This summer, celebrate the North Fork’s sustainability efforts by patronizing some of its best vendors. From fresh-from-the-Bay oysters to crunchy sourdough to lavender-flavored salts, the North Fork has everything you need (and more) when it comes to locally grown, sustainable food. Here are some of the area’s best spots.
Peeko Oysters
Located in the town of New Suffolk, this oyster operation delivers some of the North Fork’s most delicious bivalves. Buy 25, 50, or 100 oysters, raised in Little Peconic Bay, on site or online, at
www.peekooysters.com and revel in the briny, local magic of these North Fork jewels. Not only will you be supporting a local business, but you’ll also be supporting the health of the water, since oysters are known for their ability to keep the environment clean.
1610 Bakehouse
The dedicated bakers at this North Fork bakery produce artisanal sourdough breads from a starter that began in 2015. Organic, stone-milled flour from upstate New York’s Farmer Ground Flour,
combined with a rigorous, 36-hour baking process yields a nutritious, easily digestible, and particularly flavorful bread. Breads can be pre-ordered for pickup in Calverton, but buyer beware: they sell out quickly, so definitely plan ahead. Order your loaf at www.1610bakehouse.com.
Lavender by the Bay
The Rozenbaum family has owned and operated this lavender farm, in East Marion, since 2002. The 17-acre farm has over 80,000 lavender plants, and
they convert their purple fields into everything from essential oils to sachets to liquid hand soaps to flavored salts. In fact, the store has a whole culinary section, offering lavender extract, herbes d’Provence, lavender fleur de sel, edible dried lavender bunches, and dried lavender for cooking. An in-person visit unearths the complexity of this delicate flower, though you can also shop for select items from the store online, at
www.lavenderbythebay.com.
Greenport Fire
Do yourself (and your palate) a favor and stop into Greenport Fire, where there’s no shortage of heat, regardless of the weather. The store stocks small-batch hot sauces (and even offers hot sauce subscriptions) for the strong-of-palate. Greenport makes their own sauce, and they also stock other sauces from other producers. Plus, they carry Greenport Jerky Company’s beef jerky, in signature flavors, like the tender Habanero beef jerky, a spicy snack that will really get the blood moving. If you can’t make it to the store, join the Hot Sauce of the Month club online, at www.feelthefireny.com.
Ty Llwyd Farm
In Northville, you’ll find Ty Llwyd Farm (the name means brown house, in Welsh), home to brown eggs, seasonal produce, hay, potatoes, and raw milk. The farm is the only one permitted to legally sell raw milk on Long Island, and the creamy, delicious dairy product is a must-try for those who have only had homogenized, pasteurized milk. The historic farm, which was built in the 1870s by a great uncle of co-owner David Wines, is a picturesque place to pick up groceries. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and the farm grows everything it sells.
