We’re all slaves to our favorite brands at times, especially when it comes to food. For those of us who love discovering new favorites, however, it’s fun to try out New York food brands that we may not be able to find elsewhere. Plus, it’s always nice to support local businesses and cut down on our carbon footprint by purchasing groceries that were made or sourced nearby. Look for these labels and products during your next trip to the grocery store; and if you can’t find them at places like Fairway or Whole Foods, Fresh Direct has an entire “Local” tab dedicated to New York’s best brands.
Friendship
Cottage cheese. You either love it, or you hate it. If you’re a fan, Friendship is a phenomenal brand of cottage cheese that has been around for over a century. Originating in Friendship, New York – a small town upstate – Friendship Dairies has been producing top-quality cottage cheese without all the added sugars and “junk stuff” you’ll often find in mass-produced alternatives. And if you’re on a keto diet (or don’t mind a higher fat content), Friendship’s 4% milkfat cottage cheese is one of the creamiest you’ll find.
Gotham Greens
Grown in climate-controlled urban rooftop greenhouses in Brooklyn, it doesn’t get much more local than Gotham Greens. Stock your fridge with a couple of boxes or bags of these herbs and lettuces, and you’ll always have a salad on-hand. Tip: Try Gotham Greens butterhead lettuce for healthy tacos (swap the tortilla for a lettuce leaf) or Asian-style lettuce wraps.
The Ravioli Store
Many New Yorkers have loved the Ravioli Store since 1989 when its doors first opened in Greenwich Village. Now, the brand caters to busy locals who can easily order their readymade ravioli from Fresh Direct for a quick dinner. With delicious flavors like sweet pea, pumpkin and sage, and wild mushroom and truffle, all it takes is a drizzle of olive oil for a gourmet-tasting Italian night in.
Salt of the Earth Bakery
Keep your sweets stash stocked with cookies from Salt of the Earth Bakery. This local brand is based in Brooklyn and provides the Tri-State area with artisanal baked goods made from all-natural ingredients. Next time you’re at the grocery store (like Whole Foods), be sure to toss a few boxes of these cookies into your basket.
Bread Alone Bakery
Hailing from New York’s Catskill Mountains, Bread Alone Bakery has been turning out organic loaves of bread for over 30 years. Toast some whole wheat sourdough in the morning before work, grab a round peasant bread loaf for a rustic picnic in the park, or make a Parisian-style sandwich with one of Bread Alone’s baguettes.
Red Jacket Orchards
It’s a bit on the pricey side, but Red Jacket Orchards is a local brand of cold-pressed juices that has become a staple at Fairway. The orchard itself is located in the Finger Lakes Region, and the company has been harvesting fruit and pressing juices for three generations. You can’t go wrong with their apple cider in the fall, or raspberry apple juice when you need a healthier sugar fix. The juices are also fabulous in cocktails.
Adirondack Creamery
Located less than 200 miles from Gotham, Adirondack Creamery produces some of the best ice cream you’ll find in NYC grocery stores. This family-owned company is renowned for its old-fashioned ice cream (i.e. no stabilizers, emulsifiers, or other weird chemical stuff) and delicious flavors. As an ice cream fanatic, I recommend the Whiteface Mint Chip, High Peak Perk (coffee), and the seasonal Pumpkin Pie.
Gotham Greens, Bread Alone Bakery, and Adirondack Creamery photos via Facebook.
Keep it local and shop the Greenmarkets throughout NYC. Plus, you can visit urban farms in New York City.
