Our favorite annual North Fork food event is here, and of course, it’s kid-friendly!
(Photo credit: Petite North Fork)
More than Christmas Day or even the first day of summer (GASP!), the North Fork Foodie Tour is my most favorite day of the year. There’s no closer inside look at our local North Fork farms, vineyards, breweries, and food artisans. My husband and I have taken and adored the Foodie Tour every year for over a decade, but our love for this annual event has only grown since having children and sharing our appreciation of the North Fork’s bounty with them.
On Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Annual North Fork Foodie Tour, which celebrates its 20th year and is presented by the North Fork Reform Synagogue, will allow tour-goers access to 20 locations in the agriculture, farming, wine, beverage, and specialty food industries, in addition to guest speakers and conversations at Charnews Farm by industry professionals; however, you may want to skip the speakers if you have younger kids.
“The tour is meant to give visitors an appreciation for how food happens; give them the opportunity to meet the local artisans who devote their lives to producing distinctive foods and beverages, and learn how it is done,” Ellen Zimmerman, Chairman of the North Fork Foodie Tour, told us in a past interview. “Children and adults can learn firsthand where their food comes from before it ends up wrapped in plastic at the grocery store. The tour might even inspire some young visitors to an agriculture-based career, either as farmers or researchers focused on earth-friendly, regenerative farming practices.”
This family-friendly tour, with stops from Baiting Hollow to Greenport, is self-guided, meaning you can choose the stops you and your family are most interested in. This style of tour also takes the pressure off having to stick to an exact schedule.
In past years, our family found Foodie Tour stops at 8 Hands Farm, Catapano Dairy Farm, Little Ram Oyster Company, Mattituck Mushrooms, North Fork Flower Farm, and Disset Chocolate to be the most kid-friendly. Many of these tour stops will be offered again on this year’s Foodie Tour.
There are also three new additions to this year’s tour. North Fork Foodie Tour committee member, Sharna Nicholson, shared the details.
“This year, we have added Lenz Winery, Peeko Oysters, and Zafferano Farm,” said Sharna. “The first two are somewhat familiar to many. Zafferano Farm is a small, no-till operation dedicated to ethical and sustainable growing practices. They share their small farm with Soul Creations, who produces and sells medicinal and culinary herbs, salves, and teas.”
View the complete schedule of tour times set for each location and plan out your day in advance, leaving room to explore, adventure, and eat.
Tickets to the North Fork Foodie Tour cost $35/adult and is free for children 12 and under. You can purchase tickets in advance here or on the day of at any tour location.