What's Cookin'? Smithtown - Farm Fresh Bounty - Where to Find

Smithtown’s Farm Fresh Bounty - Where to Find

By Nancy Vallarella What’s Cookin’? Smithtown

Part II

“When you buy locally grown, you’re getting the produce at its peak form,” says Darlene Price, senior nutrition resource educator at Orange County Cornell Cooperative Extension. “It’s ready to eat right now.  When you buy your fresh produce in a supermarket, you’re never really sure how long it’s been sitting.”

Although many supermarkets carry local produce, much of what you find in these stores has been transported 1,200 miles on average. Produce at local farm stands and farmers’ markets is picked ripe and sold within a day. That translates into fresher, more nutritious food because the vitamins and other nutrients haven’t had time to break down.

Farm Stands

Borella’s Farm StandBorella’s Farm Stand on Edgewood Avenue in St. James - With the help of only one day-worker, this 55-acre farm, farm stand, nursery, and vineyard are tended to by Barbara Borella-Perrotta, her sister Laura Borella-Gallagher, and Laura’s husband, Steve Gallagher.  A constant struggle exists here maintaining crops to harvest. Wildlife devastation has limited Borella’s late arrival of produce.  Corn and tomatoes are now available. There is hope for harvesting additional products, but Borella’s Farm has been struggling with deer feeding on the crops, even grape production for Whisper Vineyards has been impacted.

BB&GG FarmsBB & GG Farms on North Country Road in St. James - Owned and operated by another branch of the Borella family tree.  Ever wondered what the BB & GG stood for? - Bill, Bob, Gary, and Glen. Bill Borella oversees the large nursery business and admits that the products offered at the farm stand are from an east end farm. The reason he maintains the farm stand is purely tradition. His mother opened the stand in 1959 and locals expect to find farm fresh produce there ever since. 

Farmers’ Markets

Fink’s Family FarmSt. James Market, Saturdays until October.  2^nd Ave, & Woodlawn Ave.  -  St. James Market is the Community Association of Greater Saint James’ effort to increase awareness for the greater good for all of St. James.  Local brick and mortar businesses participate in the market alongside out-of-town producers.  Saint James Pasta and Pork realized a 30% uptick in sales participating in the St. James Market and Summer Nights Festival in 2017 over the same period during 2016. “Many people who we have met at the market never knew where we were located despite being in the same location since 1989.  We sell 15 – 20 times more, fresh mozzarella on Saturday at the market compared to what is sold in the store during that time,” states Clara Giunta, Co-Owner of St. James Pasta and Pork.

Fink’s Family Farm from Wading River is the anchor producer at the St. James Market and the Nesconset Farmer’s Market.

Joe & Nick Bambino Ravioli at Nesconset Farmers MarketNesconset Farmer’s Market, Saturdays until November. 127 Smithtown Blvd. – This market has been through several transitions over the past decade. It is currently a vendor-operated market. Fresh produce, pasta, and pickles are found here with olive oil products in attendance every other weekend. 

Katrina Sujecki Farm & Nursery King’s Park Farmer’s Market, Sundays until November. Municipal Lot, 25A (across from King’s Park Fire House) – Longest operating Farmer’s Market in the Town of Smithtown.  SujeckiNancy Kouris owner Bule Duck Bakery at Kings Park Farmer’s MarketFarm & Nursery (Calverton) and Fink’s Family Farm (Wading River) are the anchor producers at this market.  Joining them are Blue Duck Bakery (Riverhead), Bambino Ravioli (Bay Shore), pickles, artisan baked goods, pretzels and a handful of other value-added producers. This market is an after-church tradition in the King’s Park community for over a decade.

Purchasing local products direct from the farmer allows for conversation about how that product is grown.  It’s all about providing residents with direct access to fresh local food, preserving open spaces on Long Island and aiding economic stimulation within communities.  For more information on seasonal, local products visit www.ChooseLI.org

Next Thursday part 3 in this series Smithtown’s Farm Fresh Bounty – How to Prepare