Macaroni and cheese, pulled pork and collard greens from Mama Lo's Barbecue in Great Barrington sit on an outdoor table in the sun. Photo by Kate Abbott

Food

Here are the Hill Country Observer’s articles about food, listed from newest to oldest. We look into local food and foodways — farms and farmers, local markets and restaurants, food security, native plants and more.

  • Issue:

    New Lebanon farmers market expands to year-round storefront

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    Farmers market expands through year-round retail storefront   Volunteers and staff of the New Lebanon Farmers Market — Phoebe Young, Josh Young, Lucas Cipkowski and Eleanor Young — stand behind some of the fresh produce at the market’s new year-round retail storefront. Susan Sabino photo   By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer NEW LEBANON, N.Y. The food read more

    New Lebanon farmers market expands to year-round storefront
  • Issue:

    In sign of spring new life emerges on farms

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    Area events provide close encounters with piglets, lambs and more   Piglets are among the new arrivals this spring at the annual Baby Animals festival at Hancock Shaker Village in the Berkshires. Susan Sabino photo.   By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer HANCOCK, Mass. The barn is different on a spring night. Calves lie in the hay read more

    In sign of spring new life emerges on farms
  • Issue:

    In New York’s new farm overtime rules, progress or ruin?

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    In New York’s new overtime rules, some see agriculture’s transformation — or its ruin   Stewart Ziehm tends to the cows at Tiashoke Farms, a dairy operation near Buskirk, N.Y., on a cold winter day. Joan K. Lentini photo   By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. Labor and social justice activists are calling it a read more

    In New York’s new farm overtime rules, progress or ruin?
  • Issue:

    Farming for a greener future

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    New effort guides investment in region’s local food system   The sheep at Studio Hill Farm in Shaftsbury, Vt., are rotated frequently to new grazing areas. Photo by Joan K. Lentini   By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer SHAFTSBURY, Vt. Jesse McDougall became a farmer a decade ago by twist of fate. He and his wife, Caroline read more

    Farming for a greener future
  • Issue:

    Farmers reel as organic dairy giant dumps them

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    Advocates seek action to aid dozens of farms in Vermont, New York   Several dozen organic dairy farms in Vermont and upstate New York, including 17 in Washington County alone, are looking for new buyers for their milk after Danone, the multinational corporation that owns the Horizon Organic brand, announced it will stop buying from read more

    Farmers reel as organic dairy giant dumps them
  • Issue:

    A farmstead cheese maker rebuilds

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    Consider Bardwell resumes scaled-down operation after safety scare   The self-service farm store in the barn at Consider Bardwell Farm is open again now that the farm’s cheese production has resumed. The farm suspended operation in 2019 after a contamination scare. Joan K. Lentini photo   By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer WEST PAWLET, Vt. Two years read more

    A farmstead cheese maker rebuilds
  • Issue:

    Local bread, local flour

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    Bakers’ plans for grain mill would fill gap in region’s food system   Julie Sperling and Doug Freilich stand in front of the wood-fired brick oven where they bake their breads at Naga Bakehouse in Middletown Springs, Vt. photo by Joan K. Lentini   By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer MIDDLETOWN SPRINGS, Vt. Julie Sperling and Doug read more

    Local bread, local flour
  • Issue:

    Rewriting the rules for egg farms

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    Mass. legislators move to change voter-backed law   Cartons of eggs fill a refrigerated display at Guido’s Fresh Marketplace in Pittsfield. Large-scale egg producers are pushing Massachusetts to revise its pending rules for humane treatment of laying hens, though the smaller-scale suppliers of Guido’s aren’t affected by the changes. Susan Sabino photo.   By CRAIG read more

    Rewriting the rules for egg farms
  • Issue:

    Soothing scent, striking color

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    Lavender is key crop at a Columbia County floral farm   Seen across a field of lavender in bloom, visitors gather at a pick-your-own operation at Vine Gate Lavender Floral Farm in Hillsdale, N.Y. Susan Sabino photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer HILLSDALE, N.Y. As a heat wave swept into the Taconic hills in early read more

    Soothing scent, striking color
  • Issue:

    Healthy food and fine art

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      The artist Laurie Goodhart worked at painting ceramic shards in her Cambridge, N.Y., studio last month in preparation for an upcoming exhibit. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. Just up the hill from a blossoming magnolia tree sits the lifeblood of Laurie Goodhart’s 8-acre property: the garden. Stepping inside read more

    Healthy food and fine art