Simple Gifts Farm

3.9 (9 reviews)

ModerateFarmers Market

Add Review

Call

Directions

Website

Simple Gifts Farm Photos

Simple Gifts Farm - a variety of fresh produce - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Simple Gifts Farm - I still have no idea how to cook these but they look amazing!!! - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Simple Gifts Farm - Potatoes - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Simple Gifts Farm - Spring Parsnips!!! - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Simple Gifts Farm

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.

Start your review...

Browse more easily on the app

Elly V.

3 years ago

One of very few places to buy local organic produce daily/year round, and they do the HIP program . If you have SNAP, use your card here to get your HIP benefits on beautiful fruits and veggies while supporting a local farm business! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Che S.

3 years ago

Awesome little store! Lots of variety of fresh produce and other finds that are local. Definitely worth a visit!

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Dml R.

8 years ago

Bacon smells like fish, has mild fish taste, very little flavor. No weight on package. $12.75 wasted. Is dextrose ingredient non GMO? I hope the sweet ITALIAN sausage turns out to be good. Pricey store. Sweet ITALIAN sausages are excellent. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Theo B.

220

530

9 years ago

Simple Gifts farm is so easy and wonderful! You just go and get your weekly sack of real non messed with veggies. It's so nice and everything lasts longer and tastes better and is better for your body. read more

Simple Gifts Farm - Russet potatoes - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Simple Gifts Farm - nice roots! - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Simple Gifts Farm - Inside the new store! - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Simple Gifts Farm - This ex breeding pig lives just outside the new store and is massive! He eats tomatoes and is very impressive. - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Simple Gifts Farm - Another shot of the huge pig. - Farmers Market Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Rachell S.

4 years ago

My two kids and I stopped by this funky little organic farm a month ago . Unfortunately we encountered a very rude disturbed girl with long Dred locks and glasses behind the counter . I thought she was drunk . We left and never returned . read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

PQ H.

5 years ago

Looks as though they have moved their service online for the duration, so these problems should be solved. I would like to see a local business like this succeed. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Erika A.

11 years ago

Produce is great and the staff is so friendly and knowledgeable! The farm stand has a nice assortment of local goods and their pick your own strawberries are a great find. It is nearly impossible to find organic pick your own strawberries in the valley. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Roger A.

121

9 years ago

So great to see this place up and running - a real asset to the neighborhood! Shelves are stocked with all the local staples of a healthy kitchen. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Icarus L.

6 years ago

well we went once so perhaps this is not a fair review. but one thing I can say with absolute surety is this is not and inexpensive place. tomatoes $5 a pound September 2020. other produce similar Lili sky high. etc etc, it comes off as too expensive too precious and for us not worth it. I understand somewhat in this time of pandemic that one cannot touch produce. but other farm stands I have been to let one see the produce , point, choose . the result of having them choose for us was pink tomatoes, half of relatively large peach order had large bruises that were ready to infest the entire fruit. at $3.50 a pound local peaches should not rot within 6 hours. my friend pointed out the place down the street is ordinary-looking but has much much superior produce at a fraction of the price. yes a fair review of this place would be based on more than one visit. but we will not be coming back. read more

Business owner information

Jeremy B.

We set our prices based on the prices of organic produce in the…

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

More info about Simple Gifts Farm

1089 N Pleasant St
Amherst, MA 01059
Directions
(413) 230-3262
Call Now
Visit Website
http://simplegiftsfarmcsa.com

Hours

What time does Simple Gifts Farm open?

Simple Gifts Farm opens at 10:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Simple Gifts Farm opens at 8:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Simple Gifts Farm close?

Simple Gifts Farm closes at 7:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Fri 10:00 AM - 7:00 PMSat-Sun 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Simple Gifts Farm take credit cards?

Yes, Simple Gifts Farm takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Simple Gifts Farm have catering options?

No, Simple Gifts Farm does not have catering options.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Simple Gifts Farm have bike parking?

Yes, Simple Gifts Farm has bike parking.

Does Simple Gifts Farm have parking?

Yes, Simple Gifts Farm has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Is Simple Gifts Farm wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Simple Gifts Farm is wheelchair accessible.

