In much of the Southeast, New Year’s Day doesn’t begin with resolutions. It begins in the kitchen. A pot on the stove. Greens slowly softening. Peas simmering until tender. Cornbread waiting nearby.
As Southern Living has shared over the years, this classic Southern New Year’s meal of collard greens, black eyed peas, and hog jowl is rich with meaning and history rooted in African American foodways. The greens symbolize prosperity, the peas represent luck, and the pork points toward progress in the year ahead. What began as sustenance and survival became tradition, passed down through generations as a hopeful way to welcome a new year.
At Caney Fork Farms, we hold those stories with care. We also believe traditions stay alive when they remain connected to place, season, and land. That is where our farm grown twist comes in.
Our version keeps the spirit of the dish intact while leaning into the ingredients that thrive right here in the southeastern United States. Organic collard greens grown in cool weather fields, harvested at their sweetest, and organic dried quickpick pinkeye peas, a regional cousin to the black eyed pea with deep Southern roots, both went into our Organic Veggie CSA this week. Bacon ends from our pasture raised pigs, used in place of hog jowl while honoring the same idea of building flavor slowly and using the whole animal, were included in our Regenerative Meat CSA.
Every main ingredient comes straight from our farm. Nothing fancy, nothing intimidating, just honest food raised close to home.
This matters to us because food traditions are one of the strongest ways we stay connected to our region and to each other. The Southeast has always been shaped by agriculture, by small farms, and by meals built from what the land provides. When you cook this dish with local ingredients, you are not just recreating a recipe. You are participating in a living food system that supports farmers, preserves regional crops, and keeps cultural knowledge moving forward.
We also believe local food should feel accessible. You do not need specialty equipment or unfamiliar techniques. This is a one pot meal meant to be shared, adjusted, and enjoyed. It looks like nourishment. It tastes like comfort. It feels like home.
Whether you believe in the symbolism behind the meal or simply love a good Southern tradition, this dish invites you to slow down and start the year grounded. From our fields to your kitchen, we are grateful to be part of your table and excited to keep building a stronger, more connected local food system together in the year ahead.
Enjoy this recipe for Collards and Field Peas below!Â
