Forts Ferry Farm ShoppeFrom Upstate, New York produce farm Forts Ferry Farm, the new urban farm shop offers farm-grown produce, farm-made pantry items, curated antique table attire and whimsical gifts

Hudson, NY (February 2024) – Forts Ferry Farm, the produce farm in Upstate, New York from a collective of acclaimed chefs, farmers and artists, opens the Farm Shoppe in the heart of historic Hudson, New York (554 Warren St, Hudson, New York). From James Beard Award-nominated chef Emma Hearst, chef and farmer John Barker and artist James (Jamie) Barker, the 100-acre farm is guided by their mission to have fun while growing and sharing chef-quality produce with communities throughout New York.

An extension of the farm, the Farm Shoppe offers Forts Ferry Farm-grown produce and flowers, farm-made baked goods, soups and frozen entrees, curated pantry items and antique table attire sourced by Emma. Designed in collaboration with Emma and designer Michelle Smith of Studio MRS (recipient of Elle Decor A-List 2023), the store is meant to feel like a sumptuous garden foyer, with seafoam walls with pops of jade green, embellished with floor to ceiling handmade wood treillage.

THE TEAM

Emma, John and Jamie opened Forts Ferry Farm in 2015. Previously, Emma was the chef-owner of Sorella, a beloved neighborhood Italian restaurant in the Lower East Side that received glowing reviews from The New York Times, New York Magazine and The New Yorker. She was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and nominated as a James Beard Award Semifinalist. After years of working in the kitchen, Emma and her husband John – who met at culinary school and worked together at Sorella – wanted to shift focus to the ingredients they were in search of daily as chefs. They joined forces with John’s brother Jamie (they were raised on a 1,000 acre farm in Ohio), an artist whose practice spans the gamut of photography, ceramic sculpture, digital media, found objects and furniture design, and opened Forts Ferry Farm. 

Over the last eight years, Forts Ferry Farm has quickly grown from offering a handful of vegetable varieties to hundreds of vegetables, fruits, flowers and more. The farm is also known for its fresh baked goods, granola, honey and condiments utilizing farm produce. 

THE FARM SHOPPE

At the Farm Shoppe, Forts Ferry Farm diversifies its offerings, including:

  • Pantry staples: Vibrant hot sauces and chili powders made with the farm’s signature pepper crop, raw honey (spring and fall honey, creamed honey, hot honey), granola (Cherry Almond and Sesame Coconut), farm-made salad dressings, Laurel & Ash Farm  maple syrup, tinned fish, olive oils and vinegars, farm fresh eggs and more. 
  • Seasonal farm produce (fluctuating with the seasons): 15 varieties of tomatoes, 20 varieties of hot peppers, 20 varieties of greens, 20 varieties of herbs including specialty herbs like Huacatay, Epazote and Mexican Marigold, salad mixes, sprouts and shoots, microgreens and more. 
  • Farm-made baked goods, pantry items and frozen meals: Farm Cookies (White Chocolate Black Sesame Cookies, Giant Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies), Snacking Cakes (Carrot Cake, Malted Milkshake Cake, Chocolate Brownie Cake, Banana Hazelnut Cake), and Focaccia, in addition to frozen entrees, soups and sauces.
  • Florals (fluctuating with the seasons): Over 100 varieties of fresh flowers, dried floral bouquets, floral wreaths, and more.
  • Antique table attire + unique gifts: Europe sourced antiques like terrines, serving platters, vases, glass and ceramic pitchers, Murano glass bowls and tea pots, alongside a curated selection of napkin rings, candles, hand dyed linens, decorative cake toppers, kitchen tools, books on food and farming, Stone Pocket journals, and more. 

Located in Latham, New York, Forts Ferry Farm can also be found year round at Troy Waterfront Farmers Market in Troy, New York. This Spring, Emma will release Flavors From the Farm (April 30, 2024; Weldon Owen), with 100+ recipes inspired by the seasonal produce at Forts Ferry Farm. From choosing seeds, to making use of microseasons, to creating quick and vibrant meals, Flavors from the Farm encourages home cooks to maximize home-grown vegetables and fruits, and farmers’ market selections. 

The Farm Shoppe is open Thursday through Saturday from 11:30AM to 6:30PM. For more information, follow Forts Ferry Farm on Instagram @fortsferryfarmshoppe and visit fortsferryfarmshoppe.com. 

Emma Hearst, chef, author, founder of Forts Ferry Farm

A lifelong New Yorker, Emma has always been drawn to the power of food to bring people together. Previously, Emma was the chef-owner of Sorella, a beloved neighborhood Italian restaurant in the Lower East Side that received glowing reviews from outlets like The New York Times, New York Magazine and The New Yorker. For her work, she was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and nominated as a James Beard Award Semifinalist. She was the youngest contestant to ever compete on Iron Chef, and is the author of Sorella Cookbook.

On April 30th, 2024, Emma will release Flavors From the Farm (Weldon Owen), which features 100+ recipes inspired by the seasonal produce at Forts Ferry Farm. From choosing seeds, to making use of microseasons, to creating quick and vibrant meals, Flavors from the Farm encourages home cooks to maximize home-grown vegetables and fruits, and farmers’ market selections. 

John Barker, chef, founder and head of agriculture of Forts Ferry Farm

John and his brother Jamie were raised on their 1,000 acre family farm in Ohio. His childhood was filled with memories of clipping bushels of freshly picked green beans, shucking sweet summer corn, and peeling heirloom tomatoes for canning. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, John spent years working in kitchens around the country, before heading to New York to join Emma at Sorella. Throughout his years in the kitchen, John remained drawn to agriculture and spent time volunteering at nearby farms (like Stone Barns in New York and Pumpkin Pond Farm in Massachusetts), and in 2015, he opened Forts Ferry Farm with Emma. As the Head of Agriculture, John oversees the crop production, livestock and operations. He continues to experiment with different produce varieties and growing techniques. 

James (Jamie) Barker, artist and chief creative of Forts Ferry Farm

Jamie’s childhood memories are filled with tinkering with anything he could get his hands on at his family’s 1,000 acre farm in Ohio. As an artist, his practice has spanned the gamut, including photography, ceramic sculpture, digital media, found objects, and retail store and furniture design. 

He holds an MFA from Alfred University, a BFA from Ohio University, and has undertaken Post-Baccalaureate studies at Kansas State University and the University of Montana. He’s also held faculty positions, teaching foundations, drawing, ceramics and sculpture at The Ohio State University and Alfred University, and served as the Exhibitions Coordinator and Chief Preparator at the Stamps School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan. 

As the Chief Creative Officer at Forts Ferry Farm, James helps tell the story of the farm through compelling visuals and texts. He leads all creative and design projects, and is also the in-house “maker” for various infrastructure build-outs. He has designed and built Forts Ferry Farm’s Mobile Chicken Coop, firewood storage sheds, compost bucket racks, mobile photography booth, and countless custom cabinets and furniture pieces throughout the farm. 

###