This isn't your grandma's vegetable stand

Today's vegetable stands don't just offer good tastes, they HAVE good taste--appealing to all the senses

Fanciful, fragrant garlic bunches dangle from barn rafters

 

 

Like just about everyone, I love a good veggie stand.  Just seeing and touching produce, fresh from the garden with soil still clinging, makes me smile.  And while there's something reminiscent of childhood and endless summer days associated with visiting "old school" vegetable stands, inspecting rows of cucumbers and corn lined up in bins like obedient soldiers, nowadays, customers want more.  And business owners are happy to provide it.

At Blossom Hill Farm in South Blooming Grove, New York, the organic offerings are enhanced by a "crossover" experience, designed to engage all the senses.  Staff at the organic farm focus on all aspects of garden living, encouraging customers to partake of fresh fare in an outdoor dining area, wander lush garden paths or marvel at the artful barn décor, and impressive array of floral bouquets and vegetable offerings.  And though the ambiance of Blossom Hill feels eternal, like walking through Grandma's garden, the innovation sparks a brand new era in the life of the humble veggie stand.

Among the innovations are warm baked goods and individually brewed coffee to complement the healthy vegetable brunches...and always with an eye for "living art" (see the crates overloaded with zinnias in the photo, below).

Just-baked bread and individually brewed coffee are among the offerings

 

Homegrown offerings are becoming increasingly varied as well, catering to the eclectic tastes of customers.  Shoppers can pick up the staples--radishes, beans, turnips and lettuce--but they're also offered unconventional items like hot peppers, tomatillos and green tomatoes for frying.  The expanding array of produce coupled with the whimsical quality of Blossom Hill, and places like it, prove that imagination is key to ensuring customers experience a feast for ALL the senses.