Over the weekend Jeff stopped in at Atlas Farm in South Deerfield, MA. Check it out!

Gideon Porth

Owner @ Atlas Farm
South Deerfield, MA
http://atlasfarm.com/

FAVORITE FRUIT OR VEGGIE?
Lettuce for growing, Cherries for eating

WHY FARMING?
My first farm job was in 1996. I was always very interested in the environment and once I started farming I felt it was the most intimate connection between people and the world around them. I also like driving tractors and getting dirty!

CHALLENGES THIS SEASON?
So far, rain seems like a persistent challenge this season.

Rick and Laura Pedersen

Owners @ Pedersen Farms, Inc.
Seneca Castle, NY
http://pedersenfarms.com/

FAVORITE FRUIT OR VEGGIE?
Tomatoes

THE STORY:
We began our own farm in 1983, celebrating our 25th year last year. Laura grew up on a vegetable farm and Rick’s family had a hobby farm. He was always interested in growing things, so after Cornell, Rick worked on Laura’s family farm until the time was right for us to start on our own.

CHALLENGES THIS SEASON?
This year feels like the recession year for agriculture, kind of like 2008 was for the rest of the country. Prices for most of our products are flat or decreased from last year, yet our costs have stayed the same or gone up for most inputs with fuel being the only major exception.

Labor, year in and year out, is our biggest concern. We have a great crew now, but immigration reform is needed to be sure we can get and keep the workers we need.