Ambrosia Farms...Flavor and Sustenance, Heirloom Veggies, Grown For You

Ambrosia Farms has been farming naturally since 1988, with complete focus on open pollinated, heirloom vegetables.  Our pride in conserving open spaces, maintaining natural ecosystems, preserving cultural traditions, supporting the arts, and adopting wild horses, and hound dogs is our way of giving back to the Earth and Our Community.

We get our seeds from Baker Creek, Seeds of Italy, and save our own seeds, when time permits.  Our favorite varieties include tomatoes (Pantano Romanesco), winter squash/Pumpkins (Marina di Chioggia, Kabocha, Kuri, and Banana), Kale (Tuscan and Curly), Lettuce (Grumolo Chicory), Basil (Lettuce Leaf)...We grow varieties to suit your specific needs!

if you need a crop custom grown for you, please call our cell phone 315-749-8942

Product Review

http://baumanfamily.com

REVIEW - ingredients are very good - the apricot is very tart, tasting the orange and lemon but not the apricot.  The Pear is very textured, grainy, like a pear and has more of a pear flavor than the apricot has of apricot.  All in all - I think this company attempts to create a wholesome product.  I would like to see the percentage of the main fruit listed to determine the authenticity of the fruit itself contained within. I paid $46+11 shipping for 12, 18 oz glass jars.  A cost of $4.75 per jar which is a good price for a local product.  They are not organic.  That would be nice.  But it appears from the video they do a good job of washing the fruit before they process.  Apple butter is their main product - that includes only apples and apple cider - and that product is really good!  Very thick and apple like.

Kutik's Honey

...a truck moving bee boxes to pollinate a field somewhere...

My review of local products continue with a mention of Kutik's honey.  I am particularly fond of their orange blossom honey.  No, it is not "local" - in the sense that the orange groves the bees pollinate are south - far from NYS - but the honey is really good - and I am supporting a local company.  Their prices are reasonable, especially if you buy in bulk.

Something to consider when purchasing from the lil guy/ small business - is to ask for their price break or wholesale price and the minimum quantity to achieve that price point.  Than get a bunch of friends and coworkers to buy in to get that price.

More on that later...
http://kutikshoney.com
Their orange blossom honey reminds me of the Greek honey I used to buy in NYC.

The bees in Greece are sometimes made to pollinate only thyme blossoms and by doing so create this thick perfumed honey - tastes perfect with Greek yogurt, honey cakes, and lots of other sweet treats!

Product Review: Chocolate

Whetstone's milk chocolate bar - pretty - waxy tasting - would not purchase again.

Small Batch: Flan

Small Batch: Sriracha

Product Review: Local Shiitake Mushroom Farmer

I not grow veggies, care for animals, and try to preserve local foods in ready to eat meals - part of that is purchasing from other local farmers - This week I will pick up 5lbs of "fruit of the fungi" shiitake mushrooms.

From these, I will produce wood fired mushroom, goat cheese, and rosemary pesto Neopolitan style pizzas, mushroom soups, and stir fry of kale and mushroom.  All of these will be frozen as prototypes and as soon as the farm commerical kitchen is in place - we will provide lots more good meals for customers.

Shiitake mushrooms nutritional components include essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, including iron and an antioxidant called selenium.

Lentinan, one of the main components of shiitakes has been found to be effective in suppressing cytochrome P450 1A, an inflammatory and carcinogenic enzyme and exhibit anticancer activities 

they have beneficial cholesterol-lowering and antiviral tendencies, strong anti-fungal properties and also helps decrease the proliferation of specific cancer cells. 

Selenium is a trace element found in soil and is required to maintain good health in trace amounts. In food, the mineral is found in Brazil nuts, poultry, seafood, and meats, while significant amounts are found in oats and brown rice.

A deficiency of selenium is rare but symptoms can include muscular weakness and fatigue.d a bad odor on your fingernails.

Selenium aids in many of the metabolic pathways and may help treat prostate cancer; ongoing research is exploring the relationship between low selenium levels and coronary heart disease.

