By John Tredrea, Special Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — OK, this is serious question time.
What’s the ultimate food?
Depends on whom you ask, of course. But the betting here is the answer a lot of people would give. It’s three letters long.
Pie!
Good news for pie lovers hereabouts is that the Homestead Farm Market, now in its 23rd year at 262 N. Main St., Lambertville, sells pies that were voted the best in the state by Jersey Bites in November 2010.
The pies are a small part of the market’s large inventory of prepared foods and produce.
”We sell the pies seasonally,” said Debbie Closson, who runs the market with her husband Ed Closson. “Right now, we’re selling pumpkin, pecan and other fall season pies.”
”Our two best sellers are peachberry — that’s peaches, cherries and blueberries — and a rhubarb pie with strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.”
Enough said, give us a slice of each!
The Clossons farm 9 acres behind the market.
”My husband’s family has always lived and farmed here,” Ms. Closson said. “Ed went to Delaware Valley College in Doylestown and got a degree in agronomy (soil science).”
The Homestead Farm Market grew out of a roadside stand, selling produce and flowers. The Clossons opened the stand at the end of their driveway in the mid-1980s. “Our customers said they wished we sold more. So we started doing that,” Ms. Closson said.
There’s a full line of produce in addition to the bake shop, which sells breads and muffins alongside those scrumptious pies. In-season plants, flowers and garden supplies also are sold here.
As you drive up to the place, you’ll see a picnic table out front, where many customers sit down to enjoy prepared foods sold at the market.
”We sell a full line of prepared foods: all kinds of sandwiches, entrees (like stuffed pork tenderloin and lasagna) and potato salad. We cater, too,” Ms. Closson said.
As for the entrees, there’s a special every day. “Yesterday’s was pasta with ricotta and Jersey fresh spinach,” Ms. Closson said. “And we just started serving hot soup. We have two kinds a day.”
These hard-working folks keep their market open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
”It’s a good life,” Ms. Closson said. “We live in a great area and have great customers. In addition to selling things we grow ourselves, we work with a lot of local farmers who don’t sell their own things.
”For instance, we sell Woody’s Honey, made right up the road in Stockton, and a lot of local cheeses and flowers we get from other farmers nearby. We’re very thankful for our local customers. We wouldn’t be here without them.”
