EARNINGS OVER THE SAME PERIOD
LAST YEAR.
>>> AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH
THE FIRST WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER,
APPLE ORCHARDS ARE GETTING READY
FOR WHAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR
THEM, A BUSY TIME OF YEAR.
>> Kim: SOME CHANGES HAVE TO BE
PUT IN PLACE.
KIM DeGIULIO LOOKS AT WHAT THE
NEW NORMAL WILL LOOK LIKE AND
WHY IT SHOULDN’T KEEP YOU FROM
MAKING A TRIP.
>> Kim: ALL BUSINESSES HAVE HAD
TO ADAPT AND CHANGE THE WAY THEY
DO THINGS TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS
FROM COVID-19.
NOW THAT APPLE-PICKING SEASON IS
HERE, BLAKES CIDER MILL IS READY
FOR CUSTOMERS TO COME AND
UTILIZE THE OUTDOOR SPACE.
THEY’VE BEEN UPDATING THE
GROUNDS TO MAKE IT COVID-19
FRIENDLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT.
>> 2020 HAS BEEN ROUGH FOR
PEOPLE.
SO OUR MANTRA IS MAKING
MEMORIES, IT’S ALWAYS IN SEASON.
2020 IS NO DIFFERENT, WE’LL BE
DOING IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
>> Kim: IF YOU’RE NOT
COMFORTABLE STEPPING ON THE
GROUNDS, YOU CAN GET THEIR
PRODUCT.
>> WE HAVE PIVOTED VERY QUICKLY
TO ONLINE ORDER SYSTEM, SO IF
YOU WANT TO GET YOUR CIDER AND
DOUGHNUTS BROUGHT TO YOUR CAR,
ORDER THEM ONLINE AND WE’LL
BRING IT TO YOU.
>> Kim: FOR THE FULL BLAKE’S
EXPERIENCE, THEY HAVE THE
OUTDOOR SPACE MORE ACCESSIBLE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BEING
A FARM, IS WE HAVE LOTS OF LAND.
WE HAVE OVER 1,000 ACRES ACROSS
THE THREE PROPERTIES.
THE THREE PROPERTIES.
>> Kim: MORE OUTDOOR DINING AND
CIDER AND DOUGHNUT STATIONS AND
TAP ROOM WITH VENTILATION.
>> IT’S SAFE, COME AND HANG OUT.
>> WE’RE ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING
AND SPREAD OUT.
THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME HERE.
>> Kim: IN THE PAST, IT WOULD
CLOSE AT 6:00 P.M. ON WEEK
NIGHTS.
NOW IT’S OPEN UNTIL 8:00 AND THE
TAP ROOM OPEN UNTIL 11:00 IN
HOPES OF CUTTING DOWN ON THE
WEEK CROWDS.
THEY REALIZE THE WEEKENDS CAN
GET CROWDED, SO THEY’LL JUDGE IT
GET CROWDED, SO THEY’LL JUDGE IT
BY THIS PARKING LOT.
IF IT FILLS UP, THEY’LL SEND
THEM TO BLAKE’S BIG APPLE OR
BLAKE’S BACKYARD.
