Meet Our Team

Our story begins in 1927, when Maurice and Else Grisamore, along with Else’s mother, Renata Koch, left the Chicago area and settled in Locke NY. There they raised three children—Jane, Paul, and Elsie. Maurice worked as a conductor on the New York Central Railroad, and after one of his co-workers purchased a nearby farm, Maurice decided to do the same. In those early years, the farm operated as a dairy farm, centered around the iconic three-story barn that now serves as our farm store.

The Beginning of Fruit Farming

The first fruits grown on the farm were strawberries, planted in 1939. A family friend, Glen Rexwinkle from Michigan, arrived with 300 strawberry plants and helped spark what would become the defining part of the farm’s legacy. Glen operated a large strawberry farm that shipped berries by railroad across the United States. His visit inspiring Maurice to travel to Michigan to learn more and he returned home with additional plants.

As the strawberry fields began to flourish, word quickly spread about Grisamore’s delicious berries. Maurice began selling to Stevens and Hicks, the local grocery store in Locke and eventually to larger markets such as Atwater’s in Ithaca.

By 1941 residents were buying in bulk to preserve and keep that sweet flavor through the seasons. Local strawberries were considered a true delicacy, available only in spring, they were highly sough out. Since u-pick had not become a practice on the farm yet, local women began picking for income during the war efforts, often picking in the late afternoon to avoid the head. While many berries were sold to grocery stores, Maurice also set berries on the front porch for neighbors to purchase directly from the farm.

A New Generation and U-Pick Farming

In 1950, Maurice’s son, Paul, took over the farm and quickly expanded its offerings by adding raspberries. Recognizing the value of u-pick fruit production, Paul officially opened the strawberry fields for u-pick in 1952. This reduced labor costs and gave customers the opportunity to pick and preserve their own fruit.

Paul also introduced chicken farming, which remained an important part the farm until the 1980’s, when chick and egg production was phased out as priorities shifted.

In 1955 Paul married Christine Henjes. Though Christine was from Long Island, she and Paul grew up together in the Genoa community, where their families— both prominent farms in the area—were close. When they were young and in love, Paul and Christine would drive to nearby hilltops like Summerhill to catch country radio stations that didn’t normally reach Genoa. Together, they worked the farm for more than 50 years. During that time, Christine also completed her nursing education and worked at Auburn Hospital until her retirement. They raised four daughters on the farm—Susan, Betsy, Mary Ann, and Joanna — all of whom grew up working and playing on the land and carrying on the family legacy.

Growth, Diversification, and Resilience

The flood of 1972 was a turning point for the farm. Nearly the entire strawberry crop was washed away, prompting Paul and Christine to diversify quickly. They planted vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage to help carry them through the season. The success of these crops led to the continued production of brassicas and other vegetables—a practice that remains a part of the farm today.

New fruit crops soon followed. Twenty-five acres of blueberries were added, thriving in the farms natural sandy soil. Apples were introduced in 1975, followed by cherries in 1978, with pears and peaches not far behind.

The 1970’s marks a major shift in the farm’s identity. Changing its model from more conventional farming to trusting in the success of the u-pick strawberries. The barn was converted from an animal barn into a farm store for direct to customer sales. The livestock—pigs, cows, goats, sheep and chickens—were sold off to make space. With one exception, Alice, our beloved cow. Alice began a tradition of keeping friendly farm animals near the farm store for visitors to enjoy and she is now honored in the Grisamore Cider Works logo and signature hard cider variety.

These small or rather big changes truly began to change the nature of the farm, from a quiet operation into a vibrant destination welcoming daily visitors to the farm store and fields.

Greenhouse, Cider and Creativity

Around the same time, the first greenhouse was built to grow transplants for the fields— tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, pumpkins and more. It soon evolved into a retail space where customers could purchase vegetable plants and flowers. Demand grew rapidly and with the Grisamore girls’ passion for plants, the farm became known for producing high-quality, healthy plants. Additional greenhouses were added over the years, culminating in the construction of the current greenhouse in 2010—a five-bay, gutter connect structure spanning more than 18,000 square feet and bursting with life each spring!

Paul purchased a wooden apple press in 1982 that we still use today. Its age and craftsmanship contribute to the rich flavor of our sweet cider. As the apple and cider business grew, the back side of the barn was rebuilt in 2000 to include a larger industrial cooler for storing apples, a kitchen area and an expanded space for pressing, cider operations and storage.

Over the decades, the u-pick farm and store became a place for creativity and experimentation. The farm once had asparagus for u-pick, acres of potatoes for resale, trees tapped for maple syrup—they tried countless ventures as the farm evolved.

The Next Generation

Visiting Grisamore farms from the mid 1980’s - 2010’s was an iconic time here at the farm. Susan, Mary and Joanna began to take over the operations, bring new energy and vision. They sought to create a welcoming place for families to spend an afternoon. They expanded the greenhouse business into what it is today with their passion and care. Fall activities, u-pick pumpkins and farm grown mums are all thanks to their hard work and dedication. They were a power house of strong women that planted, picked and cared for the farm along side their parents.

Susan, the eldest, was involved in every aspect of the business and was especially passionate about the greenhouse. Whether climbing onto the greenhouse roofs to help install plastic, delivering produce or working a farmers market, Susan did it all. For over 60 years she showed up daily—sorting apples, working the register, or propagating succulents.

Mary, the third daughter, managed the farm’s finances from a young age. Learning to balance a checkbook by the age of fifteen. She was known for grabbing a money bag her father left sitting in the wrong place and for her sharp mind and remarkable math skills. She was often found behind the scenes, pressing apples, getting familiar with the plumbing and heating systems or transplanting seedlings.

Joanna, the youngest, loved working along side her father. She could be found operating tractors, spreading straw over berry fields or helping to plant our first fruit trees. She transformed the farm store into a welcoming space with thoughtful ordering, displays and care. Her passion for the farm runs deep, remembering its history and details others may have forgotten.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Photo taken in 2018 of three generations picking apples. From left to right: Kody Cornell (Joanna’s son), Simon Ingall (Betsy’s son), Betsy Leonard (Grisamore sister) Joanna Cornell (Grisamore sister), Everett Ingall (Simon’s son), Jesse Ingall (Betsy’s son) Grace Cornell (Joanna’s daughter)