Fresh local organic Cherokee Green heirloom tomatoes, a beefsteak variety with lime green and chartreuse flesh and a bold, assertive flavor that balances acidity with a mellow sweetness. Cherokee Green emerged as a color mutation from Cherokee Chocolate, itself a mutation of the well-known Cherokee Purple, discovered by seed-saver Craig LeHoullier in his own garden and stabilized into a variety of its own. Unlike unripe green tomatoes, which are firm, tart, and meant for frying or pickling, Cherokee Green is fully ripe at harvest, its skin taking on a faint amber blush near the stem as a sign it's ready to eat. The dense, juicy flesh works anywhere a classic red heirloom would: sliced thick for a tomato sandwich, layered into a caprese with fresh mozzarella and basil, or diced into a salad with good olive oil and flaky salt.
Rock Tavern, NY
Halal Pastures is a certified organic and halal farm based in Upstate NY, founded by husband-and-wife team Samer and Diane Saleh. They are dedicated to providing exceptional tasting organic vegetables and halal meats and meat products. Over a decade ago, a single article about Egypt rejecting genetically modified corn sparked their journey. At the time, the only food label they paid attention to was “halal”, but that moment led them to question how food is grown and what truly makes it pure.
Determined to feed their family food that was not only halal but tayyab (pure), the Salehs began growing it themselves. What started as a personal mission soon grew into Halal Pastures, a farm rooted in the values of health, ethics, and transparency.
Today, Halal Pastures cultivates thousands of vegetable varieties using regenerative practices that foster biodiversity and enrich the soil. The farm never uses chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetically modified seeds. Instead, they focus on nourishing the land and growing clean, flavorful produce that reflects the care behind every step of the process.
With a deep commitment to transparency and traceability, the Salehs remain hands-on in every part of the farm’s operations.