The CT Grown Blog

From Farm Strolls to Flower CSAs: Celebrating Spring with CT Grown

Spring arrives slowly but surely in Connecticut. Daffodils and tulips begin to poke up from the thawing ground, and crocuses begin to appear alongside melting snow. Dogwoods and forsythia burst […]

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Pick a CT Grown CSA in 2024!

The new harvest season will be here before you know it, and there’s still time to sign up for a CT Grown CSA! By joining a Community Supported Agriculture program […]

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Bottoms Up! Bring CT Grown Beverages Home for the Holidays

CT Grown products are a great choice for the family gathering. You’ll also need something to wet your whistle, though, and Connecticut’s farmers have you covered there as well! Check out these options, and raise a glass to CT Grown for the holiday season!

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Put CT Grown on Your Plate for Thanksgiving

You can put CT Grown on your plate for every course of the Thanksgiving feast, from the main course to that extra slice of pie. Check out these recommendations for how to include CT Grown foods at this year’s get-together.

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CT Grown Announces “Put CT Grown On Your Plate” Healthy Eating Challenge

This fall, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s CT Grown program challenges consumers across the state to “Put CT Grown On Your Plate,” a new program that asks residents to make room on their plates for Connecticut-grown or produced foods at every meal.

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Improve Your Farm Marketing with CT Grown Academy

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Miranda Creative, is proud to present CT Grown Academy this fall. These free webinars will offer guidance on how Connecticut farmers and agricultural producers can improve their digital presence, allowing them to better connect with consumers online.

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CT Grown Introduces New Brand Ambassador — Renowned Cheesemaker Lily Orr

Connecticut’s farming industry will have a new voice and face this fall as renowned farmer and cheesemaker Lily Orr has signed on as the new ambassador for CT Grown. Orr, who was raised on a multigenerational dairy farm in Thompson, will be highly visible throughout the state’s entire agricultural landscape — from making video content and social media posts to appearances at agricultural fairs and visiting farms in every corner of Connecticut.

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Celebrate the “Fall-idays” by Putting CT Grown On Your Plate

Looking for a fun day out this fall? Make sure you include CT Grown on your itinerary! With tasty products and unforgettable experiences all throughout the harvest season, Connecticut farms help give autumn its unique character. Whether you’re looking for an interesting weekend activity or need a fun family excursion, you can find it at a local farm. 

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Big E Giveaway — How to Be Eligible for $500 in Prizes!

In honor of the return of The Big E on September 15, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT Grown) is announcing a special prize giveaway running throughout the duration of […]

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Ten Ways to Put CT Grown on Your Plate Each Day

Getting some CT Grown products into your daily diet is easier than you might think. Here are 10 ways you can include CT Grown on your plate each day. 1. […]

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Experiencing CT Grown at Connecticut’s Agricultural Fairs

For more than two centuries, agricultural fairs have offered a way for Connecticut residents to connect with their local farms and find some weekend entertainment. This tradition is still going […]

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Farmers’ Markets – More Than Just a Shopping Trip

Selections of fresh agricultural products under sunny skies. Cool summer breezes as you peruse a selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables. The people who grew the food right there before […]

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How CT Grown Farmers’ Markets Can Offer the Best Value for Your Money

Each year, vendors’ tents begin to pop up at parks and town greens across Connecticut as outdoor farmers’ markets return. Some markets open as soon as early spring vegetables are […]

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CT Grown on Connecticut Open House Day

Connecticut Open House Day will be celebrated on June 10, 2023, and we’re delighted to see so many CT Grown attractions on the list of participants! Check out what’s going […]

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Pick-Your-Own Tips

Pick-your-own season is back in Connecticut, as farms across the state invite you to select your own blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. This activity will continue throughout the season as new […]

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Grilling with CT Grown — Making Local Products Part of Your Barbecue

It’s time to take the “Kiss the Cook” apron out of hibernation, check your propane or charcoal supplies, and get ready for a season of barbecuing. The sizzle of food […]

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CT Grown Flowers – What to Get in April, and Where to Find It

The spring season brings a welcome return of color to the Connecticut landscape, with warming temperatures signaling the start of a new growing season. We’re taking off our winter coats, […]

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How Sweet It Is! Maple Sugaring Season in Connecticut

Late winter is a time when you might notice metal buckets on trees and smoke billowing from rural sugarhouses — sure signs that sugaring season has returned to Connecticut. The […]

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CT Grown Tips to Prepare Your Garden for Spring