Selenium also benefits the skin during healing following burn injuries. Shampoo with selenium may alleviate dandruff problems. For skin care, selenium’s antioxidant properties regenerate vitamins E and C, thereby decreasing the aging of skin.

Major benefits of selenium have been found to improve the immune system against bacterial and viral infections, against cancer cells and herpes virus, cold sores, and shingles. One of the major nutritional benefits of selenium is increasing the HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol for a healthy heart.

Organic Wine Growers

F.A.B.: Mayonnaise

My guilty pleasure especially during tomato season is Mayonnaise If you make it at home with farm raised free range chicken's eggs - does it have less fat? Maybe not - but we will give Hellman's and Heinz just alittle competition  - small farmers Unite!!!!

 "Hellmann’s alone accounted for $401.2 million in sales last year, according to Businessweek -- nearly a third of the total $1.3 billion mayo market here. Heinz Ketchup is a distant third with $278.6 million in sales, edged out by the $286.2 million worth of Tostito’s salsa sold last year. Mayo’s dominance is such that the varieties account for five of the 10 most popular condiment brands, including Best Foods and Kraft. Kraft, for instance, offers its classic mayonnaise, as well as Miracle Whip, and flavored mayos such as reduced fat Chipotle, Garlic & Herb, Horseradish-Dijon, and regular Hot & Spicy. According to SymphonyIRI Group, a market-research firm that analyzed the sales data, nearly 400 million containers of mayonnaise were sold in the year ending Sept. 5, 2010. That’s compared to 271 million jars of salsa and 256 million bottles of ketchup sold nationwide." 
-from the nypost - not my favorite resource or newspaper - but hey, maybe the numbers are somewhere in the ballpark - either way - we know it is a h u g e market."

"Born from Henry J. Heinz’s horseradish business, Heinz has become one of the best-recognized food companies in the world, with its bottles of deep-red ketchup sitting on millions of kitchen tables. But it has expanded its offerings to include Ore-Ida French fries and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce.

For the year ended Oct. 28, the company reported $11.6 billion in revenue and $1 billion in profit. It generates a majority of its sales in Europe, but its Asian markets are growing "quickly. And it has improved its net sales for eight consecutive fiscal years.

- from NYTimes regarding the buyout by Warren Buffet's firms

F.A.B.: Heirloom Tomato Puree

our tomatoes are cooked and passed through a mill to puree for many uses including pasta sauce, soups, stews, and many other dishes such as eggplant parm

Sold Out  2012 

F.A.B. : Artisan Cheese Platter

I am working on a cheese platter of local cheeses for the holidays and any celebration.  Many customers want to buy local but are lacking the resources for a variety of choices all in one place.  Of course, there are farmers markets, now in winter as well as summer, CSAs, orchard and farm stores, health food stores, Amish markets, small artisan purveyors and distributors, even some supermarkets, and online sites.  All give customers a good variety of local farmer, artisan, and baked goods.  But to get a variety of cheeses from small farms and cheesemakers - already tasted and reviewed for balance and diversity in a cheese presentation - that is the aim for this package.  I think the more we small producers come up with creative ways to present and sell our products the more we can capture the consumer interest over the large commercial manufacturers!

This is the label I printed for the basket.  

After I printed the label, I came across a little cheese store - La Petit Fromagerie - in Clinton NY.  It has a great selection of cheeses - not all from NYS.  It's nice to welcome and support local small businesses.  So I am initially tasting their offerings with feedback from customers, as I learn more about other artisans before completing the selection process.

My ultimate aim in creating this collection of cheeses is to support small farmers, artisans and bakers - not necessarily in NY - however I make them a priority because the travel distance and energy is still a consideration!  In places like Vermont, Wisconsin, and California - they have been putting resources into small cheesemakers for a longer period of time.  Coach Farm was one of the first Chevre cheesemakers on the East Coast -  but there are still many varieties and styles of cheese not available in this country... note to young farmers we still have room too grow in cheesemaking.


