About
About the blog
South Jersey Locavore is a round-up of sources for local foods and beverages, events that feature local foods, and restaurants that support local agriculture (plus other miscellaneous things that I think would interest my readers).
In March 2010, a little over a year after the site was launched, South Jersey Locavore was featured in The New York Times piece, A Vibrant Culture of Food Blogging. It’s not just the food blogging in our state that’s vibrant; it’s the food itself. New Jersey is The Garden State after all, and we have amazing food, wine and beer that comes from hard working, dedicated producers.
I’m a locavore wannabe. I understand that in the South Jersey region getting all of the food for my family from local sources year-round would be possible, but extremely difficult. I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll never be a 100% locavore, but I’d like to get as much as I can from local sources when things are in season.
I found that one of the problems I had in buying food from local sources is that I didn’t know what all the local sources were. So I set out to find them. And since I’m a writer and a blogger, it was only natural for me to want to start a blog to share what I’m finding.
You can contact me at robin at shreeves dot net if you have leads on sources for local foods that I haven’t covered. And since this blog is just in its infancy, there’s a lot I haven’t covered – yet.
About me
I’m Robin Shreeves, wife, mom to two fabulous boys, and a work at home freelance writer. I’d point you to my writer’s website but it’s painfully out of date. Instead, I’ll just point you to some of my online writing.
Mother Nature Network – I’m the eco-friendly food blogger for Mother Nature Network – an online news site that features all things environmental.
Green Options Network – Green Options is one of the most respected environmental blog networks online. I write occasionally for two of their blogs Sustainablog and Eat.Drink.Better. Here’s my author’s page.
A Little Greener Every Day – My personal blog of my family’s green journey where I write about the things I’ve learned.
Am loving the new look, feel and format. This central Jersey locavore will have to make a trip south to sample all the wonderful goodies you know about. Thanks for a great blog and congrats on your new Wordpress home:-)
Pink – let me know if you’re ever coming down this way to check things out! I know not everything on this list fits the locavore theme of the blog, but I love that there is a whole section devoted to our local produce and seafood. We certainly have a lot of good stuff around here.
Robin – I don’t see an email address for you, but I’d be interested in contributing to the blog. Email if you want to discuss.
And for a great local mom-and-pop kind of butcher shop, you can’t beat Ellis Meats in Mt. Laurel.
Mark,
e-mail me at robin at shreeves dot net with your ideas. Thanks
So pleased to see your site. One can’t grow coffee or tea in NJ, but there are pretty good local substitutes for nearly everything else. May be able to help you track some things down, since we have an organic farm in Salem county and know quite a few farmers in the area. Would love to be listed, if you’re open to that–we raise grassfed beef and lamb and a few other things.
All the best–
Torrey Reade
Hi Lisa,
Loving the blog! Great topics. Keeps busy people who want to support local economy and do good things for the environment and themselves informed, when they might otherwise not have time to do the research on their own.
I noticed you have posted a number topics about local wines. Have you thought about adding a LOCAL WINERIES category? N.J. wineries have a lot going on year round. Most wineries started out as farms, so many also offer local produce and home-made items.
November is New Jersey Wine month. To kick it off at Hawk Haven Vineyard in Cape May County, we’re hosting a new event in support of our EAT LOCAL, DRINK LOCAL campaign. Every Friday night starting November 6th, we will have a local restaurant present a three-course tapas style dinner paired with Hawk Haven wines and live local jazz music. A local trinity: food, wine and jazz! (You blogged about our event a few days ago, thanks!)
Most wineries throughout N.J. will be participating in The Holiday Wine Trail Weekend, November 27-29. A great weekend to introduce yourself to our state’s 30+ wine-makers! http://www.newjerseywines.com/news.html.
Hi,
I invite you to join our top with recipes, home cooking, chefs, restaurants, wines, drinks sites and more: http://www.allcookingsites.com
Our top has a friendly interface and it offers free web promotion for your site.
