SOUTHWICK-From asparagus to zucchini, local farmers are once again tending to their acres of farmland and readying it for the growing season upon us.
“I like to say we offer pretty much everything from A to Z,” said Donna Calabrese of Calabrese Farms.
Calabrese said she is “really optimistic” about this growing season.
“We saw people planting more gardens last year and the kids were really enjoying it so I think it will be the same thing to do this year,” said Calabrese, adding, “It’s important for kids to see where their food is coming from and how it is picked fresh daily.”
With more than 100 acres to plant, crew members at Calabrese Farms have already planted spinach, radishes, peas and early corn.
Joe Calabrese plants the first sweet corn for the season. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“The rhubarb is already poking out of the ground,” she added.
Plants still to be added to the fields include tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, beans, eggplant, yellow and green squash, winter squash, lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli.
“Our roadside stand on Feeding Hills Road will be opening April 16 and we will have a huge variety of hanging baskets, geraniums, perennials, annuals, water garden plants and Proven Winners,” said Calabrese. “We also sell vegetable plants for the home gardener, including asparagus roots, strawberry plants, vine crops, tomatoes and cole crops.”
One of their greenhouses also features hydroponic tomatoes.
“We also participate in the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP),” said Calabrese, noting area residents can buy herbs, fruits and vegetables with their HIP benefit.
HIP provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households with additional benefits if they purchase fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, mobile markets and community supported agriculture (CSAs) farm share programs.
Calabrese Farms offer Million Bells petunias in hanging baskets. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Calabrese said their fruit offerings also “look really good this year,” including peaches, apples, plums and blueberries.
“We also offer limited CSA’s,” she said.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into a second year, Calabrese said all state mandates are followed, including wearing masks and observing social distancing protocols.
“We are also taking phone orders and offering drive up pickups,” she said, adding, “We have a credit card machine that we can bring right up to your car.”
Less than five miles away, Lenita Bober and her crew at Blossoming Acres on College Highway are also well into the planting season for the spring.
The farm stand is open daily and currently Bober has several seasonal positions available – from bakery help and answering phones to customer service roles and cleaning duties.
“We currently have some produce available, including greens, parsnips and a nice variety of beets, as well as flowers including pansies, annuals, and hangers,” said Bober.
The crew at Blossoming Acres plants 100 acres of produce – including beets (golden, red and chiogga). (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
During the year, a full line of vegetables, bedding plants and cut flowers are offered, and the bakery specializes in pies and breads. Vegetable offerings include beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, lettuce, onions (cured), peppers, pumpkins, radishes, salad greens, spinach, summer and winter squash, and tomatoes.
Blossoming Acres offers vegetables, fruit, bakery items, frozen foods, and local products. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“At Blossoming Acres, our CSA is different,” said Bober. “Your card gets you what you want, when you want. Our own veggies, plants, bakery and more.”
While there are also several other farms in town gearing up for their particular season – from planting potatoes to pumpkins – the spirit is alive and well for farmers who provide nutritious food for area residents and relish the joy that brings to their customers.
