Petting zoos, picking your own produce—such as spring’s sweet berries and summer’s peaches—and winding your way through fall’s corn mazes before choosing a pumpkin can give you a taste of rural life. But if you’re looking for a more immersive event, a farm tour offers a feast for the senses.
The Pacific Northwest is one of the USA’s top ten producers of apples, and the diversity, knowledge, and craftsmanship of its apple crops shines through ciders being produced in the region. No wonder the craft ciders of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho are growing in popularity. The chance to taste ciders is one great reason to visit the area, whether you favor versions made from limited-edition heritage crabapples or the star-dotted Cosmic Crisps bred at Washington State University.
Thanksgiving may look different this year at most homes, but the real VIP at your holiday table can continue tradition: the Thanksgiving turkey. Each November an estimated 46 million turkeys are consumed around Thanksgiving, according to the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. To learn more about turkeys, we headed straight to farmers who raise heritage breeds and are serving up insights along with some recipes here.
Feeling the summer heat? Cool down with a refreshing glass of sparkling water mixed with some Tait Farm Raspberry Shrub. Shrubs—concentrated syrups that combine fruit, sugar, and vinegar—are resurging in popularity. Typically added to water or spirits, they’re turning up at trendy bars in creative cocktails as well as interesting non-alcoholic alternatives. Shrubs were first popular in England in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was a common way to preserve fruits before refrigeration. The term "shrub" is a variant of the word "shurb" from the Arabic word "sharāb" which means "to drink." Early colonists brought the beverage to America, to places like City Tavern in Philadelphia, where Tait Farm Raspberry Shrub offers a sip of history on its Colonial drinks menu.
Palm Springs: Date Capital USA Story by Renee Sklarew America’s date capital can’t even claim the fruit as native. Palm Springs, California is home to a sunny oasis known as the Coachella Valley. Here, 80-foot tall palm trees cover more than 6,500 acres and yield a prized fruit that earns the
Georgia-grown peaches are recognized for their flavor, texture, and appearance. Georgia, which is proudly nicknamed “the peach state,” designated the peach as its official state fruit in 1995. Georgia ranks as one of the nation’s top four peach-producing states and harvests several different varietals of peaches from May to August. Come during peach season to load up on crates of peaches to enjoy at home.
Farm-to-table dining is a term most popularly used to describe restaurants that source ingredients from local or regional producers—in such relationships, the executive chef proudly sources ingredients directly from food producers (from farmers to winemakers, ranchers to cheese makers, and so on). It’s an arrangement that can yield fresh results.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is best known as a place to experience nature and wildlife or hit the slopes or relish in all things winter.It’s a place where you expect to indulge in hearty game, cozy coffee, and massive slices of berry pie. And you can.But that’s not Jackson Hole’s only foodie story.In a place that sees eight months of snow, chef-driven artisan dishes showcasing fresh ingredients may seem impossible if not unexpected. Yet this northwestern community offers lots of flavorful local food made with produce grown right in the heart of downtown. How?
Farm-to-table dining is a term most popularly used to describe restaurants that source ingredients from local or regional producers—in such relationships, the executive chef proudly sources ingredients directly from food producers (from farmers to winemakers, ranchers to cheese makers, and so on). It’s an arrangement that can yield fresh results.
Themed food trails keep popping up nationwide. If we were to map the routes all out on a map the lines might look like a plate full of spaghetti. The appeal is simple: Visit a place famous for a certain type of food and don’t enjoy that tasty dish just once, have it a whole heck of a lot. Indulge while you’re in the best place to get that specific yumminess. Dig in and discover how different chefs give that local specialty their own special twist. Satisfy your curiosity and specific craving. Calories don’t count on vacation, right?
