Farm Livin’: Fresh Food and a Ton of Fun

6 local farms where you can enjoy a true, farm-to-table dinner, farmers markets, farm shares, live music, line dancing, and more

KAI-KAI FARM INDIANTOWN

What started out as just a quarter of an acre of farmland in Indiantown has grown to 40 acres in the past 20-plus year. The expansion was the product of farm owners Carl Frost and Diane Cordeau, who purchased the land in 2003. At Kai-Kai Farm, the couple grows more than 50 varieties of produce, which they harvest and sell to restaurants as well as the community, and use in their renowned farm dinners.

They started the farm dinners back in 2012, hosting top local chefs who prepare meals on-site using the farm’s fresh produce. The dinners are paired with wine and take place outdoors under a pavilion that seats 150. All dinners begin with a tour of the farm, led by Carl and Diane, so diners can learn all about the agriculture behind their meal. Upcoming dinner hosts include Chef Taylor Wilson of The Gafford March 8, Chef Harvey Gonzalez of Christopher’s Kitchen March 19, and Chef Clay Conley of Buccan and Grato April 2, among others. Tickets are $170 per person and can be purchased in advance online Click here to view the full farm dinner schedule and reserve a seat.

You are also welcome to stop by the farm Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., to purchase farm-grown seasonal produce, local honey, and eggs. If you prefer to order online for a quick and easy pickup, click here.

SWANK SPECIALTY PRODUCE, LOXAHATCHEE

Since 1996, Swank Specialty Produce has been growing produce and wildflowers on its 20 acres of farmland in Loxahatchee Groves. The community can reap the benefits of its products in three ways: by attending a Swank Table Dinner, buying produce at its weekly farmers market, or taking party in its Swank Farm Share, which allows you to purchase a “share” of the farm and enjoy a sack of the season’s harvest when its ready.

Swank Table Dinners begin with a tour of the hydroponic growing houses before dinner. After the tour, you’ll be seated in the rustic Pole Barn to indulge in a five-course plated dinner, prepared by visiting chefs, paired with wines curated by the farm’s sommelier Jon Wine. Upcoming themed dinners include Global Space: Mediterranean March 8, Memphis Blues March 22, and A Night in Provence April 12. Tickets are $195/person and can be purchased here.

Taking part in the Swank Farm Share program allows you to take home weekly or biweekly deliveries of the season’s produce by purchasing a “share” of the plot. Your “sack” includes samplings of items like lettuce, micro greens, tomatoes, strawberries, and wildflowers—and the farm says if you continue with program all season long, you’ll be sure to end up with samples of all 360 varietals grown on the farm. A small sack (6 items per delivery) is $$50, while a large sack (100 items) is $65. Click here to learn more.

Swank’s farmers market is open to the public Saturdays during season, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Click here to view a full list of market vendors.

FORD’S FARM, HOMESTEAD

Chef Jeremy Ford is pretty much a household name these days, with a Michelin-starred restaurant (Stubborn Seed) in Miami, The Butcher’s club at PGA National, and myriad other restaurants around the world in hot spots like Las Vegas and Aruba. A regular visiting chef at farm dinners at Kai-Kai and Swank in the past, Ford began building his own farm in 2023 and started hosting farm-to-table dinners on-site last year.

At the 5.5-acre farm, Ford and his partner Joe Mizzoni grow more than 40 crops, which are used at both the farm dinners and at Ford’s many restaurants. He also has bees to generate fresh honey.

The Dinner Series at Ford’s Farm takes place in the farm’s beautiful Barn, where Ford collaborates with friends and fellow chefs on incredible meals. Upcoming dinners collabs include Chefs Dean Max and Cindy Hudson March 7 and Chef Eduardo Lara May 5. Click here for the full schedule.

NEWFIELD FARM, PALM CITY

Newfield Farm is a bustling, 170-acre sustainable community in Palm City that offers educational programs, crop sharing, community plots, and seasonal harvest memberships.

Members of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) can visit the Harvest House weekly to pick up a bountiful box of seasonal produce. Locals can also join the Farm Club by purchasing a community plot. The farm supplies all the tools and seeds for you to create your own sustainable haven. Residents at Newfield also have the added bonus of taking part in the Crop Share Program. Learn more about Newfield’s offerings here.

JUPITER CREAMERY, JUPITER FARMS

Local resident Suzie Dudas turned her Jupiter Farms homestead into a local dairy farm in 2006, focused on raw milk that she sells to the community. Her mission is to promote a healthier diet for children, through the addition of high-quality, unprocessed food.

The 10-acre plot that comprises Jupiter Creamery is home to a small herd of Jersey cows, which are raised on a grain-free diet of grass, hay, and  homegrown coconut. Their milk is unprocessed and contains no vaccines or hormones. The raw milk is sold by the pint ($10) or half-gallon ($20) in glass mason jars; raw, cultured butter is also available for $16/6 oz. Dairy Club members must purchase either a 3- or 6-month subscription for milk, which can be picked up at the farm on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Click here for more info.

*The state of Florida does not allow the sale of raw milk for human consumption and is sold for as pet food only.

HOBE SOUND FARMS, HOBE SOUND

There is no shortage of farmer’s markets in our area, with weekend markets up and down the coast from Miami to Vero Beach. But one of our favorite local markets is the Hobe Sound Farmers Market. The year-round market takes place at the farm every Saturday, from 10 a.m. to  2 p.m. and offers fresh farm produce plus goods from a variety of local vendors. Their wares include jams, pickles, and other packaged foods; on-site prepared foods like pizza, sandwiches, and ice cream; baked goods, coffee, seafood, pet products, health and beauty products, jewelry and accessories, and so much more.

There are also a ton of fun actives happening during the market, including live music and kid-friendly fun like tractor rides, a cattle-feeding station, and animal meet and greets. It truly is a wonderful way to spend the day with your family—and go home with some fresh produce and other local goods!

Hobe Sound Farms also hosts a variety of special events on-site, including the After Hours concert series (next up: The Grunge Revival March 27; $10), Saturday Night Line Dancing ($15), and Private Animal Encounters (Monday through Thursday; $120 for up to 10 guests). Click here to learn more about the farm and its events.