How can you support all our farmers, food, wine, craft beverage producers and local travel destinations during this uncertain time? If you can’t travel locally, buy their products online! They rely on your business to keep food on their tables just like we rely on their businesses to literally keep food on OUR tables. Crowds are low, prices are right, the air is fresh and spirits are high! So take a drive, pick up curbside from a farm store or tasting room, and shop shop shop online! Take sound precautions, wash your hands, stay home if you’re ill and check the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) website for latest updates.
We will be highlighting specific ways and businesses you can support weekly right here at the EscapeMaker Blog. Check out below for a few simple ways to help the local gems we’ve all come to love so much…and check back next week for more ideas. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates and ideas to help support local businesses around us. We’re all in this together… support agritourism!
Catskills Maple Farms: Though the 2020 NYS Maple Weekends have been canceled, individual sugarhouses and maple farms are continuing to produce, stock and market their excellent crop of Maple Products! Keep supporting these amazing maple farms like Catskill Mountain Sugarhouse in Sullivan Catskills. Check out their online maple shop or contact them directly to order your favorite maple products.
Farmer’s/Greenmarkets: Just because you may not be able to get out and experience farm escapes and agritourism getaways with your family and friends, doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the (literal) fruits of the farms’ labor! Farmers markets are still open across the city and the farmers need your support now more than ever. Check out GrowNYC for updates on their city-wide Greenmarkets. You can also check New York Apples for farmer’s market’ with apples around the state.
Fulton Stall Market: This Seaport District gem, which is filled to the brim with delicious goods and agritourism information, recently launched the springtime CSA! Sign up for pick up and keep eating fresh and local even when you’re cooped up at home.
New York Cider: Nine Pin Cider in Albany, NY crafts ciders that highlight the incredible variety and quality of New York agriculture while also supporting local farms and orchards. Its selection of specialty ciders changes regularly due to a commitment to using fresh, local ingredients. While everyone is homebound, they are offering online orders / shipping all across New York State! Check out the website and start shopping.
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail: What does New York State being “on pause” mean for the amazing wineries in and around Ithaca and the Finger Lakes? Each of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail‘s 14 wineries are doing a little something different to help keep business going. They need your support more than ever! And for those who are finding themselves working from home while parenting/teaching/cleaning/organizing/or whatever it is you’re doing to stay busy, we could sure use some wine! From to-go slushies to discounts to shipping and delivery, check out the updates from each of the wineries to see how you can support them — and get your wine! — during this time. For more trails and winery updates, visit Finger Lakes Wine Country online.
The Great Outdoors: Now that travel plans (and just…plans) have been canceled or postponed, people are longing for a deep breath of fresh air and an escape from their own four walls. Central Jersey offers short-distance drives from NYC that can get people into the countryside for farm market pickup, hiking, biking, bird-watching, meditating and general breathing of fresh air! Check out the area’s Canal Region and Sourland Mountains for a quick recharge to your mind, body and spirit. While you’re in the area, check out the beautiful farms, orchards and farm markets (call ahead for updates to schedules and shopping restrictions) still open for shopping!
Social Distanced Getaway: Go practice social distancing outside NYC in a quiet town in the Hudson Valley. Hunker down with local wine and some of those books collecting dust on your nightstand, and enjoy the peace and quiet away from the city. We recommend contacting B&Bs directly to discuss their restrictions at this time.
Craft Brews: With National Beer Day coming up on April 7th, this is the perfect time to celebrate the local craft breweries and beer-makers in and around NYC. If you’re breathing in the fresh air in the Catskills, pick up a six pack (or two, who’s counting) from Catskill Brewery‘s to-go beer service. Social distancing in the Finger Lakes? Get take-out and beer (and even gift cards to directly support financially impacted employees) from Ithaca Beer Co. Hunkering down on Long Island? Take your beer to go from Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.’s curbside service. There are local breweries all around you who are working their tails off to keep their employees and customers safe while staying afloat during an uncertain time. Reach out to them directly for updates on ways you can support.
Farm Deliveries: So many farms have adopted delivery services (within a certain radius) in recent days. For example, Wilklow Orchards in Highland, NY started local deliveries to try and get people access to fresh food without having to leave home! Get a 5lb bag of apples for $10 (cameo, Fuji, Empire, Winesap, Pink Lady, Mutsu), Apple cider ($7 for Gallon, $4 for 1/2 Gallon), Donuts ($8.50/dozen), Breads $5.50 (Banana Nut, Cream cheese Pound cake, Pumpkin), Jam $5.50 (strawberry, strawberry rhubarb, Berry berry, blueberry, peach Melba, grape jelly). There is a $20 min and $5 delivery charge. Email your order to WilklowOrders@gmail.com. ⠀
Farmer Relief Fund: Farmers in direct sales are estimated to lose $700 million to $1.3 billion between March and May alone due to the COVID-19 crisis. Help ensure you can access fresh, local, nutritious foods through farmers you know and trust by donating to American Farmland Trust’s new Farmer Relief Fund, providing grants up to $1000 each for farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more here.
Comments