A fragrant new business has taken root on the North Fork. Saltwater Farm (3360 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-922-7803) recently opened at the corner of Roanoke and Sound Avenues, where you’ll find a 22-acre lavender farm and shop stocked with all things lavender.
For owner Anne Cynar, the farm is the realization of a lifelong dream. After closing on the property in April, the East Hampton resident spent weeks working 14-hour days planting lavender, renovating the shop, sourcing and purchasing inventory and hiring staff in time for a Memorial Day Weekend opening.
Cynar grew up in Paris with a French mother and an American father and lavender fields in the south of France were a familiar sight to her. “During my childhood I spent many summers in Provence, home of the world’s largest and most famous lavender fields … this is where my love of lavender was born,” she says.
She spent years searching for the right property to realize her dream.
“The particular farm that we ended up buying is perfect for us in every way because it has everything we wanted: an existing lavender field; road frontage on a road that’s heavily traveled yet charming; an established farm store on a corner lot with a red light and it’s on Long Island in the most beautiful agricultural region, surrounded by gorgeous farms,” Cynar says.
The name Saltwater Farm pays homage to the North Fork’s agricultural heritage and its unique geography, surrounded by Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay.
Saltwater Farms opened on Memorial Day Weekend this year. (Photo Credit: Stephanie Villani)
Currently, the farm has over 3,000 lavender plants, including three varieties of English lavender and two varieties of French lavender; the plants bloom from mid-June through late July. Cynar plans to add another 200 plants later this season, with additional expansion next spring.
Saltwater Farms’ lavender field is laid out in a distinctive sundial pattern, with each row radiating from the property’s highest point in the northeast corner of the field. Cynar intends to build a bluestone terrace there, which has lovely views of the rows of lavender sloping down to Sound Avenue and of Schmitt Farm’s fields across the street.
“We plan to use the terrace to offer sunrise yoga classes in the morning and Golden Hour sunset drinks and events,” she says.
While lavender may be the main draw, the farm is home to over 500 peach, apple and pear trees, which remain pesticide free. There’s also a new dahlia patch, just starting to bloom, as well as newly planted marigolds and sunflowers. “Although the lavender field is my passion project, I wanted to make sure we’d have some color for the fall,” Cynar says. Looking ahead, she’s considering adding spring flowers and eventually creating a u-pick flower field.
Inside the farm store, visitors will find live lavender plants, dried bouquets and a wide assortment of lavender-themed gifts and gourmet treats.
“I call it ‘a haven for the lavender obsessed,’” says Cynar.
Saltwater Farm produces its own dried bouquets, sachets, bath salts and baked goods, with plans in the works to begin distilling its own lavender essential oil. The shop also carries lavender products sourced from American and French lavender farms, many of which can be found on the farm’s website.
The farm shop, staffed by recent Riverhead High School graduates, sells candles, bath salts, soaps, lip balms, hand creams and lavender essential oils, along with various food products, like lavender-infused honey, syrup, chocolates, teas, cookies, candies, jams and cocktail/mocktail mixers. Visitors can also pick up snacks and beverages while browsing.
Since opening, Cynar says that the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I think a lot of people were concerned that the former lavender farm that was there before we bought it might be replaced with something less pretty,” she says. “People stop by all the time and tell me how grateful they are to see that we’re making every effort to beautify the [property].”
The farm will remain open through the fall, when visitors can gather around firepits and enjoy lavender s’mores, made with homemade marshmallows prepared from a French recipe. Seasonal products, like dried flower wreaths, mums and pumpkins will also be available.
Saltwater Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; check their website and Instagram for the latest updates and offerings.
