GREATER WESTFIELD-Throughout the area, farmers are once again tilling fields and planting seeds in their greenhouses and high tunnels to ensure an abundance of fresh produce will be available for consumers in the coming weeks and months.
Farmers are an integral part of the food supply chain – and now more than ever – their commitment to local communities encourages all of us to support them. One of the ways that local farmers can benefit from our support now is through farm shares.
“The spread of COVID-19 has brought a lot of fear and uncertainty to our communities,” noted officials at Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), based in South Deerfield. “Cash flow is an issue for local businesses when sales are interrupted. If you’re thinking of signing up for a summer farm share, now is the time.”
There are a host of local farms that offer farm shares, including Blossoming Acres in Southwick, and Kosinski Farms and the Yellow Stonehouse Farm, both in Westfield. For a complete list of farms with farm share options, visit www.buylocalfood.org.
“We have our vegetable plants in the greenhouse now and we were pruning peaches last week,” said Susan Kosinski, who runs Kosinski Farms with her husband Gene at 420 Russellville Road.
Pepper plants are thriving at Kosinski Farms. (SUSAN KOSINSKI PHOTO)
The couple’s farm stand is now open and is featuring tomato and pepper plants for sale, as well as some of their flowers.
Tomato plants are flourishing at Kosinski Farms. (SUSAN KOSINSKI PHOTO)
“We are concentrating more on agriculture for the farm stand this year,” said Kosinski, adding they are teleconferencing every Monday with the Massachusetts Farm Bureau for the latest news that is critical for farmers, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kosinski said farm shares can be purchased now via their website.
“We have been in this business in Westfield since 1983,” said Kosinski. “We have always been proud of our products and will continue to provide food we grow sustainably. To be part of the farming community at this time is important to us because our customers have always been so good to us.”
Lenita Bober, owner of Blossoming Acres at 249 College Highway with Bob and Lois Davis, shared a similar sentiment.
Stacey Bryant, a baker at Blossoming Acres in Southwick, holds a homemade apple pie, while surrounded by a pepperoni and mozzarella cheese-stuffed bread, cinnamon swirl bread, hot “x” buns and Easter sugar cookies. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“We are planting tomatoes, beets, Swiss chard, and radishes in our greenhouses and our fields are ready to plant peas, spinach, carrots, beets, and a bunch of different greens,” said Bober.
Bober said their farm stand is open year round and also features a full bakery with specialty fruit and cream pies, stuffed breads, plus local eggs, vegetables from area farms, and frozen prepared meals and soups.
“I also bring in local vegetables from farms in Hadley and Amherst,” said Bober, adding, “I don’t bring in vegetables where I don’t know where they are grown. I know all of the farmers.”
Popular items right now at the store include a line of locally made soaps and hand sanitizers.
A variety of store made hand sanitizers and germ-fighting soaps are available at Blossoming Acres in Southwick. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“We follow a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recipe for our hand sanitizers,” said Bober, adding what sets their products apart includes the infusion of lavender and tea tree oils.
“We are sanitizing all the time here,” said Bober. “For me and my staff it is worrisome but we feel strongly about our commitment to be here for our longtime customers and the community.”
Farm shares are available at the store and interested area residents can call for more details.
Constance Adams, owner along with her husband John Keilch of Yellow Stonehouse Farm at 354 Root Road, is also practicing “extreme sanitation” measures.
“We are getting a lot of support from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture at this time,” said Adams, who expects to have their farm store open in May. The store will also offer organic eggs, local milk, honey, maple syrup and “other condiments” from farming entities in the Pioneer Valley.
“Farm shares are available now with several different options,” said Adams, adding that her farm workers have tilled the fields, added compost and prepared the beds.
“We are hearing from so many people who want to join now because they want to get their fresh, organic produce,” said Adams, noting they are ahead on memberships at this time.
Adams said with the warm spring, she is hopeful that some vegetables will be ready in a few weeks because of planting into the ground in their high tunnels.
A view of the Yellow Stonehouse Farm perennial asparagus bed and fields ready for planting. (CONSTANCE ADAMS PHOTO)
“Planting in the high tunnels allows us a six week early start to the season,” said Adams.
The couple will be offering a variety of vegetables this season, including peas, asparagus, and wild onions, as well as several varieties of lettuce – red butter, green lettuce, Boston bibb, and dandelion greens.
“We are experiencing a quarantine which will be harder for us to get products that people rely on,” said Adams, adding, “being able to access food locally is absolutely essential.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and area residents take stock of their every day lives, Adams noted, “this is going to bring home more than ever how important it is to support local farmers.”
For more information on how to support agriculture by “buying local,” visit www.buylocalfood.org, sponsored by CISA.
High tunnels at Yellow Stonehouse Farm are used to extend the growing season and shelter tender crops in summer. (CONSTANCE ADAMS PHOTO)
