Watch out Tour de France. A new bicycle tour has hit Connecticut — the “Tour des Farms.”
Cyclists got their helmets and gear ready Saturday morning for the annual Naugatuck Valley “Tour des Farms” bike race starting at Jones Family Farm. Unlike the Tour des France, bicyclists could not only ride, but they could also stop at local farms along the route and buy goods for sale.
“The purpose of the event is to promote local agriculture in the state of Connecticut,” said James Sipperly, chairman of King’s Mark Resource Conservation and Development Council, a sponsor of the event. “People can see what local farmers are growing and hopefully they will return.”
Each participant received $5 worth of “farm bucks” they could use at the participating farms to purchase goods. Event volunteers were on hand to pick-up the purchases for bikers and bring them back to the finish line.
Participants could choose from three routes – a 10, 30, or 62-mile course that took them through beautiful Connecticut farmlands. This is the second year that it has been held at the Jones Farm location.
First time “Tour des Farms” participant Chris Fowler came with his two sons Camden and Colby.
“It’s beautiful weather and seemed like a great way to get outside with the kids,” he said.
About 125 – 150 participants were expected to race, Slipperly said.
Christy Beardsley, owner of Beardsley’s Cider Mill and Orchard, was ready with samples of pumpkin cheesecake for anyone who stopped at her cider mill and orchard.
“I hope the tour will bring awareness of our store to people who would not ordinarily come in,” she said.
Along with the bicycle race, Jones Farm also held “Fiddle Faddle” a concert performance by members of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra on Saturday afternoon in their historic dairy barn.
It was also the opening of pumpkin season at Pumpkinseed Hill Farm.
“This year’s theme at the farm is P.T. Barnum’s Harvest under the Big Top, so the farm is decorated like a circus,” said Jones Farm employee Shannon Murray.
There are over 50 varieties of pumpkins to choose from, an expanded farmer’s market, hay rides, and more.
The farm is also hosting a charity weekend on Oct. 24 and 25, where a portion of the proceeds from all sales will be donated to UNICEF.
For more information visit http://www.jonesfamilyfarm.com/
