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 »

We love featuring the wonderful team working for us on our farm. This week’s highlight features Maria & Sindy, the dynamic duo in our food service division. Maria has worked all different facets of our farm learning all the way. She worked our tailgate markets where she helped guests shop for our delicious produce before… Read More »

Do you know? Is Corn a fruit or a vegetable?  Corn is technically a fruit as it derives from a seed of a flowering plant. There are generally two types of corn, sweet corn and field corn. The differences between sweet corn and field corn are that sweet corn is picked when immature and used… 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 »

You may have heard about garlic scapes and their alluring flavor and uncommonly unique taste. Garlic scapes are a vegetable, an aromatic, and also an herb all in one. They are the tender stem and flower buds of a garlic plant and grow straight up from a garlic bulb and then curl a bit by… Read More »

Rhubarb is a vegetable often put into the same culinary uses as fruits. Rhubarb consists of red stalks (similar in texture to celery) with long green leaves which are non-edible. Considered a powerhouse veggie rhubarb is rich in phytochemicals, phenols, as well as other vitamins, minerals and nutrients.  Rhubarb is in season April through June… Read More »

Leeks are in the allium family related to onions, garlic, chives, shallots, ramps and scallions. One taste and you will be able to tell that very easily. Leeks have a sweet, milder onion flavor that works so well as a base for soups, stews, pasta dishes. It’s a long bulbous vegetable with white flesh and… 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 »

Meet Trish Cirelli, our CSA administrator here at Alstede Farms. Trish adores being a part of our Community Supported Agriculture program as she just loves helping people enjoy all the benefits of eating farm fresh. Some of her best recipes she has learned from our culinary specialist or from CSA members themselves. It’s their interest… Read More »