From the Business

Specialties

We are proud to be the stewards of the North Amherst Community Farm, a 32-acre parcel preserved from development by a tremendous community effort. We offer delicious and high quality organic vegetables, grass-fed meats and organic pasture-raised eggs through a CSA program, a farm stand on-site and at the Amherst Farmers Market. CSA options include winter shares, pork shares, spring and fall shares in addition to the regular season. The regular season share is a free-choice share: Members are issued a bag that they fill with their choice of the seasonal bounty. Located on land preserved from development by tremendous community effort. Stand open afternoons June- Nov; Amherst Farmers Market, Saturdays 7:30 am-1:30 pm, May-Nov. Amherst Winter Market Saturdays 10-2, Dec.- Mar. www.simplegiftsfarmcsa.com.

History

Established in 1999.

Jeremy Barker Plotkin started farming in 1999 on one-half acre of rented land in Belchertown at the New England Small Farm Institute. Over several years, he built the business growing beautiful organic produce mostly sold through the Amherst Farmer's Market. In 2006, he joined forces with David Tepfer, as the two were invited to steward the newly-preserved North Amherst Community Farm. They added a Community-Supported Agriculture program (farm shares) along withgrass-based egg, pork, and beef production. The farm today is a thriving community asset, acting as a green oasis in North Amherst as well as a demonstration of ecological crop production.

Meet the Business Owner: Jeremy B.

Jeremy and Audrey Barker Plotkin met at The Land Institute, a sustainable agriculture nonprofit in central Kansas. They share a love of growing great food and learning to be good stewards of the land. Jeremy is originally from central New York state, and has been working in organic vegetable production since he graduated college in 1993. He has a MS in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Maine, and has owned and operated Simple Gifts Farm since 1999. From 1999-2005, Simple Gifts Farm was located at the site of the New England Small Farm Institute in Belchertown, Specialties include heirloom tomatoes, garlic, and salad greens for sale to local markets. Jeremy has won several USDA SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) grants for on-farm research projects.

Ask the Community - Simple Gifts Farm

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Amherst Farmers Market

I've been to this great market before but yesterday additional vendors were featured and I stopped…read moreby to visit the Deb O'Neill painting booth and pick up two of her pieces from her new 1,000 doors series. I also paid $6 for 6 Gala apples at one stand but when I bit into it later....one of the best apples I've ever eaten. There are also bakery vendors with whole wheat pizza crusts, homemade croissants, arrays of fresh flower arrangements, fresh berries, etc. Clean eating at its best. Some items are a little pricey but the quality is tangible.

So wonderful. You…read morewant artisanal cheeses? Freshly baked baguettes? Delicious strawberries? Just-picked veggies? Check, check, check, check. Last Saturday a group of us got a whole mess of goodies from the market and then had a picnic dinner with some wine we picked up in town. It was without a doubt one of the best meals I have ever had!

Photos

Eggplant

Lots of Tomatoes!

See all

Maple Farm Foods

If you go in the side door the smell of asian food may overwhelm you. But don't let that…read morediscourage you!! The reason you are here on this planet and at this little farmers market is for the apple cider donuts. Don't trip. It's been your life's purpose to find these cake donuts that transform your from donut eater to donut aficionado. Now you finally have something to talk about a dinner parties. There's lots of parking in local produce. Oddly enough, they also have premade Middle Eastern and Asian food which is a nice find for this little small town.

My wife and I heard about some of their in store food service options so we decided to check them…read moreout for lunch. We chose burritos and were not disappointed. There were plenty of options to choose from and they are not skimpy on the portions. At about eight bucks, it is a huge amount and delicious. Their main business is a market. There is a wide variety of middle eastern and other products. Fresh produce and quality meats. We have stopped in to pick up some of these and they were great quality. Great place, hope to return again soon!

Photos

See all

North Hadley Sugar Shack

First time back in 9 years. Reduced my review by 1 star…read more In the past your table had syrup on it and you could help yourself. This visit the syrup was in a tiny capped container. Barely 1/4 cup of syrup for 3 pancakes and no butter. The result? A dry breakfast. It was an hour wait. Still has a cool factor but server was so crazy busy that she never offered more coffee. Probably best to buy a jug of the syrup next time and skip the breakfast.

