Come explore the delicious, locally produced food options available throughout Connecticut! Presenting the CT Grown Trail, uniting farm fresh food options, dining venues with locally sourced menu items, farmers’ markets, curated farm wine offerings, and more!
The CT Grown Trail provides suggestions for day trip itineraries allowing you to discover the diverse experiences available for finding locally sourced food. We invite you to review the itinerary for your region, and to continue exploring the fantastic opportunities for finding locally grown food in our state. Don’t forget to leave extra time for farm stands, locally produced ice cream, and other CT Grown attractions you may discover along the way!
Visit the CT Grown Trail to find more wonderful options and create your own journey. This blog offers suggestions for exploring the central region of Connecticut.
Morning
Breakfast
- Visit the Cafe at Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard in Granby to enjoy breakfast favorites, such as their Apple Cinnamon Waffle made with their own apple cider, maple whipped cream, and fruit.
- Enjoy eggs, sausage, potatoes, and other goods sourced from Connecticut farms at BLDG in New Haven.
- Stop by Perk on Main in Middletown, which is committed to using local farms for its menu of crepes, breakfast sandwiches, and more.
Pick Your Own
- Visit Belltown Hill Orchards in South Glastonbury to make a selection of seasonal fruits including plums, peaches, blueberries, apples, and more. Make a stop at their market for other local farm fresh products and freshly baked apple cider donuts.
Afternoon
Lunch
- Enjoy a meal at The Beamhouse in Glastonbury, which has a strong commitment to local ingredients. Find offerings from local farms, breweries, wineries, coffee roasters, and other producers.
- Get a table at Zinc in New Haven, which takes a “seed to plate” approach emphasizing the use of locally sourced ingredients for globally inspired meals.
- Visit Cafe Routier in Westbrook, whose menu items are inspired by the seasonal offerings of local farms and producers.
Farm Visit
- Explore a selection of fresh corn, eggplant, peppers, and other seasonal produce at Treat Farm in Orange.
- Stop by Clover Nook Farm in Bethany for meat products, as well as fresh seasonal vegetables, maple syrup, and honey.
- Head over to Deerfield Farm in Durham to find milk, yogurt, cheeses, and other dairy products.
Greenhouse
- Swing by Geremia Greenhouse in Wallingford and find some amazing plants and cut flowers at their retail stand. Their specialties include orchids, flowering annuals, and vegetable and herb varieties.
Winery Tour
- Visit Rosedale Farms & Vineyards in Simsbury to try out handcrafted wines. As a farm winery, you can also discover fresh fruits and vegetables as well as special chef-to-farm dinners.
- Make a stop at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford. It’s a dog-friendly venue, which makes it the perfect location to sit and stay for awhile. Pack your own picnic or purchase a charcuterie board in the tasting room to enjoy with your wine.
- Head to Chamard Vineyards, a French-inspired winery and bistro in Clinton, for local wines and lunch fare featuring ingredients from local farms.
Farmers’ Market
- Pay a visit to the West End Farmers Market (open Tuesdays from June through September from 4-7 pm) in Hartford and meet with vendors selling fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, prepared foods, and more.
- Check out one of three farmers’ markets managed by CitySeed, an organization promoting a local food ecosystem and sustainable agriculture in the New Haven area. Each one is a producer-only market, meaning all the items for sale were grown on the vendor’s farm.
- Visit the Middletown Farmers Market to find fresh produce, flowers, and more from local farmers.
Evening
Dinner
- Grab dinner at Millwright’s Restaurant in Simsbury, which sources ingredients from several farms and producers around Connecticut. Guests can enjoy a local beer at the tavern or a view of the beautiful natural surroundings from the dining room.
- End your day with a meal at Arturo’s Restaurant in Branford, featuring Mexican fusion dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
- Dine at River Tavern in Chester and find an ever-changing seasonal selection based on the latest items available from farmers and producers.
Come explore the delicious, locally produced food options available throughout Connecticut! Presenting the CT Grown Trail, uniting farm fresh food options, dining venues with locally sourced menu items, farmers’ markets, curated farm wine offerings, and more!
