What does Farm to Table really mean and why is it so important? Farm-to-table sprouted back in the 1970s after the processed food trends of the 60s left Americans seeking more taste and flavor from food.  The Farm to Table movement’s principles are rooted in how food is grown with importance on food security, self-sufficiency,… Read More »

We are sustainable growers of over 250 varieties of fruits and vegetables and believe that qualifies us as experts in “our field”, chuckle. We all know the benefits of adding more fruits and vegetables into our daily diet and now we are giving you even more reasons to make this happen! In honor of our… Read More »

Rising food prices have everyone thinking of creative ways to stretch their meal budget. One of the easiest ways to start saving on your grocery bill is by purchasing locally and in-season. Foods that are grown locally are fresher and retain more nutrients, they also taste better, as they are picked and consumed nearby the… Read More »

John-Paul Andronici brings his love of culinary creations to Alstede Farms, setting the table for the first Food & Beverage Manager position. Alstede Farms transcends the farm-to-table experience with this new position planting the seed for a sprouting hospitality department. John-Paul brings his corporate chef experience, fine dining acumen, and his hospitality background to elevate… Read More »

Colin Manning, the newest member of our farm production team, is really born and bred for farming.  Having grown up locally in the Ironia section of the neighboring town of Randolph, he was influenced by family members who farmed and the local community’s farming roots.  Ironia is one of four sections of Randolph Township and… Read More »

Hard Cider is apple cider that has been naturally fermented into alcohol and goes long back to our pioneer roots. Apples and hard cider have a long history, eventually making their way to New Jersey with the early settlers. Apples were primarily used in our region for cider and hard cider, (aka Apple Jack), as… Read More »

All of a sudden we shifted from our summer harvest to fall harvest which includes root crops, such as beets & carrots, along with tuber crops, such as potatoes. We grow six different varieties of potatoes on approximately 6 acres of farmland, varieties include russet, red, white, Yukon gold, purple, and fingerling. It’s no mistake that… 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 began farming on a couple acres of land located in Chester Township, N.J. back in 1982, learn more about it here. In honor of our 40th anniversary our culinary specialist has… 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 »

Asparagus is a nutrient-dense perennial vegetable and a member of the lily family. It is only harvested during spring months in our area, so when it’s available be sure not miss the chance to savor some of these tender veggies. Remember that eating in season and eating local is more sustainable and tastes best! We… Read More »

Greens is a common term used to describe the leaves of green vegetables that are eaten as food. Greens comprise a wide list of vegetables that we grow on our farm, including; kale, arugula, spinach, lettuce, sorrel, mizuna, swiss or rainbow chard, mustard greens, Tatsoi to name a few. Greens are not only limited to… Read More »

Cabbage is from the genus of plants called Brassica also known as cruciferous vegetables and is a humble vegetable that oftentimes gets overlooked despite the fact that it is a main ingredient in staple foods such as sauerkraut, Cole slaw and kimchi . It’s a cold weather veggie with many varieties including; red & green,… Read More »