You can find:
-title and description;
- screenshot of your website
-statistics about the number of your visitors(unique/pageviews);
-comments about your site;
-the ranking is by sites unique visitors in a week;
-first 5 sites are scrolling in the right side of the site on all site pages;
-7 sites are selected random and showed on the header slideshow of the site;
-statistics with the visitors you got from our top;
After you join our top take the voting code and put in your site
to be accepted to our site.
We’ll be expecting you at http://www.allcookingsites.com to subscribe your
site. If you have any question don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your time.
NOT JUST ‘any peach’’…..A JERSEY FRESH PEACH!juicy…nutritious…delicious…the best!www.jerseypeaches.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Pegi Adam, 973-744-6090 pegi@mountsnow.org
Jerry Frecon, 856-307-6450 frecon@rcre.rutgers.edu
PARTYING FOR PEACHES…..
JERSEY-GROWN PEACHES CELEBRATED WITH ‘PEACH PARTIES’ ACROSS THE STATE
Clayton, NJ (July 15, 2010) — Since the 1600’s, when peaches were first grown in New Jersey, the ‘fairest fruit of summer’ has been gaining fans. Yellow, white, flat “donut” and nectarines have been eaten raw, grilled, baked in pies and cobblers and preserved for the seasons without them through canning, freezing and turning into jellies. With consumers increasingly nutrition-conscious, peaches are seen as not only juicy and delicious, but also nutritious. A medium-size peach has only 35 calories, with 2.6 grams of fiber, 333 mg of potassium, antioxidants Vitamins A & C and other important vitamins and minerals.
Now, Jersey-Fresh peaches are getting their just attention, celebrated with Peach Parties all over the state, at community farmers markets, on-farm markets, restaurants and supermarkets, starting in late July and running throughout August, officially proclaimed “Jersey Fresh Peach Month.”
Kicking off the Peach Party season, July 22-25, is the annual Peach Festival, held during the Gloucester County 4-H Fair. Following a 28-year tradition, last year’s lovely Peach Queen will crown a new one, selected from several contestants in different age groups. Winners from each age group make up the queen’s court, chosen on Friday evening July 23. Leading into the parade of lovely contestants, at 7 pm, will be the Secretary of Agriculture’s awarding of the Governor’s Cup for the best “box,” selected from among the state’s commercial peach growers and packers, judged by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Quality Grading Inspectors. Over the next two days will be the annual peach bake-off competition, Saturday, July 24th, and the Little Mister and Miss Peach Blossom Parade for kids, Sunday, July 25th.
Let the Peach Parties Begin–variations on the Theme
Each Peach Party will be slightly different at each community farmers market, styled by the creative efforts of the market managers. At every market will be Jersey Fresh Peach banners; peach recipe booklets, compiled from New Jersey’s finest restaurants; brochures on the care and handling of peaches and more.
Markets include Woodbury, Jamesburg, Hunterdon Land Trust, Flemington; Downtown Milburn, Salem
Collingswood, Ramsey , Nutley, Bernardsville, Highland Park, Chester Community Presbyterian Church, Chatham Borough, Long Branch, West End; Toms River, Burlington, Denville and Morristown.
Among the various special activities will be peach baking/cooking competitions with prizes, peach samplings, raffles for a basket of peaches, donated by attending growers. Participating restaurants will offer cooking demonstrations and tastings. For kids, there will be “Peach Quizzes,” with prizes and other kids’ activities, such as face painting, story telling (James and the Giant Peach is one story), coloring books and more.
Following is a listing of participating community farmers markets with their peach growers; supermarkets and restaurants, with a calendar of events. Check the market websites for details not listed below. All participating farmers markets and restaurants are posted on the website of the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council, with links to the participants. Go to http://www.jerseypeaches.com
Participating Markets
July 22 & August 5: Salem Farmers Market, 11am-2pm, 367-679-7589 http://www.salemcitynj.com/16001.html
July 22-25: Annual Jersey Peach Festival, Mullica Hill, 856-307-6450×1 http://gloucester.rce.rutgers.edu/fairfest.
