Farm to Baby: Mother-daughter duo cook up locally sourced food for infants
Processed baby food leaves Joanne Pratt and her daughter Amy Clark with a bad taste in their mouths. So after Pratt’s older daughter (Clark’s sister) had twins, the mother-daughter duo decided to make their own natural baby food.
What emerged was healthy, flavorful and slightly unusual baby food that had the twins’ tastebuds cooing. Production ramped up when Clark had her own twin daughters, and an idea for a new company was born.
“It’s not an alternative to what you can find in the store, but it’s stuff that you won’t find anywhere,” said Amy Clark.
The two created Farm to Baby last November. Based in Rochester, the two make tasty food with all ingredients sourced from local farms.
Plus, they deliver.
After consulting the state on safe food practices and got all their permits in order, they began crafting their purees at How on Earth in Mattapoisett.
Farm to Baby’s menu is for the “beginner foodie.” The applesauce has a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon, blueberries are mixed with spinach, beets with dill, peaches with cardamom, and the root vegetables have a hint of garlic and basil.
“Amy taught me that’s OK to do,” said Pratt.
Clark said the conventional wisdom that bland is good no longer holds true.
“We just added spices and flavor, and I think that’s what gets them to want to eat,” said Clark.
Her daughters, Zoe and Mia, “have such good appetites,” she said. “They’re not picky at all. They try anything.”
The spices are mild, said the mother-daughter duo. Much of the flavor comes from the produce. Purchased locally, the ingredients are at peak freshness when Clark and Pratt get them. They steam or roast the vegetables, which helps bring out their natural flavors without losing nutritional value, said the pair.
Additionally, combinations such as the sweet potatoes and kale gives kids the flavor of the former while sneaking in the nutrition of the latter.
Healthy eating is something Clark and Pratt want to help parents understand. As a pediatric physical therapy assistant for 20 years, Pratt often encouraged parents to look at the food their children were eating. For Clark, who holds a degree in biology, nutrition has long been an interest and became even more so when she was pregnant with Zoe and Mia.
Clark acknowledged that babies make life more hectic, and that’s why she and her mom want to provide a way for parents to give kids the farm to table experience.
“It’s hard enough to feed the adults in your family local food, never mind having to go and make your own baby food,” Clark said. “We were trying to make it easy for people to support sustainability. I know now how busy things get.”
The pair make deliveries twice a week and within 24 hours of making the food. They are also getting the word out about their local, and when possible organic, baby food at local farmers markets.
Pratt said they are very careful about food safety and recommend parents consult their pediatrician if they are concerned about introducing certain foods into their baby’s diet.
As far as the recipes go, however, Clark and Pratt say they’ve employed four very reliable taste testers.
Farm to Baby purées are available in two and eight ounce reusable containers as well as on-the-go recyclable food pouches. Prices range from $1 to $6 each.
For more information, contact Food to baby at 508-728-1387, info@farmtobaby.org or facebook.com/farmtobabycompany.