Fleisher’s Expands

May 25th, 2010

Jessica and Joshua ApplestoneFleisher’s Grass-Fed & Organic Meats has developed several sidelines built upon its successful retail business, which specializes in sustainable meats sourced from a 50-mile radius. It has expanded to sell soap stocks (made from tallow) and prepared foods. It wholesales to eight restaurants in New York City, making a delivery one day a week. It also offers a six-week butcher shop training program for $10,000; so far, eight students have graduated, and the class is booked through February. Several graduates have opened butcher shops of their own, according to co-owner Jessica Applestone.

 “We’re bringing back a lost art,” said Applestone. “We learned our trade from Tom Schneller [former owner of Schnellor’s, an uptown butcher shop that closed a decade ago]. He’s the resident butcher at the CIA [Culinary Institute of America].”

 Applestone said that she and her husband, Joshua, whose grandfather was a butcher, also have served as consultants to a butcher shop opening in L.A. It just goes to prove that being one-of-a-kind can start a trend, leading to all sorts of opportunities.

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Natural Foods Store Opens in the Rondout

May 25th, 2010

Jennifer McKinley-Rakov conceived Kingston Natural Foods Market as a complement to the local buying club she started a couple of years ago, offering local baked goods, specialty ice cream and other diary products. However, she also sells a respectable selection of produce. Right now the store is stocking red leaf lettuce, kale, spring onions, apples, pears, avocados, cabbage, zucchini, arugula, and pea shoots. The grand opening on June 5 from noon to 6 pm will feature a cooking demo. Local farmers are also invited, to help educate people about why their produce is of higher quality than what you’d buy in the supermarket.

McKinley-Rakov said the Rondout community has been very supportive, donating equipment and helping with payment plans. The business will be staffed by family members, including her mom and husband, Paul Rakov. “Every day I come in, I’m so incredibly grateful to the community that helped me get this together,” she said. “It’s really fun, to meet new people and talk about food.”  The store is open Sunday and Monday 10-3 and Wed-Sat 10-6.

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Farmers’ Market Largest in Area

May 25th, 2010

The Kingston Farmers’ Market was started 11 years ago as a way to bring people to Uptown on a day when not much was happening, and it has been a resounding success. As many as 2,000 people attend on a hot summer’s day. “It gives people a chance to discover Uptown, and retailers have an opportunity to tap into the market” by putting up a sign on the premises, said Joe Fitzgerald, a caterer and realtor who serves as the market’s president of the board of directors.

It’s the biggest farm market in the region. This year there will be 32 vendors, including several newcomers: Gadaleto’s Seafood Market, a wholesaler from New Paltz; Chef Ef, who will be serving paella; Keegan Ales; Julia and Isabella, serving prepared foods; Acorn Hill Farm, which sells goat cheese; and Chocolate Revolution, which makes sugar-less chocolate creations. (For traditional artisan chocolates, shoppers can go across the street to Neko’s.)

A booth costs $400 ($300 if the vendor prepays). The proceeds help pay for a publicist and advertisements in the local press. Chronogram is a partial sponsor, and this year, by taking advantage of funds from Pride of New York, a state program that matches funds from the federal government to promote local produce, the market will also be advertised on radio stations WKNY and WKZE.

An adjoining crafts market on John Street will also open on May 29 and be held every first and third Saturdays, strengthening the Farmers Market’s appeal as a destination. Ad hoc musicians liven up the street, and this year, through a program organized by Karen Pillsworth, eight story tellers will be featured. Operation Front Line, sponsored by the Queens Galley, is a six-week program in which small groups of middle school children come to the market to learn culinary skills and nutritional tips from participating farmers. And this season certified nutritionist Holly Anne Shelowitz and Jennifer McKinley, owner of Kingston Natural Foods, will do healthy food demos, alternating each Saturday.

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