01 Oct Dykeman Farm is Now “New York State Grown and Certified”
Henry and Mandy Dykeman, proprietors of Dykeman Farm, think a lot about the future. Their farm in Pawling, which has been farmed by three previous generations of Dykemans, will be 100 years old in just 21 years–and that’s not counting the older farm property near Lakeside Park where the farm originated.
“The challenge is to not lose what made Dykeman’s great, what made the name, what made us a staple in the community– while also changing to meet the needs of the next generation,” said Mandy.
With that in mind, Dykeman Farm recently achieved the “New York State Grown and Certified” certification, which lets consumers know that the farm adheres to high food safety standards and environmentally responsible practices. This means that the farm is voluntarily passing USDA food safety inspections, including regular inspections of the farm’s packing room and the greenhouse where their tomatoes are grown. Additionally, they are also working with Dutchess County Soil and Water to pass a Tier 2 Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) inspection. Among other things, the well water that services their greenhouse is regularly tested in order to meet the criteria to pass the AUM.
There are several benefits for Dykeman Farm in achieving New York State Grown and Certified status. In addition to letting consumers know that their produce meets high standards for food safety, they are now eligible to receive grants for things like farm equipment and farm buildings. The Dykemans would like to replace their well-loved tomato greenhouse in the next few years, and are hoping to receive a grant to do this. “Replacing the aging farm infrastructure is one of the things we need to think about, when we think about preserving the farm for future generations,” said Mandy.
Another recent change has been the addition of Millbrook Beef & Dairy meat and eggs along with local butter, cheese, milk, honey, maple syrup, jams and pickles to their farmstand. Now when you stop at Dykeman’s for produce, you can find these other delicious products from local farms. You can even pick up some fresh mozzarella from Vinny’s Deli while you’re there!
“The high quality of the meat from Millbrook Beef & Dairy is similar to the high quality of our produce, which is why we wanted to offer it to our customers,” said Mandy. “The addition of these products means a customer who shopped with us once a week might visit us twice a week instead.”
Dykeman Farm is also proud to give to those in need, making generous donations of fresh produce to local food banks. “When we have extra product in the field, of course it costs us extra to harvest it and pack it up, but Henry and I would rather see that food get out into the communities, which includes Pawling and other places in the Hudson Valley as well,” said Mandy. They also accept SNAP/EBT cards and Pawling Farmer’s Market tokens at their farm stand, so that more folks can have an opportunity to enjoy their fresh produce.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the festive pumpkin patch experience that Dykeman Farm offers visitors every fall. Voted best Pumpkin Patch of 2024 by Hudson Valley Magazine, visitors to Dykeman’s Pumpkin Patch enjoy free admission, free parking and free hayrides out to the fields where an abundance of varieties and sizes of pumpkins await. In addition to pumpkins, gourds and other farm produce, visitors can purchase fresh apple cider and apple cider donuts. The pumpkin patch is fun for the whole family, with a corn pit, face painting and photo spots for that perfect photo opportunity. Unlike some other farms in the area, which offer a commercial “amusement park” type of experience with prices to match, Dykeman’s offers a more authentic farm experience.
Dykeman’s Pumpkin Patch is open weekends and Columbus Day, starting September 27th. On October 12th and October 19th, Misfits BBQ will be there cooking up delicious food in support of the Ryan McElroy Children’s Cancer Foundation. Their farm stand remains open 7 days a week, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. until October 31. To learn more about Dykeman Farm, visit www.dykemanfarm.com or call 845.832.6068.
–by Amy Emke