PROWLING THE COUNTRYSIDE
Debbie Clayton tells me that one of the most frequently asked questions she gets from customers at her stand at Clayton Farm, Monmouth Road (Route 537) in Freehold Township, is something on the order of, “Where does your produce come from?”
Right here, the farmer says. To which I’ll be happy to add, On these acres right in front of you planted with rows and rows and more rows of extraordinary quality produce.
In fact, it’s simply not possible to miss Clayton Farm: The busy stand sits square in front of the farmhouse -- which sits squarely astride the Clayton’s fertile fields. What you’re buying is picked by Debbie and her husband Ross that day, save for the very few things the Claytons clearly mark as from another farm – say, peaches from friends down in South Jersey.
Thing is, people are just so used to their produce coming from points thousands of miles away that they assume all produce has seen air or boat or truck time. And that’s transit time, mind you, in which freshness, nutrients and overall quality is lost.
Today at Clayton Farm, I bought bursting-fresh heirloom tomatoes that I’ll use to make gazpacho and salad, cantaloupes I’ll puree to make a chilled melon soup scented with mint … and tomatillos, jalapenos and onions with their stems attached. Oh, yes, onions don’t fall from the sky in perfect circular balls; check out how onions really look seconds before harvest at Clayton Farm.
Now, I’m a confirmed farmstand junkie (if you know of a bumper sticker that says, I BRAKE FOR FARMSTANDS, please let me know so I can fair-warn everyone driving behind me) and there’s no Sunday drive I’d rather take than one tooling around our 500- and 600-series roads and checking out all the stands, little and big. Erma Bombeck once wrote that she never could resist a Girl Scout selling cookies, so she’d buy boxes and boxes from every girl who stopped at her house. I’m like that with produce and farmstands.
But please tell me all about your favorite farmstand. I really want to know. You see, if there’s one I’ve missed, I want to get there right away. At least before dinner tomorrow.
Cheers,
Andy
8.5.07
posted by Andrea Clurfeld at 5:34 PM
5 Comments:
The Farm is our new favorite. We went last week after your story and must thank you for leading us to it. Organic is important to us.
Hallock's is the one to go to for quantity, for canning, but it is not organic.
Ondrush, though it is small.
Silverton Farms for strawberries in the spring. Also organic, a must for strawberries.
Samaha's for super-sweet corn,
bought some awesome grapes there last week--love their zucchini blow-out's--fill a bag for $2--many different eggplants, great jersey blueberries--must I go on?
Go get your corn!!!!!
It's in the middle of the Pine Barrens, but Russo's Farm Market is wonderful! It's out in Tabernacle and most of their produce is grown right on their farm. You might spot owner Tony Russo running around in his cowboy hat - say hello! The 2nd best part of this place is the apple cider donuts and fresh pies (with local fruit) baked right on site!
Twin Pond Farms, but the one on 524, rather than the highway. You can see the farm beyond the stand on 524 and they can get you what you want from the fields.
The St. Petersburgh Farm Stand on Georgia Road is small, though the vegetables are excellent quality. They sell to many restaurants, we understand.
Also Clayton Farm, which you write about. That ones near the hospital in Freehold.
It is much cheaper to buy from farms directly. U-pick varies greatly, with some good bargains, some not.
Curious to hear where others find the best tomatoes since we have not been happy with the tomatoes for some time now.
In Howell, Kaufman's farm on 524 just before it curves to meet up with 195 off exit 31 - excellent sunflowers, plants, mums, produce, and their $1 baskets are always welcome as a budget shoppers dream
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