Advertisement

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT

Quick Bite | Westfield

Local, Fresh and in Season

Alan Weinberg has never worked a day in his life on a farm. But he appreciates how important farmers are to consumers who want to know who grows their food.

“Food is an important thing for people, and for them to find out where it’s from is exciting,” said Mr. Weinberg, 39, who, along with his business partner, Michael Goldblatt, opened Alan’s Orchard in downtown Westfield in September.

At their cozy shop, which Mr. Weinberg said was “sort of like a European market where everything is fresh and in season,” they focus on selling a carefully chosen mix of fruits and vegetables, some of them organic, along with meats and dairy products that come from farms or artisans within a radius of about 150 miles. Notecards with background information on the source are placed by some products.

Offerings change daily, but there’s enough to bring home the makings of a meal. On a recent day, there was a cornucopia of fall produce: white, orange and red sweet potatoes, along with heirloom peppers, carrots, Bosc pears and Honeycrisp apples (prices vary). Refrigerators and cases are stocked with grass-fed beef from Beechtree Farm in Hopewell (steaks from $8.99 to $19.99 a pound), cheeses from Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley and chicken pot pies from Griggstown Quail Farm and Market in Princeton ($19.99 each, feeds four to six), among other items. There are pantry staples, too, like jams, ketchup and honey.

Baked goods include loaves of whole-wheat bread and fruit pies ($12.99). The tangy frozen yogurt, made from actual yogurt, not powder, is one of the most popular items ($3.99 a cup, about eight ounces). “There aren’t any foods with ingredients that my first-grader couldn’t pronounce,” Mr. Weinberg said. KELLY FEENEY

Alan’s Orchard, 102 Quimby Street, Westfield; (908) 654-0700. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. alansorchard.com.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Section NJ, Page 12 of the New York edition with the headline: Local, Fresh and in Season. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

Advertisement

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT