Food Connects Favorites: Free Verse Farm

RICHARD’S FAVORITE: FREE VERSE FARM

HERBES DE VERMONT

Buying local food is important to the work that we do. But almost just as important is its preparation! And that’s where Free Verse Farm comes in.

Located in Chelsea, Vermont, Free Verse Farm joined the Food Connects in early 2019. It is a beautiful Vermont farm perched on another beautiful hillside overlooking forests and valleys. And its your farming family working hard to raise a livelihood from the land. Owned by Taylor and Misha, artists and farmers, Free Verse Farm is small herb farm and apothecary specializing in naturally-grown tisanes (herbal teas), culinary herbs, medicinals, and herbal remedies.

One of their great products of their Herbes de Vermont, a popular culinary herb blend made with freshly dried herbs from their farm. It had a great depth of flavor to a variety of savory meals—in particular savory pancakes, meats, and grilled chicken.

I like how take the “Herbes de Provence” concept and creatively adapt it to Vermont. Its taking the idea of “terroir,” which is implicit here with so many great local products, and making it explicit, more like in Europe. I think its something that more local food consumers need to embrace and help local producers promote more.

Want to learn more about the farm? Check out their Producer Spotlight!

Food Connects Favorites: Liebe Bavarian Style Quark

Food Connects works with so many amazing producers, offering such a wide variety of great products, it is sometimes hard to pick out something new to try. So we are introducing Food Connects Favorites—a blog to highlight some of our staff’s favorite products.

JULICIA’S FAVORITE: LIEBE BARVARIAN STYLE QUARK

STRAWBERRY KISS

It’s back to school time for schools across the U.S. We see yogurts galore flying off the shelves and filling up the lunchboxes of students heading back to school. They’re even great for a mid-work snack. So why don’t you try something different and have some Liebe Bavarian Style Quark produced by Commonwealth Dairy, or more commonly known as Green Mountain Creamery, located in Brattleboro, VT.

What I love about this product not only taste great, but it great for you. It is rich in proteins and probiotics and has limited sugar and no artificial colors or flavors. This particular product contains two types of healthy bacteria that are great for you, unlike traditional yogurts that contain one.

If the healthy bit doesn’t convince you, the flavor will. It’s sweet, creamy, and hits the spot. If you like Greek yogurt I would recommend you try Liebe. It’s very similar to Greek yogurt but is thicker and creamier—it kind of reminds me of a cheesecake that you don’t have to feel guilty eating for breakfast.

I am a busy lady, always on the go and this product helps me keep up with that life-style. It’s great on the go breakfast item for me. I usually will just eat it as is or add it into my morning smoothies. This product has become a delicious part of my morning routine.

Shop our online market today to order your quark!

Food Connects Favorites: Big Picture Beef

Food Connects works with so many amazing producers, offering such a wide variety of great products, it is sometimes hard to pick out something new to try. So we are introducing Food Connects Favorites—a blog to highlight some of our staff’s favorite products.

Kate’s Favorite: Big Picture Beef

Grass-fed Ground Beef

Grilling season is finally here! And if you are a fan of juicy burgers and tender steaks, we have the perfect products for you. Big Picture Beef out of Hardwick, MA, provides us with locally raised, grass-fed beef from healthy, and happy animals.

I love Big Picture Beef’s grass-fed ground beef because it’s both affordable and sustainably raised. The company, which sources grass-fed beef from small farms around the northeast, is committed to rotational grazing practices and animal wellbeing. The majority of this product currently comes from farms in Massachusetts, but cows are processed here is Vermont. Big Picture Beef seeks to expand market opportunities for northeast farms, while maintaining a commitment to ethical production. This is a product I can get behind and the flavor is great!

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/2089706387709690/photos/a.2137230266290635/2280017538678573/?type=3&theater

Because Big Picture Beef is a large-scale beef producer in the Northeast, our local schools are able to afford this product. For the most part, Big Picture Beef is able to maintain a bulk price of just under $5.00 per pound, which is an incredible opportunity for our schools. You can find this grass-fed beef in burgers, stews and sauces in the Bellows Falls and Chester schools.

I personally use this ground beef in chilis and pasta sauces throughout the winter. In the summer, it makes a great burger! Knowing that my beef is coming from a local farmer who cares about the health and happiness of their animals is a win in my book.

So, fire up that grill and try out Big Picture Beef’s meats today!