsforNYState.Aftermuchthoughtandconsideration,heacceptedthe
challengeandwasnominatedbyGovernorCuomoonJanuary9,2014.Priortothat,hehelda
numberofpositionswithinagricultureorganizationsandcommunityorganizationsatthelocal,
state,andnationallevelincluding:
- VicePresident,NewYorkStateVegetableGrowersAssociation
- BoardofDirectors,NewYorkFarmBureau
- MemberExecutiveCommittee,NewYorkFarmBureau
- MemberAuditCommittee,NewYorkFarmBureau
- ChairmanLaborCommittee,NewYorkFarmBureau
- MemberLaborCommittee,AmericanFarmBureau(pastChairman)
- RepresentativeforSchoharieCounty,MohawkValleyRegEconDevCouncil
- BoardofDirectors,SchoharieCountyFarmBureau(pastpresident)
- President,SchoharieValleyAssociation
-
Chairman,SchoharieRecoveryInc–anon‐profitformedtohelptherecoveryeffort
fromHurricaneIreneandTropicalStormLee.
PastPresident,SchoharieCountyChamberofCommerce
Richard,hiswifeShirley,andhisthreechildrenareallactivelyengagedinthefarmwithagrowing
numberoffuturefarmersamongthegrandchildren.