A Farm Store for All-Seasons
A Farm Store for All-Seasons
Have you visited our farm store lately? Most area farms close for the winter season, however, we stay open all year long to serve you. One of the main reasons our farm store is distinct and welcoming is due to the dedication of Stacy Wlodarick, Farm Market Manager, and Trish Cirelli, Assistant Retail Operations Manager.… Read More »
Have you visited our farm store lately? Most area farms close for the winter season, however, we stay open all year long to serve you. One of the main reasons our farm store is distinct and welcoming is due to the dedication of Stacy Wlodarick, Farm Market Manager, and Trish Cirelli, Assistant Retail Operations Manager. Stacy has worked for the farm in a variety of positions for nearly a decade and brings her Penn State undergraduate know-how to get the job done no matter what it takes. Trish, having worked in so many areas of the farm (including farm production) relies on her multitude of experiences in her career, including the classes she attended at Fairleigh Dickenson University for Elementary Education, to make everything just right for our guests. Trish is going on her fifteenth year on the farm and was recently promoted due to her commitment to excellence and dedication and loyalty.
Guests who visit us are always amazed at the diversity of offerings each time they visit and we have heard, on more than one occasion, that our farm store changes with the seasons. That very much is true as our farm store is an extension of our growing cycles where you will find the contents reflective of what’s being planted, cultivated, and harvested at that particular time of year.
In the spring the farm store is plentiful with leafy greens, asparagus spears, sprouts, honeycomb, and locally sourced mushrooms, along with freshly baked quiches, pies, and more. Spring also brings flower and herb transplants and fruit trees and brambles for those who eagerly await to plant their own gardens or beautify their yard.
Summer provides an abundance of farm fresh produce and flowers coming from the fields including tomatoes, zucchini, a variety of colorful peppers, and eggplant. Sweet corn is another long-awaited item that reveals itself in summer along with all things sweet corn, including sweet corn dip, corn salsas and so much more. We use this opportunity to make our homemade dips and salsas as well as fruit ice creams. We turn our tomatillos into salsa Verde, our tomatoes, peppers, and onions into a tasty Pico de Gallo, and many other homemade creations.
Fall welcomes the season the pumpkin spice and everything nice along with fall produce. Predominately this time of year you will see winter squash, pumpkins, decorative items, apple cider donuts, fresh pressed apple cider, apples, apple pies, and more. We typically are still harvesting late summer crops which include beans, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, sweet corn among others. Our outdoor pavilion is open during the fall and you can
choose from a wide variety of outdoor décors such as cornstalks, decorative pumpkins, mums, and other flowers. Don’t forget our infamous seasonal ice cream flavors (such as apple pie, and apple cider donut) and fall-inspired ice cream creations such as the donut sundae and the Vermont inspired maple cremee.
Winter welcomes in our fresh-cut trees, decorated wreaths, and seasonal décor along with a steady flow of late-season produce that gets harvested from our high tunnels this time of year and may include beets, carrots, parsnips, kale, popcorn, potatoes, and onions. You may also see homemade seasonal soups featuring our homegrown produce including beet & apple soup, roasted butternut squash, Moroccan eggplant, French onion soup, and others.
In addition to all mentioned above, you will also find an assortment of locally sourced products available year-round to help reduce your carbon footprint and live a more local lifestyle. We make it easy to do so with the wide array of products including teas from nearby Herb farmer, The Naked Botanical, Palotta Hot Sauce from Clifton NJ and Jersey Barnfire Hot Sauce from Freehold NJ, Pot Pies from Griggstown Farms, Tomato Sauce (or gravy!) by My Dad’s Sauce, Nicola’s Pasta ravioli and too many more to mention.
Besides these wide array of products, you will also find something new and ready to discover each and every time you visit! We call those Fresh Discoveries, and you can make a new one ultimately every day just by exploring. Did you know? Our farm store carries freshly baked pies, bread, dairy, meats, cheeses, and eggs. You will also find a wide selection of spices, sauces, and specialty condiments along with coffee & teas, our honey, and so much more. Our farm store features an outdoor shopping pavilion that is open three seasons (spring, summer & fall) and it’s a great place to shop while enjoying the farm view.
We hope we have piqued your interest to stop in and shop with us. Can’t make it to our farm store, shop conveniently online instead. www.alstedefarms.com
