North Fork Foodie Tour takes visitors behind the scenes

Next Sunday, Sept. 11 the North Fork Foodie Tour returns. This is the 16th year that the North Fork Reform Synagogue has presented this self-guided exploration of the region’s agricultural and culinary treasures.

Ticket holders have access to 19 farms and producers, as well as the opportunity to meet the farmers, artisans and chefs who turn all this bounty into some of Long Island's most celebrated foods and beverages. Participants can chart their own course for the day, using a map that also provides a schedule for special tours and demos.

The tour's headquarters is at Southold’s 23-acre Charnews Farm, owned by the Peconic Land Trust and dedicated to promoting small-scale farming. Throughout the day, there will be a steady stream of speakers expounding on everything from avoiding Lyme disease to innovations in oyster growing.

Coming from the west, here's how you might organize your day:

Roanoke Lavender Farm: Growing English, French and Spanish lavender in Riverhead, it will offer tours until 11:30 a.m..

Goodale Farm: This is LI's only licensed  milk dairy, selling goat's and cow's milk, plus cheese and eggs. Visitors can take a farm tour and see how cheese is made.

Jamesport Farmstead: Established only two years ago, it's committed to organic, no-till farming.

Mattituck Mushroom: Tour-goers can explore the man-made “caves'' where Mattituck Mushroom grows nine varieties.

Browder's Birds: Meet the chickens and ducks at LI’s only mobile poultry processing facility. Browder’s sheep also supply the farm with wool, and there will be a demo table for kids to learn about yarn and needle crafts.

Mattituck’s Eastern Front Brewery, Cutchogue’s Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Peconic's Greenport Harbor Brewery: All will offer tours and tastes to show visitors how their products are made.

Disset Chocolates: Meet Ursula XVII, the chocolatier behind the Cutchogue shop's North Fork-inspired treats.

Sang Lee and Satur farms: Two of Long Island’s stalwart specialty farms in Peconic will conduct rare behind-the-scenes tours; you'll need to arrive at Satur by 11:30 to catch theirs. Upstart Treiber Farm will also welcome visitors to tour the farm's fruit, veggie and herb operation. 

Catapano Dairy Farm: See how cheese is made and even try your hand at milking the goats.

North Fork Roasting Company: Get a jolt of joe along with a demonstration of coffee roasting and an explanation of the differences between a cappuccino, a cortado and a flat white.

North Fork Flower Farm: Four tours will show off the fields in bloom at this boutique operation in Southold.

KK's The Farm: It's known for its biodynamic practices and extraordinary heirloom tomatoes.

Naked Farm: In East Marion, visit the tiny but immensely productive farm that grows vegetables and micro greens.

Lavender by the Bay: End the day the way you began it, with lavender.

 There's also an online auction of experiences, artwork, restaurant and shop gift cards and more.