Photo by Kate Preftakes Photography.
Tucked away in the quiet town on Harrisville, NH you will find a beautiful and family-run farm. Mayfair Farm, owned and operated by Sarah Heffron and Craig Thompson, is a mix of sustainable farming, culinary experiences, and spectacular events. Sarah, the chef, and Craig, the farmer, make for an excellent pairing and bring the delights of their farm to members all throughout the community.
“When I think about Mayfair Farm, I want it to be the type of place my grandfather would recognize from his farming days,” says Craig. “That means sheep on pasture, pigs in the woods, and diverse ventures including fruit trees, hay, and maple syrup. I also want it to be the sort of place that is welcoming to the public, a place where you might run into a friend or make a new one. I think we’ve accomplished that.”
Photo from Mayfair Farm.
Mayfair Farm produces a variety of products, from meats and veggies to cakes and syrups. It is hard for us to chose a favorite! For Craig, it’s about the process “I like raising lambs more than anything. There are a lot of reasons to farm, but finding newborn lambs in the barn on a chilly morning has to be at the top of the list.” But for Sarah, it is a bit more difficult. “Choosing a favorite product is like choosing a favorite child: not possible! We love how versatile our cakes and brownies are. They are delicious as is or can easily be dressed up for a fancy dinner with whipped cream, ice cream, or fruit compote or coulis. Making made-to-order-cakes is always a special treat. We love sending out biscotti and our own maple syrup to friends across the country. And we also work with local designers to offer custom Mayfair products like tote bags and bandanas. Our customers can buy our products at retail outlets (thanks to Food Connects), online, and at the farm in our farm store.”
No matter what their favorites are, they enjoy sharing them with the local community—and the local food movement is particularly important to them. “New Hampshire is a place where small, family-owned businesses still thrive. That goes for farms, too. It means something to us to know that we are a part of our friends’ and neighbors’ holidays and special occasions and that we’re not shrouded by anonymity or distance from our customers. We have a connection with our customers because they’re also our friends and neighbors.”
At Foood Connects, we are thrilled to start selling Mayfair Farm cakes after working with them as their vendor. “We spent the past few years breaking into the Boston market with our cakes, in December we introduced a new mini-almond cake for Whole Foods at their request, and now we are especially excited to find new outlets closer to home. We are happy customers of Food Connects, so we know how competent the organization is are and it is an exciting new relationship for us. We are thrilled to be able to share the local products that we love to make with all our regional neighbors.”
On top of the delicious food they provide, Mayfair Farm hosts events throughout the year. Owning and operating a farm increasingly more and more difficult. Sarah and Craig understand the need to diversify their offerings and embrace agritourism. “The demand for weddings hosted and catered by Mayfair has never been higher. We love working with clients to create a unique, local menu and memorable event. Families and guests not only appreciate our sustainable approach, but also love our party barn, firepit, Airbnb rental house, hilltop view of Mt. Monadnock, and more. Weddings have become an integral part of our business model, alongside our farm store, farm dinners, and our diverse products sold through Food Connects.”
Photo from Mayfair Farm.
Sarah and Craig take pride in feeding their clients like they feed their family. “Everything we create is ethically produced and made completely from scratch with ingredients from our farm and other local farms. That means our lamb, pork, sausage, cakes, and desserts not only taste great but support the local economy and are kind to the environment.”
So what are you waiting for? Try out their amazing, local products today!