Farm News
This week, the ASPCA is hosting an online “Farm Animals Awareness Week.” While the ASPCA is most known for their work with companion animals, they have recognized that consumers can choose to support farms who raise their animals humanely and with the highest standards of care and welfare. Our farm and our dairy products have been part of their inaugural “Shop with your Heart” program, and our goat dairy has been certified “Animal Welfare Approved” (A Greener World) since 2010. As many of our patrons know, we have treated our goats like family since we opened our doors in 2005. We strive to provide them with an environment that lets them express their natural behaviors—letting goats be goats (with fencing!!). We have always believed that healthy soils and vibrant forage is the foundation for healthy and happy goats. We have designed our dairy so that our goats can live long productive lives. We celebrate their milestones and mourn their losses. We are not typical of most commercial goat dairies, but we believe you can taste the difference.
Farm Open Hours—VISIT THE FARM, CHECK OUT OUR “FARM BAR”—ENJOY SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL FOOD AROUND!
The heat returns AGAIN this weekend, but you can still enjoy an outing to the farm with both outdoor and indoor (air-conditioned) dining options available. Guests can enjoy artfully crafted cheese and charcuterie boards, small bites highlighting what’s local and in season and weekly specials. We feature artisan breads from Publican Quality Bread (Chicago, IL) and scones from Alchemy Coffee & Bakehouse (Wilmette IL). Sunday brunch “Bloody Mary’s are made from scratch, using organic tomatoes from Blue Moon Farm (Urbana IL). Need more enticing? Come try some amazing wines that you can’t find anywhere else in Champaign-Urbana! This week’s featured menu items include:
Cheese boards
Charcuterie Boards featuring Piemonte Sausage Co. and Underground Meats salumi
Publican Quality Bread (PQB) crostini du jour (changes weekly)
PFFC “pimento cheese” dip with house-made pickles & PBQ bread
Canary Melon Mimosas—all weekend long!!
Come try a wine flight this Friday night! We’ll feature three wines from our Organic & Biodynamic Portfolio for a set price. Wine not your thing? Enjoy a cold brew from our newest selection of local microbrews, kombucha beer and hard cider! We’re very excited about these new libations.
Hours are:
Fridays, 4-8 pm
Saturdays, 11-8 pm
Sundays, 11-5 pm
In the farm store, we now feature vegetables from new farmer “Open Hands Farm.” Selections change weekly but right now, you can expect tomatoes, okra, parsley, beets, garlic and potatoes for sure. Fall carrots might make an appearance too!
Farm Dinners and Farm Events are BACK! Please check our Eventbrite page in the next day or so for new ticket sales! Look for a special wine tasting event on September 29th in partnership with Art Mart’s Todd Fusco. We’re excited about a very special Mezcal and Small Plates Pairing Event with Alex Jandernoa of Banhez Mezcal, Oaxaca, Mexico on October 9th. Save the date for a Sunday afternoon of Neopolitan style pizza (Pizzeria Antica), cannoli and gelato with The Tony Cannoli of Lincoln Illinois-October 17th. We’re also planning a beer and brats event on October 21st with Middlebrow Brewery and D&M Meats as well as our “Goaty Halloween” festivities on Sunday October 31st.
Urbana’s Market at the Square: Featured Items Going to Market This Saturday-7 am to 12 noon
Once again, the weekend weather will be PERFECT for a shopping spree at the farmer’s market this Saturday. Many fruit and vegetable farmers are starting to offer some fall produce (apples, winter squash, fall greens for example), but still have loads of the summer goodies (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant). It’s really my favorite time of year for local food eating. Our bloomy rind cheeses are young this weekend, but we have lots of other great cheeses for you to enjoy; whether you’re entertaining guests or just wanting to enjoy some simply prepared foods.
Can’t make it to the market? No worries! Order from our online store for farm pick up either Saturday or Sunday during farm open hours.
Here’s the line-up of offerings for this weekend:
Fresh Mozzarella! Yes, you read that right! We are now making fresh mozzarella with the amazing cow milk from Rocky Road Dairy. Like all of our cheeses, we make this cheese as close to traditional methods as possible. Comes as a perfectly formed ball (approximately 5-6 oz)-perfect for your very own caprese salads as well as homemade pizza!
Gidget’s Grilling Cheese-made with rich, grass-fed cow’s milk from Rocky Road Farm. Grill or pan fry to get some nice caramelization on the outside. Drizzle with local honey and a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh herbs. Enjoy with crusty baguette and roasted tomatoes.
Artisan Cottage Cheese-summer milk from grazing cows makes an AMAZING cottage cheese. It is both gorgeous (lovely yellow in color-a testament to the grass the cows are eating) and delicious. If you think cottage cheese is boring, you really need to give this a try! It’s a game changer!
Pimento cheese dip—so popular, we’re making another batch -featuring organic red peppers from Blue Moon Farm and parmesan like cheese called “Everton Reserve” from our cow-dairy friends at Jacobs & Brichford in Indiana). Can’t wait to share this with you all!
Fresh chevre
Plain
Herbs de Provence
Cracked peppercorn
Dried Tomato!! Grab some before it’s gone!
Angel Food: This little “crottin” style bloomy rind (aka mini-brie) is super young but VERY tasty. Enjoy sliced on a bed of wilted fall greens (arugula or mustard greens) lightly dressed with a simple vinaigrette
Black Goat-our ash-ripened bloomy-this batch is also young, so let it ripen in your fridge for a bit. 2021 SILVER MEDAL FROM NY INTERNATIONAL CHEESE COMPETITION!
Fleur de la Prairie-decorated with dried herbs and edible flowers, also young but beautiful and delicious! 2021 GOOD FOOD AWARD WINNER
Pelota Roja- raw goat milk Manchego style cheese with a guajillo-olive oil rub—so good for shaving over a tomato and basil salad or grilled eggplant! 2021 GOOD FOOD AWARD WINNER!
Goat Milk Feta aged in Whey Brine-try with grilled peaches and a drizzle of honey (sweet and salty and sublime). Watermelon season is HERE for your feta-watermelon salads!
Goat Milk Yogurt—it makes a great smoothie or enjoy with your favorite granola and fresh berries- available in both pints and quarts!
Goat Milk Gelato by Pint (4-5 flavors at the market; many more at the farm)
If you’re interested in buying fresh raw goat milk, you can either order from our online store for farm pick up on the weekends, or just visit our farm store during open hours—now offering both quarts and half gallons in our refrigerated display case.
Goats for Sale
Looking for a family milking goat or a 4-H project for your kids? Looking to build a small herd to make some goat milk soaps and skin care products? Looking to expand your commercial dairy goat herd? Want some goats to keep your invasive plants at bay? How about a few goats to take on hikes? We have what you’re looking for! Our goats are certified “Animal Welfare Approved,” registered through the American Dairy Goat Association AND super happy and healthy. Send us an email (prairiefruitsinfo@gmail.com) and we’ll let you know what we have available.
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