July 24: Bernardsville Farmers Market, 9am-2pm, 908-766-5836
Activities: peach tastings, peach cake, peach ice cream, drawing for basket of peaches
Peach Growers: Silver Lake, Blairstown; Hensler’s, Belvidere
July 25: Peach Blueplate Restaurant & Holtzhauser Farms Dinner in the Orchard, Mullica Hill, 4pm,
856-478-2112 http://www.blueplatenj.com/special_events.htm (reservations recommended)
July 27: Downtown Milburn Farmers Market, 10am – 2pm, 973-379-2341 http://www.downtownmillburn.org
Activities: Peach samples by Alstede and Ort Farms, Peach Pie samples by Gina’s Bakery and Vacchiano Farm, Food demonstration by Osteria Mediterrania (10:00 – 12:00), Food tasting by Epicere Fine; Peach Gelato tasting by Café Luna, Peach pairing by Hoboken Farms. Peach recipes and a peach themed coloring book for children (including crayons donated by Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse). Entertainment provided by the Chatham Brass Quintet and a free drawing for a peach themed gift basket of peach jam, peach tea, peach and raspberry shea butter soap, peach and raspberry cocktail napkins and luncheon napkins and one-year subscription to Edible Jersey Magazine.
Peach Growers: Alstede Farm, Chester; Ort Farms, Long Valley; Vacchiano Farm,Washington
July 31: Jamesburg Farmers Market, 9am – 2pm, 732-723-1863 http://www.ilovejamesburg.com
Activities: peach samples from growers, raffle for basket of peaches, free recipes, kids peach quiz activity
Peach Growers: Farmer Al’s, Von Thuns Farm
August 1: Nutley Farmers Market, 8am – 2pm, 973-284-4978
August 4: Toms River Farmers Market, 11am – 5pm, 732-946-2711 http://www.downtowntomsriver.com
Peach Growers:
August 5: Salem Farmers Market, 11am-2pm, 367- 679-7589 http://www.salemcitynj.com/16001.html
Peach Growers:
August 6: Highland Park Farmers Market, 11am – 5:30pm, 732- 828-8444
Activities: peach tastings, recipes, raffle for basket of peaches, kids quiz & games stories at Nighthawk Books (next to the Market), specials at Peachepot Boutique and much more!
Peach Growers: Joseph Skeba Farms, Hightstown; Melick’s Town Farm, Oldwick; Donaldson Farms, Hackettstown; R&K Farms, Jamesburg; Von Thun’s Farm, Dayton; Suydam Farm, East Brunswick
August 6: Woodbury Farmers Market, 3pm – 7pm, 856- 845-1300, ext. 123 http://www.woodbury.nj.us
Activities: grilled peach samples and peach a-la-mode samples
Peach Growers: Orchardview Farm
August 7: Chatham Borough Farmers Market, 8am – 1pm, 973- 635-0674, ext. 588, http://www.ChathamBoroughFarmersMarket.org
Activities: peach tastings, recipes, raffle for basket of peaches, kids quiz & games
Peach Growers: Melick’s Town Farm, Oldwick
August 7: Collingswood Farmers Market, 8am – 12noon, 856-559-0234 http://www.collingswoodmarket.com
Activities: Peach samplings, cooking demonstrations, kids’ quiz, face painting ??????
Peach Growers: Schober Orchards, Moneroeville, NJ ; AT Buzby Farm, Bridgeton; DanLynn Organic Farm; Formisano Farms, Vineland; Fruitwood Farm, Moneroeville; Hymer Farms, Moneroeville; Viereck Farms, Woolwich Twp.; Eckert’s Farm, Tabernacle; Mind Your Own (beekeeping), Wrightstown; Holly Acres Nursery, Bridgeton
August 7: Community Presbyterian Church, Chester, 10am – 4pm, 908-879-5859 http://www.cpcchester.org
Activities: 16,000 peaches peeled for pies, peach ice cream, kuchens, and desserts for sale, kids toys and games, country auction, thousands of items for sale at the White Elephant Tent.
