Forts Ferry Farm is a family-owned produce farm, and marketplace located in Latham, NY, tucked away in the upper Hudson Valley between the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. On our sprawling 60+ acre farm, you’ll find a boutique marketplace stocked with farm-grown produce, provisions, and delicious bites to eat from our on-site eatery—FOR FUN. Customers are invited to commune and enjoy our delicious products and refreshing views of the field with open-air seating during the warmer months.

HOW IT STARTED

Back in 2014, late in their twenties, Emma and John were in a transitional part of life. Having recently departed successful careers built in the hustle and bustle of the restaurant industry, they were in search of something new…something a bit more wholesome and quiet. With a passion for food still the driving force behind their hard work, new ambitions of wanting to farm chef-quality produce, for themselves, and others to cook with, began to take shape.

Their search began in the farm-laden hills of the Hudson Valley but they couldn’t find a property that felt quite right. But when they visited Emma’s hometown in the Capital Region later that year, they learned that a farmland property had become available in the heart of Latham, NY. This sprawling property, nestled in the center of suburbia, appealed to all their senses and would eventually become known as Forts Ferry Farm.

In an area once known entirely for the richness of its farmland, including the farm where Emma’s Irish immigrants raised, maternal grandmother grew up in the 1930s, there is sadly little left. Though Emma and John had never considered moving back to the area, they knew they wanted a property that would offer a close connection to the community, and an opportunity to fill the void of farm-grown food. To farm in an area with such little farmland left was an opportunity as unique as the varieties of produce they would soon grow. As this blank canvas of land sits vulnerably, waiting to be swallowed up by big developers looking to erect subdivisions, Emma and John would have to move swiftly to secure, preserve, and restore the land, and become founders of their new business.

Emma, the Chief Executive Officer, and John, the Director of Agriculture, have now expanded the company much beyond the two of them. In 2018, they were joined by an additional business partner, James Barker, who has since served as the Chief Creative Officer helping to breathe life into the operation through content, imagery, and branding. From crafting exciting food with the bounty they grow to spreading knowledge about all things farming, the talented individuals of the Forts Ferry Farm team all contribute to the vision of the company in their own unique ways.

Flavor from the ground up. While the business model will continue to evolve for years to come, Emma and John's original vision of growing exciting and delicious food for the local community, a vision near and dear to their hearts, still holds true today.

As a culinary-focused farm, we aspire to grow the most beautiful and delicious food we possibly can while working in harmony with the natural rhythms of the land, the changes of season, and the cycles of nature. The close collaboration between farmers and chefs provides us with a unique opportunity to cultivate a roster of crops that not only grow well, but also taste GOOD.

CHICKENS

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Between the fields, three greenhouses, and a handful of satellite test plots, we grow over 250 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers from seed.

The varieties of produce we grow are thoughtfully selected by our knowledgeable chefs and farmers, almost all of which are heirloom varieties with their own stories to tell. Rich in history AND in taste, heirloom produce like Little Gem Lettuce, Paul Robeson Tomato, Jimmy Nardello Peppers, and French Breakfast Radish offer unmatched flavors and nutritional benefits—loved by us and revered by chefs and diners alike.

Informed by hands-on experience, our culinary and farm teams gather at the beginning of each year to settle on the types and varieties of produce we will be growing for upcoming months based on what grew well and what tasted best in the past. Our crop plan is ever-evolving as we’re always in for an adventure, searching for new and interesting flavors. Though it takes time, planning, and lots of trial and error, we make sure to test out unique crop varieties that excite us throughout every planting season. To see whether they can adapt well to the growing conditions of our farm and the hardiness zone we are in, information such as crop yield, pest and disease load, and harvest timing are all rigorously recorded and extensively cataloged by our farm team.

If there's one thing we love more than growing the food we eat, it's eating the food we grow. New crop varieties are harvested, sometimes at different stages of maturity, and set aside for the kitchen where our skillful chefs will test out ways of preparation that best accentuate the freshness and the unique flavor profiles of the ingredient at hand.

Folded into the rotation for future planting schedules, the tried-and-true varieties like La Ratte Potato and Habanada Pepper will stay with us for the long haul, ready to be discovered by our customers, and eventually, incorporated into the rotating menu of our farm-to-table eatery.

Besides vegetables and herbs, we also grow over 90 varieties of flowers each year harvested from June to early September, including stunning edible flowers that will add color, fragrance, and flavors to any dishes, desserts, or drinks. Cut flowers are available fresh in the warmer seasons at our Market or through our CSA program while some of which will be dried and incorporated into bouquets and wreaths—ready to brighten up your home during the colder months.

We are committed to producing high-quality food through sustainable practices, in order to encourage responsible land stewardship.

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Our Team

The FFF team is a collective of friends and family that keeps it all exciting here at Forts Ferry Farm. We’re energetic, inquisitive, and thoughtful, and we are always happy to help in whatever way we can. As engaged members of our community, we cultivate strong roots, mutual support, and collaboration. As a family business, a tight-knit team, and your neighbors, we work diligently to facilitate Forts Ferry Farm as a catalyst for shared experiences—a place where anyone and everyone can come together and enjoy good food, good friends, and great times.