Quaintely nestled in the outskirts of Utica’s city center, Jones Family Farm provides locals and tourists alike a unique experience into the world of top quality, home-grown, farm-fresh food. This past Saturday, Hamilton’s Slow Food club made the 20 mile trip east to Jones Farm, leaving campus for a few hours and coming back pleased by the trip.

Following the 45 minute Jitney ride, Slow Food members were greeted by owners Peter and Suzie Jones upon arrival, and wasted no time in starting the tour of their grounds. Prior to entering the central production space, feet and hair nets were required. Once inside, the group of 15 students stood face to face with an expansive set of cheese plates, most of which were some of the farm’s best selling products. Authentic gouda — which accumulates crunchy salt crystals over its aging process — was accompanied by an apricot gelee.

Owner Suzie Jones clarified that compared to other cheeses sampled, chèvre is to be eaten immediately so as to savor its rich aromas. Rosemary infused crackers, saltines, freshly cut baguettes, green grapes and apple slices were further encouraged to be paired with the cheese, as the clashing sweet-savory flavors ideally complement each other, bringing out the best of both worlds. At the center of the plate, goat milk feta, marinated in a mixture of olive oil, kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes elevated flavors to a whole new level. In the same vein as camembert, a triangle of brie could be enjoyed alongside a spicy blueberry basil jam. Its crust, amassing progressively pronounced flavors over time, left nothing to be desired, with the smoky, dominant crust perfectly balancing a milder, creamy center. Goat milk gelato paired with apple crumble, produced on site by Jones Family Farm, topped off the tasting process. While seemingly one-dimensional relative to the expansive selection, a spoonful of traditional goat cheese was part of the tasting plate. A true explosion of flavors; an unreal gustatory voyage.

“I really enjoyed the cheese and gelato tasting since those are both foods that I love. Both were absolutely delicious and I would definitely go back to eat more. I especially liked how they paired the cheeses with different jams and fruits to enhance the flavor. There’s nothing like good cheese!” remarked Holly Mirales ‘26.

Once the tasting concluded, Slow Food members continued their tour outside where three dozen sheep and goats and as many roosters and chickens were held in by fencing. Behind the enclaves, 125 acres of green pastures flourished, allowing for both sheep and goats to roam undisturbed. The picturesque setting in the heart of upstate New York was further accentuated thanks to the line of trees delineating Jones Family Farm’s property. Having been touched by the autumn foliage, a gorgeous medley of yellow, orange and red shaded tree leaves brought breathtaking color to the landscape, crowning the already scenic views.

“Jones [Family Farm] in particular is always a fun trip because they’re personable, easy to work with, and have a lot of food and animals to enjoy,” commented Henry Wilson ’23, who led the Slow Food trip. In past years at Hamilton, Wilson participated in going to the farm through Slow Food. Despite a change in responsibility vis-a-vis the club, Wilson still cherishes “going back to places with whom I have had great experiences with.”

Thanks to its high-quality dairy-derived products, Jones Family Farm holds a list of notable community partners it consistently does business with, including Utica Coffee Roasting Company, Nola’s Restaurant, Bagel Grove and The Headwater Food Hub. Due to New York state regulations regarding commercial exchanges between small businesses, all trade stays within the state border. Despite the occasional collaboration with companies centered in Brooklyn and New York City, the bulk of their sales go towards supporting the upstate New York food market.

In individual cases, the farm holds a self-service store filled with a plethora of condiments and aliments. Sweet fig goat cheese, black garlic, ground beef, cage-free eggs, pork sausage, whole chicken and apple crisp gelato can be purchased in store or ordered online via the official Jones Family Farm website, annotherjonesfamilyfarm.com. The cell phone contact is 315–866–4164.

“Having a healthy local food system is critical especially in an age of pandemics; it is how we are able to feed ourselves. Making sure farming and small businesses like this are prioritized is certainly key,” stated Suzie Jones.

In a world where globalization is pushing agroalimentary companies towards a model prioritizing maximization of economic profit, consequently leading to unauthentic, artificial products, Jones Family Farm is working against this trend for the betterment of its local community.

Having worked hand in hand with other producers around Utica and upstate New York for over two decades, Jones Family Farm still stands true to its mission statement, and will undeniably continue doing so for years to come: “shortening the distance between farmer and consumer, with quality foods that feed community & spirit.