The CT Grown Trail provides suggestions for day trip itineraries allowing you to discover the diverse experiences available for finding locally sourced food. We invite you to review the itinerary for your region, and to continue exploring the fantastic opportunities for finding locally grown food in our state. Don’t forget to leave extra time for farm stands, locally produced ice cream, and other CT Grown attractions you may discover along the way!
Visit the CT Grown Trail to find more wonderful options and create your own journey. This blog offers suggestions for exploring the western region of Connecticut.
Morning
Breakfast
- Have a farm-fresh breakfast at the Milk and Honey Grill in Goshen, known for its locally sourced products. Enjoy a delicious selection of breakfast sandwiches and other delicious fare to get ready for the day ahead.
- Enjoy a farm-to-table brunch at Terrain Garden Cafe in Westport, a greenhouse eatery featuring hand-picked local dishes.
Visit a Farm
- Visit March Farm in Bethlehem. Pick your own fresh fruits and berries, get a selection of produce at the farm stand, take the kids to enjoy a farm-themed playscape, and watch the goats clamber over a climbing course in their pondside yard.
- Stop by Laurel Ridge Farm in Litchfield to pick up some cuts of grass-fed beef and pastured pork products.
- Head to Sport Hill Farm in Easton to peruse its selection of fresh eggs, seasonal produce, and carefully curated local goods.
Farmers’ Market
- Start your day at the Danbury Farmers’ Market (Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June through October) for fresh produce, local goods, and health and nutrition programs.
Afternoon
Lunch
- Load up on picnic supplies at the Bantam Bread Company, which features artisan breads, rustic pastries, and a wide range of locally produced goods like butter, cheese, and honey.
- Have lunch at Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield, which is committed to finding fresh, high-quality meats, seafood, and produce from local producers.
Winery Tour
- Visit Hopkins Vineyard in Warren, head to the wine bar in the hayloft of a 19th century barn, and relax with a glass of the latest vintage as you gaze over nearby Lake Waramaug.
- Head to Jones Family Farms & Winery in Shelton and pick from a wide selection of wine options.
Evening
Dinner
- Make a reservation at The Community Table in New Preston. This restaurant is committed to using locally sourced ingredients and updating its menu regularly to feature in-season items. Stop in on Mondays for a special burger night!
- Visit the Copps Island Oyster Shack, with locations in Stratford and Norwalk, to enjoy delicious oysters, clams, and other seafood straight from local boats.
Interested in exploring more of Connecticut’s fantastic farm wineries? Participate in the 2024 Passport to Connecticut Wine Country program to create lasting memories and explore all that Connecticut has to offer!
The Passport will be available starting on May 4th, 2024. Participants can pick up a printed book at participating farm wineries, or download the digital app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Both the printed book and app can be obtained free of charge.
The Passport program offers visitors the opportunity to engage with Connecticut’s award-winning farm wineries and be entered into prize drawings. At each stop, Passport holders can receive a physical or digital stamp, which counts as one point toward a reward level. Upon reaching a reward level, the Passport holder is entered into a drawing for that prize.
More than 100 prizes will be available, valued at a total of over $10,000. The three reward tiers are:
🍷 Taster (12 or more stamps)
🍷 Sommelier (18 or more stamps)
🍷 Winemaker (35 or more stamps)
Anyone who visits all 38 participating locations will be eligible for a commemorative gift recognizing their support of Connecticut’s farm wineries. Up to 50 names will be drawn at random for this prize.
Two locations are making their debut in the Passport program this year: Independence Vineyard in Lebanon and Tranquility Vineyard Winery in Middlebury.
The 2024 Passport program will conclude on December 31st, 2024. The prize drawing will be held no later than January 31st, 2025.
Only one entry is allowed per person. Stamps between printed books and the digital Passport cannot be combined.
The Passport is a program of the Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council, a voluntary council made up winery owners, research institutions, and representatives of Connecticut
Department of Agriculture and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. The council, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, is responsible for promoting state wines and related products, offering educational programs, recommending research projects, and advising groups on farm wine development.