What’s Sprouting At Local Farm Stands At The End Of July

Kicking off their first year as landowners, the Amber Waves crew are excited to be ushering in another great summer of produce after nearly a decade of farming in Amagansett. Stop by their full-service stand this week for cherry tomatoes, raspberries, green peppers and Japanese eggplant fresh from the fields.

Farmer Amanda Merrow also recommends their garlic, which will be plentiful for the rest of the season. As for the new digs, she said, “We are so honored to be part of Amagansett for the long term.” She and co-founder Katie Baldwin encourage passersby to stop in and check out their green space, as well as summer programming, which includes cooking classes for kids on Tuesdays and farm chores on the weekend.

Located in the Amagansett Farmers Market building at 375 Main Street in Amagansett, Amber Waves is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Onsite summer programming includes farm chores every Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and cooking classes for kids on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon.

Tucked onto the back roads of Water Mill, the historic Halsey Farm has been in operation on the same site since 1747. The now-12th generation growers welcome customers to their stand to pick up their mixed cut flower bouquets, featuring snapdragons, zinnias, bachelor buttons, cleome and other annuals, as well as sunflower bunches.

Farmer Adam Halsey said that thanks to a “great growing season,” radishes, beets, arugula and “all of the good stuff we have all the time” are in full force right now. Blackberries and cherry tomatoes are kicking off their season, while raspberries are in the middle of theirs. Keep your eyes peeled for cantaloupes in the next week.

Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, the Halsey Farm stand is located on 513 Deerfield Road in Water Mill.

Opening this week, the new Americana farm store at Mecox Bay Dairy is nothing different from what the Ludlow family has been doing before, said farmer Pete Ludlow, but the products will just be more accessible. Mecox pastured pork and grass-fed beef will be available for pickup, and can also be preordered in bulk.

The stand will be self-serve and feature favorites like The Mecox Sunrise, a washed-rind tomme style cheese, and Farmhouse Cheddar, an English-style cheddar. Partially the impetuous for Mecox’s new quarters, the dairy’s famous raw milk will also be available. All of the dairy and meat products were raised on site.

On 855 Mecox Road in Bridgehampton, Mecox Bay Dairy’s new farm store is open every day. Styled as a self-serve stand, customers are invited to stop by whenever.

Off Town Lane in Amagansett, Balsam Farms is in early stages of its sweet corn season. Farmer Alex Balsam said, “The corn is only getting better from here on out.”

The stand also has red, white and blue potatoes, which are great for roasting. Peas are still going strong, but they will soon stop producing. Sungold cherry tomatoes, which are “always a big hit,” are hitting the stand now as well.

Open from 9 to 7 p.m every day, Balsam Farm Stand is located at 284 Town Lane in Amagansett.