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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 apples and cider slushies or create a fall extravaganza of candy apples, honey sticks, rich, nutty bread, and dried fruit. Start a new tradition for game nights, wine nights or afternoon guests – pile fresh honeycomb, sweet fruits, spiced crackers around a baked brie, with preserves and relishes crafted right here in Connecticut farm kitchens. Place some small pumpkins and gourds around the setting, light a candle, and you have an instantly warm welcome.

Need some seasonal inspiration? Check out a few of our favorite fall recipes paired with wine.

For more inspiration, check out our CT Grown Pinterest page

This fall try out a classic Beef Stew featuring beef from a local provider near you. Pair with a glass of Pinot Noir from Heartstone Farm Winery.

For those dreary days, we love a warm bowl Chickpea Kale Soup!

Enjoying an evening with friends? The Autumn Chicken Dinner is the perfect recipe for your next party. The ‘Ballet of Angels’ a semi-dry, crisp white wine from Sharpe Hill Vineyards of Pomfret, CT is a fantastic pairing with your autumn roasted chicken.

Cider Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Plum Chutney is a twist on a classic recipe and full of fall flavors. The classic Bordeaux Blend with 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot from Saltwater Farm has notes of black cherry, cassis and currant. A beautiful pairing to your Fall pork or beef dish.

What about dessert? Consider a bubbly to pair with apple crisp. The Notte di Amore the nationally acclaimed Prosecco with bright notes coming from Paradise Hills Vineyard in Wallingford, CT could be just the pairing to finish your harvest dinner.

Check out more favorites here!

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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 – the salty waters of Long Island Sound give us so many delicacies. October is National Seafood Month, the perfect time to enjoy delicious, locally caught or raised seafood.

Connecticut is home to a thriving aquaculture industry. More than 70,000 acres of shellfish farms are under cultivation in our local waters, producing a stunning 450,000 bushels of hard clams and 200,000 bushels of oysters annually.

Fish and shellfish are loaded with protein, healthy fats, and nutrients. Oysters in particular are a superhero shellfish! As a food source, they pack a micronutrient powerhouse of Vitamin D, copper, zinc, and manganese. And they clean our coastal waters by filtering pollutants like nitrogen and sediments. One single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water – the size of a bathtub – every day! In addition, natural oyster reefs prevent coastline erosion by mitigating influxes from storms and tides – which protects homes and property.

Unfortunately, oyster habitats are among the most diminished and endangered on Earth, with 85% to 90% of wild reefs lost over the past century. But there is good news. Connecticut has a strong history – dating back to the 1800s – of building partnerships between industry and government to successfully conserve natural oyster beds. Because of this legacy, Connecticut ranks among the top 10 states in the country for clam and oyster production. And right now, a powerful coalition of state and federal agencies is taking serious steps to further increase and safeguard the future of our native bivalve populations. They are developing resources to help scientists and other stakeholders pinpoint the best locations for shellfish restoration and understand the optimal conditions for shellfish to thrive.

Restoring Connecticut’s shellfish populations can support the state’s growing shellfish industry, protect communities along the shoreline, and improve the coastal marine environment.

You can help these efforts by purchasing from local growers. Visit CTGrown.org to find a seafood market near you.

When nights get frosty, turn to shellfish stews, soups, bakes and broils for evening flavor:

Take me to the recipe!

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 offerings with organic, heirloom vegetables, savory seasonings, dressings and sauces crafted from locally grown herbs and spices. Place pie order in early for dishes that are bursting with fall flavors like apple, pumpkin, and squash!

Turkey time, starts now! CT Grown providers are now taking orders for a fresh Thanksgiving.

Looking for recipe inspiration?

Find Holiday Favorites

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 remember. Find a Christmas tree farm at ctgrown.org, fill some portable mugs with hot chocolate and CT Milk, and head out for a frosty country drive. Complete your holiday decor with colorful poinsettias, wreaths, swags, garlands, and of course, your favorite holiday playlist!

When it comes to food, fun, and unforgettable experiences, Connecticut farms truly have it all. Visit CTGrown.org to find your next adventure.