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:

    From life’s apples, gourmet vinegars

    Fruit reductions highlight flavors as orchard-based distillery branches out Derek Grout shows off a couple of varieties of his new Hudson Valley Vinegar brand, produced from apples grown at his family’s Golden Harvest Farms in Valatie. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer VALATIE, N.Y. The 200 acres of spindly, gray apple trees read more

    From life’s apples, gourmet vinegars
  • Issue:

    Cow power — N.Y. farms are slow to follow Vermont, Mass.

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    Manure-to-energy systems could aid farms, environment, but few in N.Y. opt in Three generations of the Wagner family — Peter, Louise and Keith Wagner — stand in front of the anaerobic biodigester at their dairy farm in Brunswick, N.Y. The device converts cow manure and other agricultural wastes into methane that can be burned for read more

    Cow power — N.Y. farms are slow to follow Vermont, Mass.
  • Issue:

    Pub snacks with a purpose

    New brand, Battenkill Bites, made by team of adults with disabilities KC Scott and Aaron Cook roll out dough to make pretzels in the commercial kitchen at the Cossayuna firehouse. Scott and Cook are both baker/cooks for Battenkill Culinary Services, a team that includes adults with developmental disabilities. The group makes snack foods for area read more

    Pub snacks with a purpose
  • Issue:

    Bakery’s mission: Gluten-free that’s good

    Quest for better bread gives rise to storefront, cafe MaryAnna O’Donnell and Jeanne Daley show off some of the baked goods they sell at Saratoga Gluten Free Goods, their year-old bakery and cafe in Schuylerville. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. On a recent Monday morning, Jeanne Daley and MaryAnna read more

    Bakery’s mission: Gluten-free that’s good
  • Issue:

    Happenchance Farm — Serendipity was just the start

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    Across two decades, Happenchance Farm keeps growing organic niche Jamie Snyder kneels with his dogs, Maggie and Benny, in front of a field of broccoli at Happenchance Farm, the certified organic farm Snyder started nearly 20 years ago in the Washington County town of White Creek. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer read more

    Happenchance Farm — Serendipity was just the start
  • Issue:

    At Wild Oats food co-op, testing limits of cooperation

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    Workers at a food co-op form a union, testing limits of collectivism By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.   Erin Merrigan, left, and Karen Kane show off buttons supporting a labor union at Wild Oats Market. Workers at the food co-op in Williamstown voted to unionize in February 2016, but the union and management have read more

    At Wild Oats food co-op, testing limits of cooperation
  • Issue:

    Saving a strawberry farm

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    $1.5M campaign aims to preserve Columbia County destination By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer ANCRAM, N.Y.   Don and Marnie MacLean have been running Thompson-Finch Farm, best known for its pick-your-own organic strawberries, since 1982. But a generational change in the farm’s ownership has threatened to force the sale of the property. Local conservation groups have launched read more

    Saving a strawberry farm
  • Issue:

    Juice bar puts healthy, sinful under one roof

    SoCo Creamery partners with juice enthusiasts in retail showcase By STACEY MORRISContributing writer GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. Leigh Duffin pours a concoction of freshly squeezed juice at the SoCo Oasis juice bar in Great Barrington. The year-old operation is a collaboration between local ice cream maker SoCo Creamery and juice makers Noah and Ari Meyerowitz, also read more

    Juice bar puts healthy, sinful under one roof
  • Issue:

    Keeping the spirits local

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    Washington County distillery relies on area corn and grains By STACEY MORRISContributing writer FORT ANN, N.Y.   Tom McDougall, left, the general manager of Lake George Distilling Co., and owners Robin and John McDougall show off some of their products at the distillery’s headquarters in Fort Ann. Joan K. Lentini photo John McDougall was propelled read more

    Keeping the spirits local
  • Issue:

    Rediscovering an ancient elixir

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    Couple’s health scare gives rise to kombucha-brewing business By STACEY MORRISContributing writer HUDSON FALLS, N.Y.   Ryan and Jennifer Bremser hold bottles of Simply Kombucha, the beverage they now produce commercially in Hudson Falls. The Bremsers started making the slightly fermented tea for themselves two years ago as Jennifer underwent cancer treatment, and the project read more

    Rediscovering an ancient elixir