Winter is the best time to start planning the next season for your garden, but time is quickly running out! Whether you’re starting a new home garden or reviving an […]

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Black Farmers in Connecticut Working Toward a More Inclusive CT Grown Future

As part of Black History Month, we’re highlighting how Connecticut’s Black-owned farms are planting the seeds for the state’s agricultural future. In addition to providing CT Grown products for the […]

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Indoor Farming Series: Flowers, Tomatoes, and More from CT Grown Greenhouses

Don’t assume that a farm is closed to customers just because it’s winter. If the CT Grown farm near you has greenhouses on the property, they’ll likely still have their […]

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Indoor Farming Series: Cooking with CT Grown Mushrooms

Whether you use them in a stir fry, on a pizza, or with a meat entree, mushrooms are a terrific way to add extra flavor and nutrients to a dish. […]

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Indoor Farming Series: Find Fresh CT Grown Crops This Winter

Are you in the mood for fresh, local produce but don’t think you’ll be able to get it until Connecticut’s fields and gardens come out of hibernation? Think again! With […]

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Meat, Flowers…Seaweed? Explore CT Grown’s Non-Traditional CSA Options

“I don’t think I need a box of vegetables every week.” It’s a leading concern we hear from people who aren’t sure if they’ll benefit from joining a CSA (Community […]

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CT Grown CSAs: A Win-Win for Farmers and Consumers

Everything You Need to Know About Connecticut CSAs Farmers may be less visible during the winter months, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hard at work. Some, like dairy and […]

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Pick CT Grown for Your Holiday Meal Traditions!

No matter how you recognize the holiday season, feasting is a big part of the occasion. When families come together, the dinner table is the perfect place to celebrate with […]

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Lights, Camera, Christmas in Connecticut RECIPES!

The holiday season brings an onrush of classic holiday films, ranging from It’s a Wonderful Life and Frosty the Snowman to more recent movies like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and […]

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This Year, Pick CT Grown for Your Holiday Shopping

Part of the fun (and frustration) of holiday shopping is finding the right gift for everyone on your list. While checking out your local businesses this season, don’t forget to […]

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Why You Should Shop Early for a CT Grown Christmas Tree This Year

Christmas seems to arrive earlier each year. Store displays of yuletide decorations go up as soon as Halloween is over or sometimes even sooner. While these Christmas displays may seem […]

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Get Cozy With CT Grown This Winter — Bundle Up in Warm Sweaters, Stoke the Fires, and More

Winter is coming in Connecticut. While some CT Grown farmers are continuing their growing seasons and attending winter farmers’ markets, others have closed their farm stands until next year and […]

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Your Holiday Wine Guide from Connecticut Wine Country

Finding the perfect Thanksgiving wines You wouldn’t settle for just one course for your Thanksgiving dinner. So why limit your selection of wines?  Having at least three different options available […]

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Moving Inside: CT Grown Winter Markets Keep Fresh Food in Stock During the Cold Months

New Englanders are a hardy people, often stubbornly so. When cold weather arrives, we see no reason to give up the activities we’ve enjoyed in the summer and autumn. We […]

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Six Fresh Ideas for CT Grown Halloween Party Treats

An excuse to play dress-up, put up decorations, and eat sweet treats? No wonder we love Halloween so much. Halloween is also a great time to throw a party, bringing […]

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Out of Our Shell – It’s National Seafood Month and We’re Recognizing CT Grown Aquaculture

More than 31 million oysters were harvested commercially from 60,000 acres of shellfish beds along the Connecticut coast in 2019. For those keeping count, that’s about 9 oysters for every […]

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Farm Breweries and Connecticut Farmers: The Perfect Pairing

When you think CT Grown, you might not picture a frosty glass of local beer. Yet the boom in craft breweries has led to increased demand for local ingredients, which […]

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The Buzz About Connecticut Honey

September marks the time of year when honey collection winds down and beehives are prepared for the winter. The month is observed as National Honey Month, and we’d like to […]

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Find Yourself While Getting Lost in the Corn Mazes of CT Grown

Dappled sunlight.  Distant laughter.  The unique rustle of cornstalks in an early autumn breeze.  We wait all year for the annual tradition of corn mazes and every year, CT Grown […]

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Make CT Grown Food Part of Your Back-to-School Eating Habits

Brace yourself, parents. The whirlwind school day mornings are almost here. School days are often accompanied by a mad scramble to make sure your kids have everything they need, and […]

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Celebrate Farmers’ Market Week and Support Your Local Farmers

There’s no better time to visit your local farmers’ market — not only to support the farms in your community — but to also enjoy local, fresh and healthy foods and high-quality products available at affordable prices. And with more than 100 certified farmers’ markets and farm stands located throughout Connecticut — you are sure to find a great farmers’ market right in your community.

