Local farm provides a taste of yesteryear

By JoAnn R. Walter —

On a picturesque country road just north of downtown Owego, a quaint Amish farm store welcomes visitors to stop by and shop.

Owned and operated by the David Kline family, the farm store is open year-round, three days each week. Hours are 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The Heritage Era Farmstead Market, located at 948 Blodgett Rd., in Owego, N.Y., is a self-service store that sells raw milk, eggs, honey, and maple syrup in various sizes of containers, and more. Selected maple syrup products are available, too, such as maple-glazed cashews and maple sugar, an alternative to brown sugar. You’ll even find a bin outside the front entrance selling compost.

A variety of delicious baked goods are also sold, such as fresh breads, coffee cakes, and cookies, to name a few.

Neighboring farms join in, too, where customers will find household items like homemade soaps, candles, and beeswax. Neighbors also drop off other items for sale, such as duck eggs. Complementing the Klines’ milk sales, separate farms produce raw milk products, like cheese, which you’ll find for sale at the store.

The Klines have lived in Tioga County for six years. David and his wife moved to the area with their seven children from Holmes County, Ohio. David explained that the area of Ohio where they came from was becoming overcrowded, so the availability of good farmland here ultimately helped them make the decision to move to Tioga County. Since settling here, they have found the community to be very welcoming and are pleased to have good neighbors.

Across the road from their home, David’s daughters have a separate flower stand, where visitors can purchase fresh flowers from their garden, featuring a menagerie of varieties and bright colors.

Heritage Era, a small dairy farm, is licensed by New York State to sell raw milk from its herd of Jersey cows. David explained that an inspector visits monthly to inspect the operations. With safeguards in place, such as proper handling and adherence to the processes, along with strict cleaning, David noted that there are minimal risks.

The choice of consuming raw milk has been growing in popularity among consumers who look for healthier alternatives in natural, local, and farm-sourced foods.

A shelf sign posted inside the refrigerator states Heritage Era’s milk is $6.00 per gallon and $3.50 for a half-gallon. A lawn sign displays the message, “Get your fresh milk direct from our farm; a taste of yesteryear, today!”

David added, “If you place a lawn sign on your property, we will give you $5 toward a future purchase.” 

For those who may be hesitant to try raw milk, David suggested asking other customers about their experiences. One customer who stopped in the market while this reporter was there is a regular customer. Returnable glass jars awaited in the refrigerator for his weekly pickup.

The customer, who preferred not to share his name, has been pleased with the quality of Heritage Era’s milk and explained that he consumes it for better health benefits, specifically mentioning that he believes it is better for individuals with certain allergies.

Snow Farm Creamery out of Brooktondale, N.Y., is a cheese producer that uses Kline’s raw milk. Snow Farm produces raw milk cheeses such as Gouda, Asiago, and cheddar, among other varieties, and cities where Heritage Era offers high-quality milk for its products.

The Snow Farm Creamery website describes choosing Heritage Era raw milk, where cows consume fresh green pasture from May through September, and also cites that preventative care, cleanliness, a low-stress environment, and love for their animals contribute to the health and vitality of their herd. 

For information about the Heritage Era, call (607) 642-8355. You can also find them at www.realmilk.com.