We hope that you will have a chance to get to know the farmers and other vendors throughout the season. Following is a list of the farmers and other vendors, the date they will begin attending the market, and the type of products they will have available, as well as some additional background information.
Autumn Hills Orchard
Groton
www.autumnhillsorchard.com Over 20 varieties of apples, including MacIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, Mutsu, Empire, Paula Red, Liberty, Red Delicious, Rhode Island Greening, Lady Apple, Golden Delicious, Spencer, Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, Ginger Gold, Cox's Orange Pippin; Bosc and Bartlett pears; Italian prune plums; peaches; Concord grapes
Autumn Hills Orchard had been a working orchard for more than 70 years and includes over 8,000 trees on 70 acres. The trees are planted on three parallel ridges to provide good drainage and excellent protection from frost. The staff at Autumn Hill has over 100 combined years of orchard experience. They practice integrated pest management (IPM) techniques and take special measures to intervene as little as possible in the natural growing cycle. They use no herbicides and constantly research ways to grow the highest quality fruit while producing maximum benefit for both the environment and the consumer. As part of their efforts toward stewardship, Autumn Hills is participating in a study by researchers at Manomet Observatory focusing on the effects of farming activities on migratory bird populations.
Cocoa ExpressWinchester
Baked goods, handmade chocolates, estate-grown coffee, tea, specialty hot cocoa
Cocoa Express is owned and operated by Marlene Nalbandian in the Wedgemere commuter rail station in Winchester.
Farmer Dave's(includes produce grown at Brox Farm, East Street Farm, and Dumaresq Farm)
Dracut
www.farmerdaves.netAccepts WIC
Flowers, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, tomatoes, summer squash, corn, beans, peppers, pumpkins, winter squash, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, eggplants, cabbage, greens, kale, Brussels sprouts, beets, annual and perennial plants
Farmer Dave was raised on Marsh Hill in Dracut, Massachusetts. He grew up working on the Brox Farm in Dracut learning about New England farming from John Brox who had been tilling that land since the 1920s. After graduating from college, Farmer Dave served in the Peace Corps as a crop extensionist in Ecuador. In the Andes, he taught organic agriculture and worked with farmers to improve their soil health, crop yields, irrigation systems, crop storage, animal health, and marketing methods. Since returning from Ecuador in 1997, he has been leasing the Brox Farm, growing a wider and wider array of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. In 2003 he began also leasing the East Street Farm in Tewksbury. Working closely with those trying to preserve farmland for future agriculture, he purchased his own farm in Dracut in 2006. This became known as Farmer Dave's Dumaresq Farm, or simply Farmer Dave's.
Flats Mentor FarmLancaster
Accepts WIC
Oriental produce
Song Yang and Pang Xao Yang farm a one-acre plot at the the Flats Mentor Farm (FMF). The FMF is located on 70 acres of river-bottom land. Immigrant farmers have been farming at this location since 1985. In 2005, the FMF was officially established with the support of University of Massachusetts Extension, Heifer International, the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, and the National Immigrant Farming Initiative. FMF assists and supports small farmers of diverse ethnic backgrounds by providing them with access to land, farming infrastructure, and marketing assistance needed to promote and sustain successful farming enterprises. FMF promotes economically viable agricultural production that protects the environment through the practice of sustainable farming methods through hands-on training and technical assistance on soil fertility, irrigation, pest and weed management, and marketing planning, training, and implementation.
Globe FishBoston
www.globefishcompany.com Fish and seafood
Glutenus Maximus
Winchester
Gluten-free cookies
Henderson FarmWayland
www.sandyriverdevons.comAccepts WIC
Grass-fed beef, honey, eggs, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, watermelon, potatoes, onions, leeks, beets
Henderson Farm is located in New Sharon, Maine, on the banks of the Sandy River and is also affiliated with Mainstone Farm in Wayland, Massachusetts. Tim and Pauline Henderson specialize in Devon and Devon-cross cattle, which are fed only hay that is made on the farm. The animals have a free supply of water, salt, and minerals, year round. They are free to roam the pastures year round but have housing available to them at all times, if they choose to use it. The animals do not receive growth hormones. On the farm's fields in Maine and Massachusetts, sustainable agriculture practices are used, which helps to benefit the animals and the environment.
Lanni OrchardsLunenburg
www.lanniorchards.comAccepts WIC
Raspberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, apples; beans, summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, beets, kale, chard, herbs, flowers
Lanni Orchards was established when Pasquale Lanni, his wife Rosa, their four sons, and their one daughter immigrated from Avellino, Italy, and purchased the land that is now know as Lanni Orchards in 1963. Lanni Orchards is still a family-run business, now run by Pat Lanni and his brothers, all third-generation farmers, with over 180 acres of fruit trees, berries, and vegetables. They are one of the largest suppliers of the Massachusetts Farm to School Project, a project sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resource to bring locally grown food to the cafeterias of schools and colleges in the state.
Mahoney's Garden CenterWinchester
www.mahoneysgarden.com Annual and perennial flowers and plants
Mahoney's opened in Winchester in 1959 and still remains a family-run company today, with a total of eight full-service garden centers in eastern Massachusetts. Mahoney's operates 5 acres of state-of-the-art greenhouse facilities in Woburn, Mass., where they grow their Garden Lover's brand of annuals and perennials.
E. L. Silvia FarmsDighton
Accepts WIC
Early tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, nectarines, peaches, plums, fava beans, snap beans, wax beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, collard greens, cabbage, kale, lettuce, kohlrabi, sweet peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes, tomatillos, winter squash, zucchini
Edward Silvia and his wife, Jane, farm 45 acres in Dighton and Somerset, including the family farm that he grew up on. They grow early tomatoes and eggplant in two greenhouses, as well as traditional field-grown crops and tree fruit.
Warner FarmSunderland
www.mikesmaze.com Strawberries, raspberries, asparagus, beans, corn, peas, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, summer squash, winter squash
Warner Farm was started by Eleaser Warner in the 1720s, and nine generations of Warners have farmed the same land since then. Warner Farm is especially well known for
Mike's Maze a corn maze that can be visited in September and October. Warner Farm grows 150 acres of vegetables. In the spring and early summer, they have pick-your-own strawberries and peas. They use a system of integrated pest management with the assistance of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Currently, the farm is diversifying with 15 acres in certified organic corn, asparagus, raspberries, and strawberries.