Littletree Orchards, a family farm for everyone

Littletree Orchards, owned and run by the Steinkraus/Hartley family in Newfield, is a grower of apples, first and foremost — but the orchard has a broader purpose of seeking to connect the community with good local food in a restorative farm setting. A longtime GreenStar vendor (the orchard’s relationship with the Co-op predates the current West End store!), Littletree supplies the Co-op with fresh cider year-round, as well as applesauce, apple butter, and apple cider vinegar.

Boasting nearly 10,000 trees, some of them planted in 1974 during the farm’s first spring, the orchard grows about 50 apple varieties for U-pick, retail sale, and pressing into fresh cider. Anna Steinkraus, Dennis Hartley, and their daughters Amara and Athena Steinkraus work together to run the orchard.

Littletree is also familiar to many as a longtime Ithaca Farmers Market vendor. Members since 1976, Anna served as president of the board for many years and Dennis currently serves on the board. Dennis can be found at the weekend markets selling apples, cider, and other products — including their famous donuts — and in winter, you can find him at the indoor market in The Space.

GreenStar shoppers can find fresh Littletree cider, in gallons and half-gallons, in the Produce Department year-round. The farm presses weekly throughout the year from cold-stored apples, supplying thirsty Ithacans with the flavorful juice, and plenty of it — Amara estimates that Littletree delivers 40-50 gallons a week to the Co-op during “cider season” (fall, naturally).

As a low-spray orchard, Littletree can suffer the vagaries of pests and weather. This year’s very wet spring led to lower pollination rates, and the ongoing rain created scab problems, leading to a much smaller crop than in better years. Part of the orchard’s mission is consumer education — teaching customers about growing methods, and that a fruit needn’t be picture-perfect in order to be good food.

“Our primary focus is to produce healthy, good, local food,” says Anna. “We consider our relationship to the community as very mutually supportive. We greatly appreciate the loyalty of our customers, and relationships with local businesses like GreenStar, with missions that really align.” Amara adds: “We’re lucky that we live in a community supportive of producing food this way.”