By Cathy Miller

The time seems ripe to feature an offering of fresh-made fruit pies from the season’s lush bounty: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and peaches.

Claudiene Kowalick has managed the store and bakery at Donaldson Farms for 25 years. As the baker, she says on this particular day she made 40 pies. On weekends there are even more than that! The flavors change with the seasons, but for now, in addition to the fruity pies, they also sell fresh real key lime pies!

In the photo above, Claudiene Kowalick holds two fresh-baked pies – strawberry rhubarb on left and peach blueberry on right

The Farm Market is chock full of seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables, local raw honey, local glass-bottled milk, cheese and dairy, meats, pickled vegetables, freshly baked pies, muffins, and breads, gift baskets and boxes, and more. The majority of their fruits and vegetables are grown onsite with some other items sourced from local farms, producers, and small businesses.

Donaldson Farms thanks you for supporting local agriculture – since 1906 – and offers private and public events, including educational school and group tours, birthday parties, youth programs and camps, seasonal events like the food truck festivals, and the always-popular Summer Nights on the Farm farm-to-fork dinner and concert series.

Donaldson Farms is located at 358 Allen Road, Hackettstown. For more information call 908-852-9122 or visit their website, www.donaldsonfarms.net.

Cathy Miller is an award-winning photographer and journalist who besides taking pictures of the people and places of Warren County has had her works in publications throughout the state and is also renowned for her food photography which has appeared in numerous high profile magazines.