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ummertime in New Jersey means that the farm stands lining our roadways and dotting our farms are overflowing with a colorful
bounty of fruits and vegetables. Providing our friends and family with fresh, whole foods is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and happiness. There
ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ at our Skillman location
July 20th! 12-4 PM
Join us for delicious Spare Ribs, Chicken pieces, Pulled pork, Salads and more... $14.99/person (beverages sold separately) Kids under 12 eat free!
MallerysGrazinMeats.com SKILLMAN LOCATION 382 Highway 518, Skillman, NJ 08558 609-309-5451
are multiple facets to the organic food movement. Town Topics has outlined some of these aspects below, from “farm to table� restaurants to CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and composting regulations. You’ll also fi nd a guide to New Jersey’s seasonal food calendar, allowing you to determine the perfect time of year to pick the juiciest of peaches. Organic 101 So, what does the term “organic� actually mean? Generally speaking, it refers to foods grown and processed without chemical toxins, artificial ingredients, chemical preservatives, or ionizing radiation. The official guidelines for organic foods were established in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It states that organic fruits and vegetables must be grown without the use of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetic engineering, and irradiation. Similarly, organic beef and chicken means that the ani-
Local Wine!
Proud to be a Jersey Fresh Producer of Hand Crafted Wine for 25 years!
0GG Any One Bottle Use this coupon for $5.00 off any one (1) bottle at our winery tasting room.
Open Monday - Saturday 11am-6pm Sunday 11am-5pm 145 Rte 539, Cream Ridge NJ, 08514 (GPS - Allentown, NJ 08501) r XXX DSFBNSJEHFXJOFSZ DPN Like us on www.facebook.com/CreamRidgeWinery and be part of the CRWINE CLUB! Coupon Expires August 15th, 2013 Please bring original cutout of coupon to our winery. Valid only at winery.
mals were fed only 100 percent organic feed, and that no hormones or antibiotics were administered. For chickens to be considered “free range,� they must have access to the outdoors without a minimum amount of time. Be sure to note, terms like “natural� and “gourmet� are actually quite misleading since they have no true guidelines or established regulations. Best to choose USDA 100 percent certified organic products.
What Is Farm To Table? The popularity of “farm to table� restaurants is growing. This buzz word refers to a chef’s ability to buy food directly from a near-by farmer, rather than through some type of warehouse or mass-produced system. Generally, the closer you are to the source of your food, the fresher it will taste. Chefs recognize this correlation between proximity to farmers and the quality of the food, so more and more restaurants are joining the “farm to table� trend. It’s a little easier to gather your food locally in places like California and Oregon. Chefs in Maine or Minnesota might find that sourcing all of their food locally through the winter months is tough to do. The important thing is that being in the height of summer in the garden state of New Jersey, our food selection is prolific and ideal. Now is certainly the time to take advantage of all of New Jersey’s fresh local offerings. Trust us, you’ll miss those blueberries planted down the street, come January. Which CSA Program Is Right For You?
Being located in central New Jersey has its perks, including great access to different CSAs, which gives consumers weekly access to local seasonal food directly from a farmer. Consumers love it because they get ultra-fresh food on a regular basis, while farmers receive up-front financial support for their farm business.
There are variations amongst the CSA model. For example, some programs allow for individual shares, rather than just family-sized shares (perfect for a single person or a small household). Also, some CSAs require you to visit the farm at least once per week to pick-up your produce, while others deliver to your doorstep. Notably, not all CSAs are confined to produce. Some farmers include the option of receiving eggs, meats, cheese, homemade bread, or fresh cut flowers. Here is a listing of CSAs in our area:
s #HERRY 'ROVE /RGANIC &ARM 11 Carter Road, Princeton, N.J. (609) 306-5139. s (ONEY "ROOK /RGANIC &ARM 260 Wargo Road, Pennington, N.J. (609) 737-8899. s 'RIGGSTOWN 1UAIL &ARM AND Farm Market, 484 Bunker Hill Road, Princeton, N.J. (908) 359-5218. s 0ARADISE /RGANIC &ARMS LLC, 139 BordentownGeorgetown Road Chesterfield, N.J. (732) 329-0999 s !NCHOR 2UN &ARM #3! 2578 Second Street Pike, Continued on Next Page
New Jersey Seasonal Food Calendar January-April Asparagus Spinach
May-June Blueberries Cherries Strawberries Asparagus Beets Broccoli Collards Cucumbers Lettuce Onions Peas Snap Peas Squash Spinach
Potatoes Snap Peas Squash Sweet Corn Tomatoes
September-October
Apples Cranberries Grapes Peaches Nectarines Pears Raspberries Beets Broccoli Cauliflower Collards Cucumbers July-August Eggplant Apples Lettuce Blackberries Lima Beans Blueberries Okra Peaches, Nectarines Onions Pears Peppers Plums Potatoes Raspberries Pumpkins Beets Squash Broccoli Sweet Corn Collards Proposal/Estimate Tomatoes Cucumbers November-December Eggplant Cranberries Lettuce Beets Lima Beans Cauliflowers Okra Collards Onions Lettuce Peas Peppers Peppers
all gluten free and delicious!
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EL • Fresh baked gluten free ICIOU baguette and pumpernickel bread • Please call us to order your birthday, graduation and wedding cakes, etc. • Serving sweet and savory crepes, refreshing salads and smoothies
609 620-1100
Tuesday-Friday 8-5; Weekends 10-3
2691 Main Street, Lawrenceville www.wildourbakery-cafe.com
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Supporting Local Food Production Tastes Great and Is Healthy
& GL
TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 • 14
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