New Jersey the Garden State is regaining its status as a home to many great farms, dairies and now even vineyards. As a kid I remember the many local farm stands all over the state. Over the years these disappeared as New Jersey farmers gave way to sprawling development. This is changing, farmer's markets are coming back.
Local daries who are producing wonderful artisanal cheese, something I did not have as a kid, are a part of this renaissance. At the the Montclair Farmer's Market, Walnut Street Station, I found a great New Jersey cheese maker, Valley Shepard Creamery.
Their farm is in Long Valley where they produce a wonderful array of European style cheese. http://www.valleyshepherd.com/
We tasted and bought three cheeses. 
Tartuffo Shepherd, "made from our raw sheep’s milk. Mold ripened for minimum 3 months. Contains black Tuscan summer truffles. An intoxicating aroma that lives in harmony with the sheep milk nuances." Cheese maker
Scent-sation, "Raw mixed milk. A washed rind cheese with all the Normandy baggage. Aromatic (a.k.a. stinky in some circles.) But what flavor! Supple and soft body. Slightly addictive." Cheese maker
And a beautiful Ricotta Salata.
Their cheese can be purchased at the farm or:
Wednesday all day, April to December - Union Square, NYC
Wednsday all day, May to December, Dag Plaza (united nations) , NYC
Wednsdays - Tribecca, NYC. July to December
Thursdays all day, May to November – Nyack, NY
Wednsdays & Fridays all day,- check link – Rockefeller Center, NYC
Saturdays 9am to 1pm - May to November, Bernardsville, NJ
Saturdays 9am to 2pm - May to December, Abingdon Sq, NYC
Saturdays 9am to 3pm - May to December, Inwood/211 St, NYC
Saturdays all day - April to November, Union Sq, NYC
Saturday all day - Boro hall, Brooklyn.
Sundays 9am to 3pm – May to October, Lawrenceville, NJ
Sundays 9am to 4pm – May to October, Morristown, NJ
Sunday 9am to 2pm -June to October, Summit, NJ
An other very fine cheese maker is Bobolink Dairy in Vernon, NJ.
I tasted their cheeses at the Slow Food NJ event at the Van Vleck House & Gardens in Montclair a few months ago. They are truly worthy of being called Artisanal.
Bobolink was founded by Jonathan White and Nina Stein White who are very passionate their work.
Their cheese can be purchased at the farm or can be found at:
Union Square Greenmarket every Friday
Lincoln Center Greenmarket (66th & Bwy) every Thurs & Sat
Pleasantville, NY every Sat thru November, 8:30-1
Warwick, NY every Sun thru October, 9-2
Find More Farmer's Market Here http://www.localharvest.org
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
Do you know if they will always be at the Montclair Farmer's Market? We are hoping to pick up some of the truffle cheese this Saturday.
Posted by: taylore | 10/01/2007 at 20:09