Farm to Market Connection success!

We are grateful to the over 150 farm and food business people who came out for this year's Farm to Market Connection. The event covered topics including buying clubs, local flour production, financing local food business and much more. We've already received some great input for next year's event and heard about business connections made!

Ken Jaffe of Slope Farms and Andrew Tarlow of Diner and Marlow & Sons speak about nose-to-tail beef utilization during a workshops session.

Dave Peake of Cowbella with Allison Bennett of Red Jacket Orchards.

Brett and Sara Budde of Majestic Farm.

Mark Harvey of Good Fields Farm with Denise Warren of Stone & Thistle Farm.

Fielding questions from the audience during the Buyer's Panel.

A great showing for "The Greenhorns" at the Catskill Arts Society.

Local farmers and food enthusiasts packed the Catskill Arts Society gallery on Saturday night for a screening of "The Greenhorns." This recently released documentary film profiles young farmers across America. Check out the trailer of the film along with some photos from the event below.

Stay tuned or contact us for details on additional screenings across the Catskills region this summer and fall!

Patrick Kiley of the Greenhorns with Paul of Gorzynski Ornery Farm.

Sampling Living Leaf Kimchi with Pepacton Natural Foods.

Ann Manby with her Sugar Blossoms Flowers bouquets and Rick Pereira of

Manifold Custom Design.

Victoria Lesser of the Old North Branch Inn with Trina Pilonero of

Silver Heights Farm Nursery.

The crowd gathers around the Main Street Farm goods!

Maple Weekend and more

Glass bottles from Catskill Mountain Sugar House last summer at the farmers' market.

The sap is running and the region is covered in sweet events to help you connect with our syrup makers. The New York State Maple Producers Association organizes a series of open (sap) houses, demonstrations and tastings across the state as part of Maple Weekend.

Plan a visit in the coming two weekends - March 19 - 20 & 26 - 27. Follow the links for details on the dozens of participating farms in the Pure Catskills region:

Participating farms in Delaware County

Delaware County pancake breakfasts:

North Franklin Maple Syrup Company

13501 Route 357

Franklin, NY

Saturday & Sunday, 8 am to 1 pm

Both weekends

Col. Harper Grange #1508

Shaver-Hill Maple Farm

450 Shaver Road

Harpersfield, NY

Pancakes, sausage, fruit, applesauce, coffee, tea, milk, juice. Real maple syrup.

March 26th 9am-4pm

March 27th 9am-4pm

Greene County pancake breakfast:

Sugar Moon Maple

West Kill-Lexington Community Center

141 Spruceton Road

West Kill, NY

March 27 only

Participating farms in Otsego County

Participating farms in Schoharie County

Schoharie County pancake breakfasts:

Maple Hill Farm

Maple Syrup & Organic Pancakes at Grapevine Farms

2373 State Route 7

Cobleskill, NY

Serving Pancakes every weekend in March from 9-3

Phone: (518) 234-9148

Stone House Farms

305 Lynk Road

Sharon Springs, NY

Saturday & Sunday, 8 am to 1 pm

both weekends

Phone: (518) 284-2476

Participating farms in Ulster County

Located in Sullivan County? Slow Food Upper Delaware River Valley has organized a tour to five farms in the county on March 19th. The tour includes Porkupine Lodge, Muthig Farm, Justus Asthalter Maple Syrup, Catskill Mountain Sugar House and Thunder Hill Sugar Shack. Each stop along the way will include demonstrations and tastings. The event fee is $20 per person or $30 per couple. All proceeds will benefit Community Unity. For more details, contact Clair Sullivan at (845) 557-3642 or upderiva@gmail.com.

In the Hudson Valley? Check out the Hudson Valley Food Network's guide to Maple Syrup Festivals.

Now's the time to join a CSA

Tannis Kowalchuck of Willow Wisp Organic Farm with her fantastic cut flowers.

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is an increasingly popular way to grow your connection with a farm in your community. Members of a CSA receive a regular, often weekly, box of vegetables after purchasing a share in the farm each spring. Many farms offer optional add-on shares of local products including fruit, flowers and eggs. Additional contact information and details on each unique share programs are in links included below.

Learn more about joining a CSA from Local Harvest.

GORZYNSKI ORNERY FARM, Cochecton Center -- Pick up at the farm. Contact John or Sue at (845) 252-7570.

LUCKY DOG FARM, Hamden -- Pick up at Lucky Dog Farm Store. Certified Organic. Optional egg share. Contact Holley at (607) 746-8383 or haw@delhitel.net.

MOUNTAIN DELL FARM, Hancock -- Pick up on the farm and in Hancock. Farmer’s Pledge. Contact Lisa or Mark at (607) 467-4034 or mldunau@tds.net.

NEVERSINK FARM, Claryville -- Pick up at the farmstand on Saturdays. Certified Organic. Optional flower and egg shares. Contact Conor at (845) 985-2519 or farmer@neversinkfarm.com.

RUSTY PLOUGH FARM, Ellenville -- Multi-farm collaborative; choice of pick-up locations in Ulster and Sullivan counties. Certified Organic. Online buying club arrangement with weekly customer choice of products. Also offering seedlings, crafts and pastured pork shares. Contact Oleh at (845) 647-6911 or rustyplough@earthlink.net.

STONELEDGE FARM, South Cairo -- Pick up on the farm and at additional regional locations. Certified Organic. Optional of low-spray fruit, honey and maple shares. Contact Kathleen at (518) 622-9963 or kokeefe@mhcable.com.

STONY CREEK FARM, Walton -- Pick up locations in Oneonta, Franklin and on the farm. Optional working share. Contact Kate at (607) 865-7965 or kate@stonycreekfarm.org.

BIG SKY FARM, Schenevus -- Pick up in Cooperstown. Optional egg, meat and cider shares. Contact Vali or Marybeth at (607) 638-9016 or info@bigskyfarm.org.

WILLOW WISP ORGANIC FARM, Damascus, PA -- Pick up on the farm. Summer shares (June to November) and Winter shares (December to May) available. Certified Organic. Contact Greg or Tannis at (570) 224-8013 or greg@willowwisporganic.com.