Drove an hour to check this place out. Had a great waffle with lots of thier syrup and fruit. My…read morefriend got the full maple breakfast. We had the blueberry maple tea!! Toured the maple shack and then hit the store for yummy goodies.

Photos

2eggs, 2 sausage, home fries and toast.

See all

Evaporation room where they boil the sap to make syrup.

Swartz Family Farm

5.0

(1 review)

0.3 mi

Swartz Farm is a hydroponic farm located in North Amherst. They have a neat explanation of…read morehydroponic farming on their website. Basically, it allows them to grow produce even during the winter! They have CSA shares, but what I really love about them is you can order whatever produce you wish online and then pick it up at their farm on either Friday or Monday afternoons. It's so convenient, and their prices are great! They even have dairy products and Diemand Farm soups and pot pies. It's great to be able to get fresh, local produce when the farmers market is closed. It's also great to support a local farm without the expense or commitment of buying a CSA share.

La Vina Divina

4.0

(1 review)

4.5 mi

Beautiful selection of fresh local produce for reasonable prices. I especially liked the variety of…read morefruit. Owners are hard-working new Americans. It's really a farm stand, not a farmers' market, but Yelp doesn't offer that category. They are open most days, not like a farmers' market (I think they may be closed on Sunday).

Johnny's Tavern

Wow. I had never been to Johnny's and tried it tonight with three others. First of all, our server,…read more"Karen 2" (on the bill) was fabulous! I swear the woman could read our minds, anticipating our questions. Now to the food. We started with fried brussel sprouts. Huge portion. Flavorful, not overcooked, just the right amount of crispness...and those bacon pieces!? Yum. I had the chicken wings and a beet salad. I'm a Buffalo, NY native folks, and thus have had my share of great chicken wings. Johnny's wings were on par with anything I've had in the Queen City. My only suggestion to make it real Buffalo style is thick blue cheese dip. The other meals served were amazing - two pasta dishes and the fried chicken. All tasty. Everyone loved their dishes. The prices were very fair for the quality and quantity of food brought to the table. I'm surprised at the 4.1 Yelper average. The meal and service we had tonight was excellent.

Yeah. Food is marginal. Service is excellent. What a conundrum. Went here on a quick overnight to…read moreget out of dodge and stayed in Amherst because my credit score of 820 was too low for any of the hotels in Lennox. So we did our usual and sat at the bar. Both bartenders Rachael and Schuyler (like the town) were spot on. Johnny's has an almost chain restaurant feel lurking somewhere and the water dripping from the light fixture was distracting but we "mussel'd" thru it. They were excellent but the tapenade for the bread was kinda gross. Heavy on the evoo and what looked like tomato paste squeezed in for color. She settled on the chicken and I squarely had a hankering for a pork chop. Rachael explained the chef prepared it a little pink...perfect! And it came out bone dry. Ugh. So let's try that again. I get it. Chops can be tough to cook. So I had a bite of her boneless chicken. It was ok. Then round 2 with the pig. I think they literally waved it past the grill and threw it on the plate. The inside was as pink as the outside of miss piggy. I give up. I'm done. The did offer a free dessert...sticky toffee cake which was really good. And I also understand it's difficult to get qualified help. But it's a Saturday and whatever A team you've got should be working. And what about a good old fashioned instant read thermometer? Works for me all the time. Pull it at about 135 and let it rest for a few minutes. Oh well, maybe next time.

Photos

The bar was packed on a Tuesday night.

Fried Brussels Sprouts + bread

See all

Squid Ink Spaccatelli

Buttercup Craft Bakery

4.6

(9 reviews)

2.0 mi

This is a legit Asian-French bakery. #IYKYK!…read more The cream puffs are to die for. The crust on the egg and fruit tarts are insanely buttery. The chiffon cakes are perfectly "not too sweet." Again, #IYKYK. If you have your heart set on something, order ahead to ensure they don't run out. This appears to be a one-woman show, which is even more impressive. Absolute gem--it makes visiting this area totally worth it!

Incredible bakery with goods based on French and Taiwanese patisserie techniques. Convenient…read morelocation in downtown Amherst (my childhood home that I grew up in) where you can find many college students. Excellent service and cozy interior atmosphere - highly recommended for delicious and artistically crafted pastries and other baked goods!

Photos