Here are a list of cheeses I've tried, descriptions, and tasting notes:

Chevre, Poplar Hedge Farm - NY - fresh goat cheese made from his small herd goat's milk  fresh - the flavor is not bold  - this is a relatively new cheesemaker - really nice to work with.  
Mt Tam, Cowgirl Creamery -  CA - "smooth, creamy, elegant, 8 oz, triple-cream. It is made with organic milk from the Straus Family Dairy."  rich cheese (triple cream) - nicely done!
Moses Sleeper, Jasper Hill - VT - "similar in flavor to a French Reblochon but with a milder rind from Ayrshire cow's milk" our initial impression is that this cheese qualifies as a brie and melted nicely when baked but there were no memorable attributes - except we are happy to support a local brie product.

Capri Classic Blue, Westfield Farm- MA- "goats milk cheese log external blue chevre powdery blue rind is a striking color that develops on the surface and slowly ripens toward the center." we all liked this cheese very much - distinct and delicious cheese - a staple for every cheese platter! 
Barely Buzzed, Beehive Cheese Co - UT - "milk from Jersey cows, hand-applied rub of French Superio lavender buds and a Turkish grind of "Beehive Blend" coffee from the Colorado Legacy Coffee Company."   subtle yet aromatic flavors of the lavender and coffee rub! we would purchase again -very unique!
Wild Boar, Creminelli Fine Meats- UT- mixture of field harvested Texas wild boar and all natural pork belly, seasoned with cloves and juniper berries  I think everyone liked this at the party - I am a vegetarian - it looks the part of a fine artisan salami!
Forest Berry Preserves, Darbo- Austria- Okay this is an example of BIG - but they started as the Darbo family and now produce in a large manufacturing facility - can't hold that against them - purchased the jam on sale but will seek more local preserves - not hard to find.  I used this jam mixed with dried figs purchased at Clinton's Natural Food Market in bulk - made fig cookies from an Italian cookie recipe - everyone loved them but I have made better - good figs and jam not too sweet!

Cheeses, Descriptions andand Tasting Notes (contd):

Cana de Cabra, Spain  - "A soft ripened goat cheese log from Spain much like the French Bucheron.  The cheese is aged 21 days and is buttery and delicious. As it ages, the flavor intensifies...
I would purchase this again - very and rich texture -a triple cream goat cheese!

Brie, Ferme de Jouvence, France -  "small dairy near Versailles, France. It has an assertive mushroomy flavor, with notes of garlic and hay, and its body is wonderfully luscious and silken." noted Saveur Magazine a very "stinky'" cheese but that could be good - the flavors are very strong - the texture was a pure melted brie -naturally!  I would prefer this cheese young with less aggressive flavors but kudos to the farm in France!

Rogue River blue cheese, Rogue Creamery, Oregon - "wrapped in grape leaves macerated in pear brandy. A creamy, crunchy-smooth texture ... hints of sweet pine, wild ripened berries, hazelnuts, morels and pears.  Rogue River blue is made during the autumnal equinox and before the winter solstice from Brown Swiss and Holstein cow’s milk, certified sustainable by Food Alliance. The cows graze in 1250 foot elevation pastures bordering Rogue River, where they eat a variety of pasture and native grasses, hop clover, wild herbs, Himalayan blackberries and wild flowers, supplemented with grass hay, alfalfa and grain off the ranch." excerpt from their website a very pricey cheese and would not be my first choice for a blue cheese but I will try again and write more!
Selected Items at this writing:
aged goat cheese - Cana de Cabra, Spainfresh goat cheese - Chevre, Poplar Hedge Farm - NY
blue goat cheese - Capri Classic Blue, MAaromatic cow's milk cheese - Barely Buzzed, Beehive Cheese Co - UTcharcuterie - Wild Boar, Creminelli Fine Meats- UTtriple cream cows milk cheese- Mt Tam, Cowgirl Creamery -  CA
Still Searching:
more Northeast cheeses
a good brie made in the US, of possible
replace Spainish cheese with something similar
Sheeps milk cheeses

F.A.B. : Homage to Local Business

F.A.B.: Farmers, Artisans, and Bakers

In the next series of this blog, I review local products I've discovered and recommend after consideration not only of taste - but also of ingredients and sourcing of those raw materials, practices, and packaging.

