UNH Cooperative Extension Features Hip Peas Farm: Seeing the Big Picture
UNH Cooperative Extension Features Hip Peas Farm: Seeing the Big Picture
We're proud to share that UNH Cooperative Extension recently featured Hip Peas Farm in a detailed profile highlighting our approach to sustainable, organic agriculture and the unique relationship between the farm and New England's Tap House Grille. The piece — titled "Seeing the Big Picture" — dives into what makes our farm-to-table model genuinely different from the phrase as it's commonly used in the restaurant industry.
What UNH Extension Found at Hip Peas Farm
The UNH Extension team came to Hip Peas Farm to explore how a restaurant-adjacent farm operates in practice. What they found was a fully integrated system: a USDA certified organic farm that uses zero pesticide spray, where every crop decision is made with the restaurant's menu in mind, and where the relationship between the kitchen and the fields is maintained by a team that has worked in both. Our farm manager has a background in both agriculture and systems thinking, and the parallels between farm management and the discipline he learned in the Marine Corps aren't lost on him — efficient planning, resource management, and clear outcomes.
UNH Extension also noted our work with the broader Hooksett community: 95% of our farm's total sales stay within 2.5 miles of the property, and 99% stay within the town of Hooksett. We supply the Tap House, Johnson's Golden Harvest, Roots Café, and the Hooksett School District's nutrition program. Cawley Middle School students have visited multiple times to learn about growing food — and the thank-you letters they've written remind us why this work matters beyond the plate.
What No-Spray Organic Farming Means for Your Food
Hip Peas Farm became a USDA certified organic farm in 2019 and simultaneously adopted a no-spray policy: zero conventional insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or organic spray alternatives of any kind. This is a more demanding standard than certified organic alone requires. It means our produce is grown purely through crop rotation, companion planting, soil health management, and physical pest control. The result is produce that is as clean as it gets — and our kitchen team knows it, which is why they use it as prominently as they do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hip Peas Farm USDA certified organic?
Yes. Hip Peas Farm in Hooksett, NH achieved USDA certified organic status in 2019. The farm also operates on a no-spray policy, meaning no pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides of any kind are used — a standard that goes beyond basic organic certification requirements.
How does Hip Peas Farm supply New England's Tap House Grille?
Hip Peas Farm delivers fresh, certified organic produce directly to the Tap House Grille kitchen on a regular basis. The farm and restaurant teams communicate daily about harvest availability, ensuring menu items reflect what is at peak freshness. Produce includes greens, herbs, tomatoes, squash, kale, pea tendrils, and seasonal vegetables.
Does Hip Peas Farm supply local schools or community organizations?
Yes. Hip Peas Farm has partnered with the Hooksett School District's nutrition director to bring certified organic produce into local schools, including Cawley Middle School. The farm also sells to Johnson's Golden Harvest and Roots Café, keeping 99% of its sales within the town of Hooksett.
We're grateful to UNH Cooperative Extension for shining a light on what we're building here. It reinforces that doing things the right way — even when it's harder — is worth it. Learn more at taphousenh.com and hippeasfarm.com.