Dad's garden does pretty well, but fresh corn on the cob, peaches, melons and a few other things need to be purchased elsewhere. As trendy as it is right now to buy local, my mother has always been committed to helping out the local farmer. In Hunterdon County, that is pretty easy and does not always involve going to a storefront marquee. Sweet Valley Orchards main location is a grand building in Flemington, but their station 3 miles up the road from the Homestead has everything we usually want - 7 days a week.
It's not fancy, but a real farm truck parked on the backside of some of their fields under a couple of trees. The truck is staffed by a local high school kid who knows how to count change without a calculator. Kids hand down the job to younger brothers, cousins, and friends. Some days can be down right hot and boring sitting there on the side of the road with just a truck load of produce and a walkie talkie to get to the main store when there is a run peaches or tomatoes. It is not surprising to see a grandparent or other family member come down with a snack or cold beverage to help their teenager kill time. A couple of years ago, there was a card table set up with a checker game that was always there to be played between customers who drive up, get out of their car for a quick stop before driving away with a backseat filled with produce.
Dad's garden does pretty well, but fresh corn on the cob, peaches, melons and a few other things need to be purchased elsewhere. As trendy as it is right now to buy local, my mother has always been committed to helping out the local farmer. In Hunterdon County, that is pretty easy and does not always involve going to a storefront marquee. Sweet Valley Orchards main location is a grand building in Flemington, but their station 3 miles up the road from the Homestead has everything we usually want - 7 days a week.
It's not fancy, but a real farm truck parked on the backside of some of their fields under a couple of trees. The truck is staffed by a local high school kid who knows how to count change without a calculator. Kids hand down the job to younger brothers, cousins, and friends. Some days can be down right hot and boring sitting there on the side of the road with just a truck load of produce and a walkie talkie to get to the main store when there is a run peaches or tomatoes. It is not surprising to see a grandparent or other family member come down with a snack or cold beverage to help their teenager kill time. A couple of years ago, there was a card table set up with a checker game that was always there to be played between customers who drive up, get out of their car for a quick stop before driving away with a backseat filled with produce.
1 comment:
i love it. i miss being able to buy produce from the back of trucks, whether on the roadside or at the parking lot of the county courthouse every t/th/s. good times.
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