"Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables. They probably get jet-lagged, just like people." ~Elizabeth Berry
I recently visited Hepworth farms in the Hudson valley. It is 400 acres of pristine, storybook farmland overlooking the Hudson river. The family has been tilling the soil there since 1818; that's seven generations. Amy Hepworth is now at the helm, and has been transforming the tradition of the farm since the early eighties when she returned from Cornell with a more holistic view of agriculture. Amy and her partner Gerry now run the most flourishing independent organic farm in New York. Amy has aptly been named a 'rockstar' farmer.
Amy and Gerry Hepworth with one of their employees.
As we drove through the fields on her tractor it became clear to me that for a vision of this propensity and courage to work; the farmer must be dedicated to her people, to the integrity of organic farming - and she has to be willing to work hard and against all forces of weather and mainstream agriculture. Hepworth is all of these, and she eats maggots as well as sharing her softer side to the three men I am visiting with; the founders of Brooklyn Salsa - who source most of their ingredients directly through Amy.
Hepworth is at the forefront of sustainable, organic and local farming.
In the field outside her simple processing office there are three enormous solar panels, tilted toward the beautiful early-October sun. Amy has been exploring solar power since the eighties. She is a fount of knowledge, with a wide understanding of where the food industry has been, and where it must go. She is a real woman holding strong to her creed in REAL FOOD.
Brooklyn Salsa Guys; Matt, Rob and Casey get excited over Solar Power.
The Hepworth family story is an inspiring one, and would be a great lesson in science or understanding food source, the interrelations of people and place. For example, if we take two pieces of fruit; An apple from Hepworth and a pink lady apple from New Zealand and traced their stories back - asking questions of source - What would we find? I believe that by tapping into our local folk and food sources, we are able to learn more about the industry that feeds us and how it effects the greater ecology. At Hepworth it's all about ecological sustainability; refusing to sell more of just one thing because she persists on diversifying her crops.
Amy Hepworth's personality style is not for the faint at heart; she is hardcore, intelligent and brazen (and loves operating big machinery). I believe she is an amazing teacher. A handsome rendition of the modern farmer. Of course, she doesn't have time to teach kids about what she is doing, but I do ..and you might too.
You can read more about their farm and story here. Or buy her unbelievably inspiring produce at Whole Foods or the Park Slope Food CoOp in NY.
Amy and Gerry Hepworth with one of their employees.Hepworth is at the forefront of sustainable, organic and local farming.
In the field outside her simple processing office there are three enormous solar panels, tilted toward the beautiful early-October sun. Amy has been exploring solar power since the eighties. She is a fount of knowledge, with a wide understanding of where the food industry has been, and where it must go. She is a real woman holding strong to her creed in REAL FOOD.
Brooklyn Salsa Guys; Matt, Rob and Casey get excited over Solar Power.Amy Hepworth's personality style is not for the faint at heart; she is hardcore, intelligent and brazen (and loves operating big machinery). I believe she is an amazing teacher. A handsome rendition of the modern farmer. Of course, she doesn't have time to teach kids about what she is doing, but I do ..and you might too.
You can read more about their farm and story here. Or buy her unbelievably inspiring produce at Whole Foods or the Park Slope Food CoOp in NY.
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