August 8; Morristown Farmers Market, 8:30am – 2pm, 973-455-1133 http://www.morristown-nj.org
Activities: Peach Queen appearance, kids activities
August 12: West End Long Branch Farmers Market, 11am – 6pm, 732-229-6999 http://www.restaurantpassion.com
Activities: Peach pie contest, prizes, gift certificates, peach basket raffle
Peach Growers:
August 14: Acme Market, Logan, 856-467-8936
Activities: Peach Queen appearance, $25 gift certificate raffle with purchase of peaches
August 15: Denville Farmers Market, 8:30am – 1pm, 201-317-2335,
August 15: Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers Market, Flemington, 9am- 1pm, 908-237-4582 http://www.hlta.org
Peach Growers:
August 15: Ramsey Farmers Market, 9am-2pm, 201-675-6866 http://www.ramseyfarmersmarket.org
Activities: Kids’ Quiz & games, peach smoothies, raffle for basket of peaches, other activities
Peach Growers: Matarazzo farms, North Caldwell & Belvidere
August 21: Burlington Co Farmers Market, Moorestown, 8:30am – 1pm, 856-642-3850 http://www.burlcoagcenter.com
August 21: Acme Market, Medford, 609-953-0006 acmemarkets.com
Activities: Peach Queen appearance, $25 gift certificate raffle with purchase of peaches
August 30: Kings Supermarket, Short Hills store Beyond the Peach Pie Bake-Off, 800.325.4647 kingswewbsite.com
Peach Party Restaurants
Restaurants celebrating Jersey Fresh peaches will be serving one or more fresh peach dishes during August. Below are the restaurants and, where possible, their peach dishes.
COLLINGSWOOD http://jbloom.businesspromotioninc.com
Restaurants here will offer “Just Peachy” special menus in August, spotlighting Jersey Fresh peaches. Dining comes with a friendly peach farmer talking about what makes Jersey Fresh peaches so special and how to store and use them.
The Tortilla Press (856-869-3345), Collingswood http://www.thetortillapress.com
Blackbird Dining Establishment, Oaklyn (856-854-3444) http://www.blackbirdnj.com
Joe Palombo’s Mirabella Café, Cherry Hill ( 856-354-1888) http://www.mirabellacafe.com
Andreotti’s Viennese Café, Cherry Hill (856-795-0172) http://www.mirabellacafe.com
Blueplate, Mullica Hill (856-478-2112) http://www.blueplatenj.com
HOPEWELL
The Brothers Moon (609-333-1330) http://www.brothersmoon.com
KENILWORTH
Boulevard Five 72 (908-709-1200) http://www.boulevardfive72.com
LONG BRANCH – WEST END VILLAGE http://www.westendvillage.com
Jesse’s Cafe & Catering (732-229-6999)
MILBURN
Osteria Mediterrania (973-467-0010)
MILFORD
Milford Oyster House (908-995-9411) http://www.milfordoysterhouse.com
NEW BRUNSWICK
Frog and the Peach (732-846-3216) http://www.frogandpeach.com
4-Course (plus Chef’s Amuse) Peach Tasting Menu for $59 (also available with wine pairings for $105)
RAMSEY
Sweet Station, (201-818-8561) http://www.sweetstationcafe.com
Brady’s at the Station (201-327-9748) bradysatthestation.net
Bon Giovanni (201-934-0030)
SEWELL
Barnesboro Inn (856-468-3557) http://www.barnsboroinn.com
WOODBURY
Woodbury Station Café (856-384-6700)
The Spot ((856-848-5600)
For further information, contact the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council information office, 973-744-6090, pegi@mountsnow.org
###
I stumbled on your blog on my Yahoo homepage…I grew up in Millville with fresh produce all the time. My mom NEVER bought corn on the cob in a grocery store…LOL I’m in Phoenix now and miss my Jersey tomatoes!!!!!!!!!!!!