THE FARM
Dancing Ewe Farm
Granville, New York
THE FARMHAND
Jody Somers abandoned a promising career in veterinary medicine for cheese. His passion for the stuff led to an apprenticeship at a Tuscan cheese-making villa, where he met Luisa Scivola. The two eventually married and now make beautiful formaggio together.
THE GOODS
Superb handcrafted ricotta made from the milk of 35 contented Jersey cows and 120 East Friesian sheep ($13 and $15 per pound); and a Tuscan-style hard cheese called caciotta ($17 per pound). Coming soon: pecorino fresco.
THE WHEN AND WHERE
Fridays at Union Square.
THE FARM
Grazin’ Angus Acres Farm
Ghent, New York
THE FARMHAND
Inspired by Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Dan Gibson gave up his senior vice-president of corporate affairs position at Starwoods Hotels to chase chickens and wrangle a 200-plus herd of cattle. Does he miss his old job? “Not one bit.”
THE GOODS
Grass-fed Black Angus steaks, roasts, short ribs, sausage, hot dogs, burgers, marrow bones, and tongue; plus pastured chicken and eggs.
THE WHEN AND WHERE
Fridays at Union Square, and 97th Street and Columbus Ave.; Sundays at Stuyvesant Town and in Carroll Gardens.
THE FARM
Milk Thistle Dairy Farm
Ghent, New York
THE FARMHAND
Dante Hesse worked in vegetable production for Greenmarket standby Hawthorne Valley Farm before realizing that his true calling was not in rhubarb and cucumbers, but in milking certified-organic, mostly grass-fed cows. “Deep down, I always wanted to work with animals,” he says.
THE GOODS
Old-fashioned cream-on-top milk ($3.25 a quart) with a rich, fatty flavor and a sweet, fresh finish; Hesse’s graphic- designer sister is to thank for the nifty bottles.
THE WHEN AND WHERE
Fridays at Union Square; Saturdays at Grand Army Plaza and in Inwood; Sundays at Columbia (114th and Broadway).
THE FARM
Arcadian Pastures
Sloansville, New York
THE FARMHAND
“In Belgium, where I’m from, it’s hard to buy a big piece of property,” says Laurent Danthine. “If you own an acre, that’s something.” So when a 136-acre farm in Schoharie County became available four years ago, Danthine quit his construction job and snapped it up. It’s now home to 20 heritage-breed cows, 30 pigs, 15 sheep, 600 chickens, 200 rabbits, and 1 very busy Belgian.
THE GOODS
Grass-finished beef, pastured lamb, pork, chicken; plus a killer merguez sausage—with all butchering done on the farm
THE WHEN AND WHERE
Mondays at Union Square; Saturdays at Grand Army Plaza and in Greenpoint.