Calling all locavores. Andersen’s Farm and Mr. Green’s in Petaluma is luring in savvy shoppers with its organic and conventional produce, Clover dairy and fresh eggs from Sonoma.
The farmstand located directly across from the Petaluma Outlet Mall is a joint project between organic farmer Rodney Andersen of Petaluma and Amber Eliott, who handles the retail end.
“Our main goal is to carry local product during the season, so we do buy from other farmers,” said consultant Glen Cady, Eliott’s dad. “We buy California, unless we can’t get it.”
Shoppers can find a list of all the local produce at the counter, from apples to zucchini, along with jams and pies from Kozlowski Farms in Forestville and apple bread and cookies from Twin Hills in Sebastopol.
On a recent visit, the local produce bins included Gravenstein apples, leeks, potatoes, rainbow Swiss chard, cauliflower and broccoli. Corn and tomatoes came from Brentwood and the stonefruit hailed from the Central Valley.
The tiny, 500-square-foot storefront also stocks breads from Full Circle Bakery in Penngrove, tortilla chips and salsa from La Casa in Sonoma and yummy raviolis and sauces from Homemaid Ravioli Co.of South San Francisco. Under the Sonoma Olive Co. label, Homemaid also provides a delicious extra virgin Arbosana olive oil, custom bottled for the farmstand. For those salad nicoises, pick up a can of Local Pacific Fleet albacore tuna.
Once Andersen’s green thumb gets going this summer, watch out. There will be melons so sweet, customers have been known to fight over them. Also on the horizon: Shady Lady tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
The farmstand at 2485 Petaluma Boulevard North opened in June of 2008 but has already built a loyal customer base in Petaluma, Point Reyes and beyond. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 241-5357.
