Critz Farms

What Critz Farms does

Critz Farms is a family-owned agritourism and craft beverage operation established in 1985 on a 150-acre property in Cazenovia, New York, with land tenure traceable to a 1793 purchase by Solomon Bliss. The company operates as a four-season destination combining pick-your-own produce (apples, blueberries, pumpkins, Christmas trees), on-site farm attractions (corn maze, farm animals, playgrounds, nature trails, sugar house), and craft beverage production (handcrafted hard ciders and small-batch beers). Core production is anchored by a restored 1890s Boomer & Boschert four-screw cider press and a rack-and-cloth press, with farm-grown apples, hops, barley, and maple syrup serving as primary inputs for the beverage portfolio.

The business generates revenue across multiple streams: agritourism admissions ($6–$10/person), seasonal events (Blueberry Jam Festival, Fall Harvest Celebration, Maple Syrup Celebration, Holiday Traditions, Paint & Sip, Summer Music Series), private event hosting for groups up to 200, on-site food service through Critz Café, retail via the Balsam Barn Gift Shop, online direct-to-consumer cider/beer sales within New York State, and wholesale distribution to liquor stores, restaurants, bars, convenience stores, and markets throughout Central New York. The hard cider portfolio includes 12+ award-winning varieties, with bottles retailing between $10.95 and $24.95.

Critz Farms serves three primary segments: families seeking seasonal outdoor entertainment, craft beverage enthusiasts seeking locally produced ciders and beers, and event hosts booking private celebrations. Distribution is heavily regional, with online alcohol sales constrained to New York State lines. The company positions itself as one of the few Christmas tree farms in the U.S. with an on-site farm brewery, providing a differentiated niche within the broader agritourism market.

Name

Critz Farms

Legal name

Critz Farms

Website

https://critzfarms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Critz Farms is a family-owned, four-season agritourism destination and craft beverage producer in Cazenovia, New York, serving families and craft beverage enthusiasts with pick-your-own produce, on-site farm attractions, award-winning hard ciders and small-batch beers, seasonal events, and private event hosting on a 150-acre farm established in 1985.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agritourism & Craft Beverage

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Cider & Perry Production (AFAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE), Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), Farm-to-Table & Agritourism Dining Experiences (Farm Visits, Harvest Meals) (THAJAGAK), Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD)

Keywords

• Craft hard cider
• Agritourism farm
• Handcrafted beer
• Pick your own
• Farm brewery

Headquarters

HQ city

Cazenovia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hard Cider and Beer Sales: Small-batch handcrafted hard ciders and craft beers sold at the Tap Room, online store (shipped within New York State), and through local liquor stores, convenience stores, markets, and select grocery stores.
2. Agritourism and Admissions: Admission fees for Fall Harvest Celebration weekends ($10/person advance or at gate, children under 2 free, families of 4+ $40). Weekday corn maze/animal/playground admission $6/person.
3. Private Events and Venue Rental: Private event hosting including family reunions, graduation parties, corporate events, birthdays. Event spaces include Tap Room (up to 50 people) and South Lawns with tent rental (up to 200 people).
4. Pick-Your-Own Produce: Seasonal U-pick operations for apples, blueberries, pumpkins, and Christmas trees.
5. Gift Shop Sales: The Balsam Barn Gift Shop sells Christmas ornaments, apparel, jewelry, candy, fudge, cheese, honey, maple syrup, cider, jams, and souvenirs.
6. Critz Café Food Service: Seasonal food service during Fall Harvest Celebration (weekends, September-October), Holiday Traditions season, and Maple Syrup Celebration (spring). Serves breakfast buffet and lunch/dinner items.
7. Maple Syrup Products: Pure maple syrup produced from their sugarbush, sold in gift shop and online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Critz Farms is a family-owned agritourism farm and craft beverage producer that operates a brewery and cidery producing handcrafted small-batch beers and award-winning hard ciders made from on-farm grown apples, hops, and maple syrup. It supplements beverage production with pick-your-own produce (apples, blueberries, pumpkins, Christmas trees), seasonal farm attractions, an on-site Tap Room, Critz Café, gift shop, and signature annual events including the Fall Harvest Celebration and Blueberry Jam Festival.

Product overview

Critz Farms is a family-owned farm established in 1985 offering a diversified portfolio of products and experiences centered around agriculture, craft beverages, and agritourism. The core product offerings include Handcrafted Beers (small batch ales brewed with local ingredients, served at approximately eight varieties on tap) and Hard Ciders (award-winning ciders made from farm-grown apples, including flagship Four Screw and seasonal varieties like Maple Moon and Rippleton Original). Fresh produce includes Pick-Your-Own apples, blueberries, Christmas trees, and pumpkins. Supporting services include the Critz Café (seasonal food service), Balsam Barn Gift Shop, and Private Events/Tours (venue for groups up to 200). Seasonal events include The Blueberry Jam Festival, Fall Harvest Celebration, Maple Syrup Celebration, Holiday Traditions, and Summer Music Series. Farm attractions include Cider Mill, Corn Maze, Playgrounds, Nature Trails, Sugar House, and Wagon Rides. The farm notably operates one of the few farm breweries on-site at a Christmas tree farm in the U.S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Beers

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• SimpleTixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThird-party ticketing platform used for online event ticket sales for festivals and Fall Harvest Celebration admissions.
• Food Trucks and VendorsminorOthersVarious food trucks (Rosie's Place, Toss 'n Fire Pizza, Happy Eating Grounds, Salt City Smokehouse) and vendors appear at festivals and events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Slyboro Cider House: A New York farm cidery producing handcrafted hard ciders from estate-grown apples with a tasting room experience. Directly comparable to Critz Farms as a small farm-based craft cidery serving a regional market.
• Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards: A multi-generation New York apple orchard operating a cidery, tasting room, and agritourism destination. Highly comparable to Critz Farms in combining U-pick produce, hard cider production, and on-site hospitality experiences.
• 1911 Established Cider: A Wisconsin-based craft cidery producing handcrafted, award-winning hard ciders from locally sourced apples. Directly comparable in product category, award positioning, and small-batch premium craft cider focus.
• Two K Farms Cidery: A small family farm cidery operating a tasting room with on-farm beverage production. Closely comparable to Critz Farms' family-owned, farm-based craft cider model with diversified agritourism operations.

Broad incumbents

• Bell's Brewery: A large Midwest craft brewery with established brand and broad distribution. Comparable to Critz Farms' handcrafted beer production and tap room operations, though at significantly larger scale and with a much broader product portfolio.
• Woodchuck Hard Cider: One of the largest U.S. craft hard cider brands, distributed nationally. Comparable product category (premium craft cider) to Critz Farms, though at much larger scale and without the agritourism/destination model.
• Angry Orchard Hard Cider: A leading national craft hard cider brand owned by Boston Beer Company. Operates an innovation cidery in the Hudson Valley, NY, sharing Critz Farms' hard cider production focus but at dramatically larger scale and broader distribution.

Regional players

• Empire Brewing Company: A New York craft brewery with farm-to-table restaurant and event venue, similar to Critz Farms' integration of craft beverages with on-site food service and event hosting in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CritzFarms
• Instagraminstagram.com/critzfarms
• Xx.com/critzfarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/critz-farms-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Critz Farms