At Surrey Lane Vineyard Orchard Farm in Southold, the motto is “if we show it, we grow it.”
The 44-acre farm, vineyard, and orchard specializes in fresh fruits, vegetables, as well as homemade jarred goods. Co-owners Liz and David Shanks are currently seeking a wine license to bottle their own brand. The couple currently sells the grapes from the 24-acre vineyard to Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack.
“We will eventually sell our own wine at the farm stand,” said Liz Shanks. “We were actually awarded a sustainable vineyard designation last year.”
Andrea Loper, who has worked at Surrey Lane for three years, said that the tight-knit team of the workers and the small level of production has helped to maintain the integrity of the Southold farm stand.
“Farming has changed a lot and people don’t care where their food comes from as much,” Loper said. “We’d never put anything on the shelves that we wouldn’t eat ourselves.”
While the orchard boasts 2,500 apple trees, Surrey Lane also grows blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.
And although Surrey Lane is not a certified organic farm, Loper said that the staff is invested in employing biodynamic agricultural techniques.
“We do everything we can to promote sustainability,” she said. “We take extra steps to avoid spraying crops, and our workers go out and physically hand pick insects off of plants. But it’s worth it.”
Surrey Lane also sells a variety of homemade products packaged through North Fork Specialty Kitchen including zucchini relish, tomato salsa, strawberry rhubarb jam, and applesauce.
“The quality of what we produce is because of the people that we have working with us,” said Liz Shanks. “Everybody is very invested in what we produce, and I think that shows.”
Find them at the Greenport Farmers Market, located at the parking lot at the intersection of Second Street and South Street and in Greenport Village on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Or visit the farm stand on Main Road in Southold.
