Tour des Farms Plans Ride To Highlight Local Farms

By Kendra Bobowick

Behind bucolic cornfields lined with stone and rural vistas of cows poking across rocky terrain are treasures recognized by Mark Cummings, for one. He is organizing the state’s third Tour des Farms meant to draw residents toward local agriculture.

Mr Cummings explained, “I have had people say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know this was right down the road,’” regarding some of the farmlands along previous years’ tours.

As director of the nonprofit King’s Mark, RC&D (Resource, Conservation and Development) office supported by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), Natural Resources Conservation Service, he hopes to promote the farms through the state’s third Tour des Farms on September 9. The event welcomes bicyclists to pedal a leisurely route of ten miles, an intermediate route 25 miles long, or tackle a 62-mile tour of various Fairfield County farms, he explained.

“The tour is really to expose agriculture and encourage people to buy locally rather than at the supermarket,” Mr Cummings said.

He explained several benefits of local fruits and vegetables, for example.

“It’s much fresher and it supports local [farmers],” he said.

An upcoming tour of upper Fairfield County will bring attention to local orchards, nurseries, creameries, farms and more as it winds through Bethel, Newtown, Monroe, Easton, Redding, Shelton, and Danbury.

 Welcoming the tour to Newtown is Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker, who sees multiple advantages in the tour.

“It ties together recreation with health aspects — it’s not a driving tour,” she said. “I think this is an effort to involve recreation, community, farming, and tourism. Combined it’s an economic development effort…”

The tour also parallels a recent gathering when, several months ago, the town’s Economic Development Commission organized a get-together with various members of the agricultural community to discuss ways to gather support.

An announcement on the front of the Tour des Farms brochure states, “Support Local Agriculture, Alternative Transportation, and Your Health.” Regardless of the distance chosen, participants will enjoy “stops at livestock, flower, vegetable farms, and an ice cream shop,” as explained in the brochure.

Those inclined to hop on a bicycle and enjoy the early September day are invited to “Pedal through some of Connecticut’s most beautiful farmland.” The bicyclists are directed to gather Cannondale Bicycle Corporation at 16 Trowbridge Drive in Bethel. The brochure does not provide directions for the three lengths along the route.

The directions are a surprise, said Mr Cummings. “The routes are secrets and we were concerned people would print [directions] and go on their own,” he said.

The brochure does list the farms the tour will visit, in hopes of drawing attention their way, he said.

“It encourages people to visit farms on their own,” Mr Cummings said.

He did offer several clues about what riders could expect on September 9. As participants gather in Bethel, they can enjoy hard-boiled eggs, and baked items and snacks made from ingredients provided by farms along the tour, he explained.

“It’s a taste of what’s to come,” he said. Cyclists will receive maps that day and the 10-, 25-, and 62-mile routes will be differentiated with red, white, and blue. The routes should coincide along the first few stops.

“It’s a lot of fun, we enjoy doing it,” he said.

Ms Stocker also agreed the tour has fun in mind, and may have other benefits. “Maybe people will spread it over a couple days, take spin-offs and stay at inns or visit other businesses,” she said.

Destinations in Newtown include Ferris Acres Creamery, Castle Hill Farm, and Sticks and Stones Farm. Riders will receive Farm Bucks, for spending at the farms that day only. They can also leave their purchases at the different locations and volunteers will transport the goods to the finish point.

For registration and information contact King’s Mark RD&C at 203-284-3663, or visit active.com.