Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties are premier destinations for cyclists and food lovers alike. With scenic views, agricultural assets and year round breathtaking countryside, it’s hard not to fall in love. Mitch Morrison, a Sussex County resident, recognized how special western New Jersey is and was inspired to created Tour de Farm New Jersey, where fitness is paired with gorgeous scenery and local, gourmet, farm-fresh eating.
This is Tour de Farm’s third season and what started out as more of a bike tour has blossomed into “a multi-weekend harvest season event with three separate county cycle routes featuring their own farm and tasting tours along the way with each culminating with their own very special Farm to Fork Dining experiences in the fields of three incredible NJ farms,” says Chef George Mandakas of Big Bang Kitchens in New York. Chef Mandakas has been working with Morrison since the tour’s inception and will be catering the Warren County tour with the help of Jeanny Cosgrove-Race, of Race Farm in Blairstown.
Both serious cyclists and more casual riders will enjoy the feeling of the open road and scenery as they make their way around to various farms. There, participants will get a glimpse at the real story behind the farm-to-fork concept and what it means to be locally sourced, when it comes to food.
Meeting the farmer and knowing where your food comes from can be life changing. Being able to tell the difference between an unripe tomato and a ripe heirloom green tomato really enhances your enjoyment of fresh food and may inspire you to learn about food seasonally and small farm deliciousness. Tour de Farm will provide transportation for coolers so that participants can purchase fresh farm fare on their journey. It’s like a farmers market on wheels.
Tour de Farm New Jersey will start the tour with a locally sourced breakfast (if you haven’t, wait until you try some farm-fresh eggs) and a post-ride pay-off: a farm-to-fork dinner cooked by professional chefs and made with fresh, local ingredients.
Tour de Farm New Jersey reflects what local agriculture is all about: community and healthy lifestyles. So grab your bike, meet some new friends and learn about local, sustainable farming. From the sound of it, I bet you’ll be talking about your scenic adventures with extraordinary meals and intimate visits with New Jersey farmers for a long time. Click here for more information.
This season’s tours:
August 2: Hunterdon County
September 6: Sussex County
September 19: Warren County
