Stop & Shop Has Local Produce; Where Do You Get Yours?

Much to my own surprise, the garden we planted is actually yielding. It’s not that I don’t have faith in my husband’s New Jersey-born green thumb, it’s just that usually everything green within my 100-foot radius dies. Perhaps we owe the garden success to the fact that my only participation has been limited to weeding.

But though our crops are coming in, I still like to sample other local harvest. Here’s a round-up of where you can buy local, including Stop & Shop, which makes buying local very easy if you are shopping for the week's groceries as well.

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Wherever you pledge your local produce allegiance, we want to know so add your suggestions to the comments.

Long live summer! 

Stop & Shop Local Route
22 Leetes Island Road, 203-481-3392

For a taste of what’s growing statewide, Stop & Shop offers the Local Route produce stand. The closest farm to Branford represented there is Cecarelli Farms out of Northford. Head in to the store to check them out our visit their website to see who else is participating.

206 S. Montowese, Indian Neck, 203-488-0841.

Alongside  is a small stand where the family that owns the garage sells fresh produce and flowers. From local honey and maple syrup to tulips, Mike's Vegetable Stand offers a wide variety of locally grown goods. Hours for the store are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; hours for the stand are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

710 Leetes Island Rd., Stony Creek, 203-488-3578.

While Medlyn's is open year round for fresh eggs ($3 per dozen) and firewood, the market really begins to swing into gear when the strawberries ripen! Tomatoes follow, and then corn, which is the market's biggest seasonal seller. Customers welcome  from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Montowese Street at the Branford River

A dairy and vegetable farm since the 1900s, the Sansone Farm is still producing vegetables for sale. You can visit the farm stand from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. While you're there, you can see the idyllic view of the steeples above Branford Center on the other side of the river, just beyond the pasture where the two Sansone family horses graze.

33 Branford Road, North Branford, 203-488-7996.

Up in neighboring North Branford, Rose Orchards has a seasonal farm market, bakery, and creamery that sells homemade, old fashioned custard. Get more information on their website.

Information about local vegetable stands provide by Alana Joli Abbott and published in Branford Patch, April, 2011 and July, 2011.