By Peter Lyons Hall
Locust Grove Fruit Farm in Milton New York has been farming the fields for seven generations, and this past Saturday at Lakeside Farmers Market, representatives were featuring some of their latest fresh-picked fruits: apricots, plums, peaches, blackberries, and a few early ripening apples.
“I’ve got four different varieties of plums today; blackberries are in season now and are beautiful, donut peaches (which are super popular), and some ginger gold apples, too,” explained David Charnowsky, orchard manager. “Donut peaches, also known as flat peaches or Saturn peaches, originated in China,” said David. A naturally occurring mutation of the common peach, but not introduced into the US until the latter part of the 19th century, they seemed to languish for many years. They had kept a relatively low profile, but when Rutgers University developed the “Saturn” variety in the 1960s and 70s, however, their popularity began to soar and are now found in many farmers markets throughout the northeast.
Locust Grove has a long history as ship builders, but eventually the first Kent family members decided to trade in their tools to till the land of the family homestead. Locust Grove Fruit Farm began its life in 1820. Overlooking the Hudson River Valley, the Kent’s farm offers a perfect location for orchard fruit. Well drained soils and a temperate climate offer optimal conditions to produce a variety of fruits and vegetables. Today three generations of Kents work the farm–-James and Helen, with their sons Chip and Jim Jr., along with Chip’s family, carefully tend the fields and orchards of Locust Grove Fruit Farm to bring the freshest produce the Hudson Valley has to offer to the Greenwood Lake weekly farm market!
Also present at the market on Saturday were Chris from Peg’s Eggs Poultry Farm, purveyors of grass-fed beef, pastured pork, and lamb; and Alex Kesso, who prepares fresh homemade style Greek Yogurt products and other specialties. Customers can ask these representatives about the foods they provide, about the growing techniques they engage in, the use of fertilizers, the frequency of harvests, and any other questions that may arise. The value of being able to meet the producers and have a conversation with them about the foods they serve establishes trust in the authenticity and integrity of the produce, fruits, and prepared foods they offer.
Smaller, family-run farms minimize the incidence of food recalls that can affect larger factory farms, also known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). They are large-scale industrial facilities that raise animals in intensive confinement, often with little to no access to the outdoors. These farms represent a significant part of the traditional US food system, particularly for meat and poultry production. However, they raise serious concerns about animal welfare, environmental pollution, and the impact on rural communities. As a result, farm markets, like the Lakeside Farmers Markets, the Florida NY Farmers Markets, and the Warwick Valley Farm Market have all grown to become an important source of nutritious foods for families throughout the region. Their vendors are researched for the foods they present, how they are grown, and whether they are Certified Organic, Certified Naturally Grown, or offer other certifications.
Lakeside Farmers Market, which also accepts SNAP and offers its own Market Bucks program (that offset the cost of the foods and make better quality foods more available to the community), is open weekly on Saturdays, from 9AM-1PM (Winstanley Park) on Windermere Ave. through the end of October. To learn more about its vendors and community programs click on VillageofGreenwoodLake.org/lakeside-farmers-market.
Photo credits: Peter Lyons Hall
