Pumpkins are synonymous with autumn and they are more than just a feast for your eyes. Pumpkins are an extraordinary healthy food that is so versatile and nutritious. Central to fall celebrations, you can consume so much of the plant including the flowers, the flesh, the seeds, and the leaves. Commonly harvested around October, they… Read More »

Tomatoes are the fruit of the tomato plant. They are botanically classified as a fruit since they contain seeds and grow from a flowering plant, however, they are more commonly known as a vegetable to most people.  The first tomatoes that are said to come to Europe were yellow varieties, therefore, the Italian word “Pomodoro”… Read More »

Late summer and early fall brings one of the most iconic and beloved fruits of the season, apples! With over 50 different varieties, we have an apple flavor and profile to please everyone. Maybe you would prefer sweet mild Galas over a sharp tart Granny Smith, a zesty Winesap over a juicy McIntosh, now is… Read More »

Eggplant, also known as Aubergine, is technically a berry, as it contains small edible seeds, although it is regarded as a vegetable in cooking. Eggplants are a member of the nightshade family which also include; peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. Eggplants are in season on our farm in the summer months of late July through September,… Read More »

We’re celebrating our 40th year of farming in Chester, NJ and are excited to share our humble roots with you. Farmer Kurt W. Alstede started farming on a couple acres of farmland located in Chester Township, NJ back in 1982. The farmland was originally owned by the Mennen family purchasing the land in the late… Read More »

Garlic is one of those things that is so very loved by some and not so much by others, a true dichotomy if you start asking around. Here’s an example of that divide, even in our culinary specialist Miss Jenn’s’ own family, as her parents cooked with garlic daily while growing up.  Now she and… Read More »

Peach blossoms typically have five pink petals, but they are occasionally known to be white.  Peaches are either freestones or clingstones, the difference being the flesh separating easily from the pit or not. Freestone peaches flesh is easily separated from the pit, while the other is not.  Peaches have fuzzy skin. Peaches with smooth skin… Read More »

Bean thinking about healthy eating? Try adding green beans into your summer dishes to enjoy the health benefits of eating farm fresh and in season. The green bean is a herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family and has been around for a very long time. Some say that there are over 100 varieties of… Read More »

Blueberries certainly are berry good eats and they are in season now on our farm. There are generally two types of blueberry bushes: the first being wild (commercially known as lowbush) blueberries and cultivated (commercially known as highbush) blueberries. We have seven plus acres of the highbush blueberry variety on our farm.  Highbush blueberries have… Read More »

Peas may be thought of as a vegetable, however, are actually a legume belonging to the same family as beans, peanuts, chickpeas and lentils. Peas grow on a vine in pods and are easy to tell when ripe for picking as they become plump. They are in season in NJ mid June through July and… Read More »