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Connecticut Agricultural Fairs — Where to Find the Fun

Discover our 2022 list of fun and exciting CT agricultural fairs and events. Happening in a town near you, enjoy family fun or a unique date night escape.

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Enjoy a CT Grown Pick-Your-Own Adventure

A meal is supposed to taste better when you prepare it yourself. So the odds are it will be even more delectable if you harvest the food for it as […]

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CT Grown Delivered Right to Your Home!

The first step to ensuring a healthier 2022 is finding a farm near you. Bookmark CTGrown.org in your browser for easy access to the freshest, healthiest meat, dairy, and produce. […]

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To Have and To Hold – The Perfect Wedding!

Do we hear wedding bells in the distance? If you became engaged over the holidays, congratulations! Right now you’re probably just starting your to-do list. Wedding planning season ramps up […]

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Soup’s On!

What’s the best way to keep cozy during a long, beautiful Connecticut winter? Soup, of course! Soup is very easy to prepare and packed with nutrients. The best part is […]

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Make this Holiday Season a CT Grown one with Curated CT Boxes!

Everyone loves the idea of buying “local” and supporting area farmers, makers, bakers and artisans—in fact, one recent study says 70% of us already do. Curated CT is making it […]

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Connecticut Wine Country

Enjoy a glass of wine by the fire or send someone special their favorite wine from a Connecticut Farm Winery! Through the long afternoon light of autumn, or the pink-blue […]

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Deck the Halls with Farm Fresh Decor

It’s not too early to begin planning your holiday decorations and how to turn your home into a festive Yuletide wonderland to remember. When you visit a local farm to get this […]

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It’s Eggnog Season

The weather is turning crisper, and the holiday gatherings are taking their merry place on the calendar. Bring a smile to everyone’s face by being sure to include delicious, all-natural, […]

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Plan Ahead to Snag the Perfect Tree

Ensuring a memorable time and getting the perfect tree this year may require some additional planning. Due in part to last year’s heavy demand at Connecticut tree farms, there are […]

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Avoid Supply Chain Shortages – The Shelves are Stocked at CT Farms

Does the sight of empty store shelves and news stories about supply chain bottlenecks this holiday season stress you out? Well, there is a solution. Buying from Connecticut farms and […]

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Shop local to prevent global supply chain issues from hindering your holidays

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 16, 2021 Contact Rebecca Eddy Murphy Marketing & Inspection Rep 2 [email protected] (860) 573-0323 CT Grown: Shop local to prevent global supply chain issues from hindering your […]

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Farm To Table Holidays

Bring the farm to your table this holiday season with pasture-raised turkeys, geese, or even quail from a local producer! CT Grown providers are currently taking orders for a fresh […]

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Enjoy a Foodie Trail This Season

Did you know the grapes and hops scene in Connecticut is thriving?  Farm wineries and breweries comprise more than 100 small businesses throughout the state and growing annually.   Be […]

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Five reasons chocolate milk is the official drink of Halloween

The night will soon be filled with little ghosts and goblins trick-or-treating from house to house for some spooky sweet treats during Halloween.  One thing that parents don’t have to […]

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Fall Charcuterie Boards

Beyond basic cheese and crackers… Charcuterie boards are an eye-catching way to serve everyone’s favorites.  Make seasonal items really stand out – try pairing apple cider donuts with fresh cut […]

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It’s National Seafood Month

It’s time to celebrate seafood – and CT Grown has got the goods! Chilled oysters on the half shell, lobster tails bathed in warm butter, sizzling scallops wrapped in bacon […]

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Thanksgiving brought to you by Connecticut Grown!

Want to make your Thanksgiving table extra special this year? Get inspiration for your menu with pasture – raised turkeys, geese, or even quail from a local producer! Pair these […]

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Pick the Perfect Christmas Tree!

When the Thanksgiving table is cleared, thoughts turn to trimming trees and decking the halls. Picking your Christmas tree on a crisp November day is a tradition your family will […]

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10 things to do this Fall

Celebrate the Season with the producers of Connecticut Grown Visit a Pumpkin Patch Create memories that will last a lifetime with family and friends! Pick the perfect pumpkin to stack, […]

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