Alstede Farms is not your typical direct-to-consumer vegetable operation.

Yes, farmer Kurt runs community-supported agriculture (CSA), facilitates “you-pick” activities at the farm, and sells at farmers markets in New Jersey and New York City. However, what really sets Alstede Farms apart is the full-service farm store, not to mention that this fresh produce farm spans 600 acres. 

A unique experience for the whole family

Step into Alstede’s Farm Store and choose from freshly picked fruits and vegetables, homemade pies, honey, fudge, cider, baked items, meat, dairy and more. The selection of goods is sure to delight, and the fun does not stop there. A trip to the Alstede farm is full of excitement for the whole family, from educational seminars to pony rides and friendly farm animals. 

Taking advantage of resources

After two years of establishing his farm and growing his business, Kurt became a customer of Farm Credit East in 1984. 

“I was amazed by how easy it was for a young kid who had just started farming to go in and secure some operating financing for the farm,” he said. 

Kurt’s relationship with Farm Credit East grew quickly from his first operating loan. He soon took advantage of their many services from accounting to business consulting to tax preparation, all while being a borrower. 

Kurt even joined the Ag Retail Benchmark Program when it was established, as a way to evaluate the health of his expanding business in a way that he couldn’t do before. Through this program, Kurt was able to, “communicate, share and interact with growers from throughout the Northeast that had very similar business models.”