AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2021 - 40

PILOT BRIEFING
DESTINATIONS |

crumbles. There are also three breweries
within a 10-mile radius of the farm. Fly
to Decorah Municipal Airport (DEH) in
Decorah, Iowa.
MILLSAP FARMS,
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

Will fly for pizza
Fly yourself to these farms for fresh pizzas
B Y D AV I D T U L I S

'THE NEW YORK TIMES' recently highlighted

family farms that specialize in growing fresh
ingredients and then baking them on site
into tantalizing pizza pies. Here are several
farm-to-pizza experiences located close to
general aviation airports that can provide
you with opportunities to log flight time
while exploring a new slice of the horizon.

producing vegetables, honey, grains, pigs,
chickens, goats, and cattle. The crackly
edges of wood-fired pizza became the
calling on Friday nights. The sustainable
farm donates funds to a nonprofit that
reconnects members of the clergy with
agriculture. Fly to Wabash Municipal
Airport (IWH) in Wabash, Indiana.

AMBER WAVES FARM,
AMAGANSETT, NEW YORK

KATCHKIE FARM,
KINDERHOOK, NEW YORK

Local flour is the key ingredient for
Amanda Merrow and Katie Baldwin, who
praise the cultivation of grains-along
with farm-fresh vegetables-as ingredients
that help make do-it-yourself pizza nights
at Amber Waves in the Hamptons popular. The sourdough starter for their pizza
crust has been going since 1968. " The taste
of flour made from freshly harvested grain
is a totally different thing, " Merrow told the
newspaper. Fly to East Hampton Airport
(HTO) in East Hampton, New York. 

" I never knew there were pizza groupies, " owner Liz Neumark said to The New
York Times reporter. Her certified organic
farm is dedicated to building connections
between consumers, food professionals,
and families. Weekend collaborations with
Hilltown Hot Pies include hyperlocal ingredients " inspired by the bounty of our local
farm " and baked into sourdough wood-fired
Neapolitan pizzas. Fly to Columbia County
Airport (1B1) near Hudson, New York.

HAWKINS FAMILY FARM,
NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA

40 | AOPA PILOT April 2021

Maren and Tom Beard of Luna Valley Farm
near the Iowa-Wisconsin border specialize in a traditional Margherita pizza that
has fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, and mozzarella topped with zingy Italian sausage

PLEASANT GROVE PIZZA FARM,
WASECA, MINNESOTA

Emily Knudsen and Bill Bartz founded
their farm in 2014. The couple provides
home-grown basil, tomatoes, peppers,
and local honey for the brick oven pizzas they assemble. Favorites include the
Sweet Georgia with mozzarella, prosciutto,
arugula, goat cheese, and honey; and the
Pig and Pork with tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausage, pepperoni, and green olives.
Patrons can bring everything else including
dessert, snacks, drinks, and a garbage bag
to keep the picnic surroundings clean for
others. Fly to Waseca Municipal Airport
(ACQ) in Waseca, Minnesota.
A TO Z PRODUCE AND BAKERY,
STOCKHOLM, WISCONSIN

The farm is the table at A to Z Produce
and Bakery, run by Ted Fisher and Robbi
Bannen, near Lake Pepin on the WisconsinMinnesota border. They are " not only
credited as pioneers of the pizza farm; they
also believe they coined the term soon after
they began in 1998, " the newspaper said.
Fisher and Bannen grow the vegetables for
tomato sauce and toppings, and wheat for
the flour. Fly to Red Wing Regional Airport
(RGK) in Red Wing, Minnesota.
aopa.org/destinations

EMAIL david.tulis@aopa.org

DAVID TULIS

Former pastor Jeff Hawkins " was called "
to the family farm near Salamonie Lake
when he felt preaching had become too
corporate. He committed his family to

LUNA VALLEY FARM,
DECORAH, IOWA

Sarah and Curtis Millsap make mouthwatering pizzas with a New Mexico-style mud
oven technique that was pioneered centuries ago for high-heat baking at around 800
degrees Fahrenheit. The pizzas are cooked
in the earthen oven in about two minutes and are served buffet-style through
October with seasonal toppings. " If you
can grow it, we have put it on a pizza, " the
Ozarks family told the newspaper. Bring
chairs, a picnic blanket, and your appetite. Fly to Springfield-Branson National
Airport (SGF) in Springfield, Missouri.
http://www.aopa.org/destinations
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2021

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