In a way, our government, about which this Gettysburg address was about, has failed us - they've sold out to lobbys of special interests - whomever has money - BIG money - speaks the loudest in Washington, D.C.

One of the easiest ways to fix this, is to redistribute wealth in a real way - focusing our dollars on the small - yes, I mean small -  business owners to revitalize an economy 
"...of the  people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth"- from the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863

As a people, I believe we can take back our government by putting money back in the  hands of the people.  Can you re-direct your spending money to small businesses?  I'll bet you can.  Let's begin with Farmers, Artisans, and Bakers!  This plan really has an immediate impact on your quality of life because you will be able to see the difference in the art and woodwork, the food, and celebrations in your life.  More details to follow...We can do it!

One of our founding principles - equal opportunity for all - the pursuit of the American dream - that is what made this country great.  The reasons large box stores and multi BIG corporations are not healthy are numerous - but here are a few - profit rules over integrity and shortcuts are taken to harm animals, humans, and the earth - box stores box out the small business because these areas/malls that they carve out in our neighborhoods discourage small businesses by the high lease/ rents for storefronts nearby that follow, they employ people but at what price - low wages, and even lower wages for many jobs outsourced to other countries.

As I discover more F.A.B. businesses - I will recommend them to you - and provide the best way to purchase directly from them through our F.A.B MEMBERSHIP.

F.A.B.: Sweet Riot

One of the recommended Companies is  Sweet Riot

Why we review it...

-their CEO is really cool and well spoken as is their Mission!

-good antioxidants

-helps cocoa farmers

-simple packaging

The price:  $4.00/bar

The website:

http://sweetriot.com/

contact info

sweetriot, inc. 
670 Broadway, Suite 302 
new york, ny 10012 
212.431.RIOT (7468)

info@sweetriot/com

F.A.B.: UpState Harvest Granola

One of the recommended Companies is  UpState Harvest
Why we review it...
-their granola is simple, wholesome ingredients - for real!
-good crunch, freshness
-you can tell alot about a product by its fans
-simple packaging
...slim healthy people ask me for this product.

The price:  $5.79/lb.

The website:
http://www.upstateharvest.com/

contact info
 granola@upstateharvest.com

F.A.B.: Simply Greek

One of the recommended Companies is Simply Greek

Why we review it...

-mid sized farm wth sheeps grazing outdoors!

-good clean smoothness with no thickeners

please note that some of the larger producers are using guar gum

-simple packaging

The price:  $2.00/small container.

The website:

http://simplygreekyogurt.com

contact info

contact@simplygreekyogurt.com

Simply Greek Yogurt. c/o Maple Hill Creamery. 2800 State Route 169. Little Falls, NY 13365

F.A.B.: Evans Farmhouse Dairy

One of the recommended Companies is Evans Farmhouse

Why we review it...

-their dairy products have cream that rises to the top, ooh!

-good people

-cows that graze outdoors

The price:  $2.29/half and half pictured here

The website:

see articles

contact info

5037 State Hwy Rt 23Norwich, NY 13815

• Phone:(607) 334-5339

F.A.B.: Farm Fresh Eggs

Why we review it...

we enjoy eggs farm fresh eggs from our farm, the Haar Family Farm, and Fiddle Tree Farm - all free range, humane, and natural

we encourage everyone to seek out the closest "chick" farmer near you 

 - look for chickens that enjoy fresh air and free range

- ask what they are fed - a good diet should transfer to great tasting and healthy eggs

- eggs are great for a variety of meal options and baking!

The price:  $2.50/dozen

The website:

here is a way to find fresh eggs near you

http://www.localharvest.org/organic-farms/

in new york

http://www.prideofny.com/

in new jersey

http://www.jerseyfresh.nj.gov/searches/pyo.htm

in connecticut

http://www.ediblecommunities.com/nutmeg/farmers-markets/farmers-markets.htm

contact info:

see above listings