New to the Neighborhood

Saturday, October 27, 2007

I’ve lived in the Philadelphia area for just over a year.  Starting to write for Farm to Philly seemed like a good time to take an inventory of the local food discoveries I’ve made in the past year.  I live in the northwest suburbs and work in Center City, so I’m able to take advantage of the local food offerings in both places.  In other words, I really have no excuse not to make more local foods part of my regular diet…

My favorite local food finds of the past year:

Dairy:

Milk from Penn View Dairy (Perkasie) – Gotta love the reusable glass bottles.  There’s something so wholesome and charming about them!  I’m good about getting two bottles a week from The Old Dutch Cupboard on Rte. 113 in Harleysville.  With a milk-guzzling toddler, this is a reliable local foods purchase for our family.  If I don’t make it to Dutch Cupboard, I sometimes stop at two other local dairy farms on my way home from work:  Merrymead Farm (Lansdale) or Freddy Hill Farm (Lansdale).

Seven Stars Farm Yogurt (Phoenixville) – I usually buy the scrumptious maple yogurt at the Fair Food Farmstand in Reading Terminal to keep at work for snacking during the day.  I also buy the plain yogurt for my older daughter (the Bean), but I’ve also gotten it at Whole Foods and Willow Creek Orchards.  Steven Stars is a 350-acre bio-dynamic farm, and they also buy milk from a few other local dairy farms.

Eggs from Deep Springs Farm (Harleysville) – This farm is within walking distance from my house.  It’s even more convenient because the eggs are kept in a fridge outside so you can pull up (or, heaven forbid in the suburbs, walk up) anytime, grab a dozen eggs and stick your $2.50 in a box inside the refrigerator.

Meat:

I’m a vegetarian, but my husband and the Bean eat meat occasionally if it’s from a responsible source.  Our two favorite spots to get local meats:

Bolton’s Farm (Silverdale) – Fresh turkey (order now for Thanksgiving!) and frozen turkey burgers are favorites.  They also usually have chicken.

Blooming Glen Pork (Blooming Glen)– My husband is in love with all of the pork products at Blooming Glen, from the tenderloin to the sausage.

Produce:

We have a big garden, so we try to get as many fruits and veggies out of it as possible. (Our hope is to sell some of what we grow this year…we just need to figure out some logistics.) I also frequent The Fair Food Farmstand and Willow Creek Orchards. 

Now that I have some of the basic of local foods shopping in Philly down, it’s time for me to expand. I’ve been sampling some cheese, wine and branching out in search of other local foods and restaurants supporting small farms in the area.  I’m looking forward to sharing my journey with you.