NEW YORK, NY (August 11, 2015) — Jon Bloostein has created a new meaning for “Farm-to-Table” as the CEO of Heartland Brewery. Considered the godfather of craft beer in NYC, Jon Bloostein, AKA Farmer Jon, founded Heartland Brewery in 1995 helping drive the craft beer movement in New York. After winning 3 medals for his Farmer Jon’s Oatmeal Stout at the Great American Beer Festival, “Farmer Jon” became a recognized face in the beer community.
Now, he’s more than just a caricature in ads and on pint glasses. Every weekend since May, Bloostein spends sun-up to sun-down in his 1000 square foot vegetable garden on his 90 acre property in upstate New York. He spends his weekends planting, pruning and harvesting more the 33 different types of fruits and vegetables that will be served weekly at Heartland Brewery and Chophouse in Times Square.
His favorite organic tomatoes with some heirloom varieties are harvested by the bucketfull every weekend. Currently he’s growing 9 types: Supersonic, Beef Master San Marzano, Blue Beach, Big Boy, Yellow Cherry, Red 100 Cherry, Ruby Gold, Tommy Toe Cherry and Heirloom Old German. In addition to tomatoes, he grows spinach, broccoli, collards, 6 types of peppers, 3 types of squash, Golden Gopher melons,
tri-colored beans, Romaine lettuce, snap peas and numerous herbs & spices including Thai basil.
“At 5 years old I sold BURPEE seeds door-to-door. In high school I landscaped my parent’s house and set up vegetable gardens for
neighbors. Unfortunately, two trees on my terrace in the city simply
didn’t do the trick, so I bought this farm 3 years ago and I’m playing
in the dirt again! It’s great to share the fruits of my labor as people
love the produce as much as I love growing it.”
As Bloostein is evolving so is Heartland Brewery, which is now offering Farmer Jon’s vegetables in unique dishes on a special organic menu (while they last) each week. Varying each week depending on the harvest, these dishes will be curated by Chef Rich Pietromonaco and served only in Heartland Brewery and Chophouse (127 W. 43rd St) due to limited supply.
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