“I enjoy taking something from seed to harvest and I enjoy feeding people,” he said. Switajewski grows much of the produce he sells himself. Switajewski is proud to offer Litchfield-based, Arethusa Farm products. His farmstead carries Arethusa Farm milk, block cheese and ice cream. The new farm stand on the block is Summit Hill Growers, 1681 Waterbury Road, across from Darcey School. Matt Switajewski is not new to Cheshire, but his farm stand is. It began a few years ago with just a trailer, then a shed. Today, cashier Ellen Albanese is on duty in a brand-new building, filled with inviting displays, bushel baskets on end filled with produce and refrigeration units, shelves of homemade and local products like garden mix and pickles. “People love the corn here”, said Deanna Arisco, a recent college graduate working at Zentek Farms for the summer, and the daughter of Joe Arisco. Inside, customers order corn by the dozen, including Suzanne Markowski, of Meriden, who announces that she and her husband, Tom, are picking up 14 ears of Zentek corn for their “great neighbors.” Tables of ready-to-bloom mums flank the yard in front of the stand. The Zentek farmstand sits high above Higgins Street with a white picket fence. Afraid they won’t have their usual free hayrides and bouncy house this fall, due to COVID-19, Mary Ann Arisco said she is planning other “social distance” fun for the kids.Īcross town, the mums have arrived at Zentek Farms. Customers say Ives Farm is known for its corn and its customer service. As of mid-April, Yorke was having just a so-so start to the season, getting on base a lot but not hitting for much average or power. This year, the farm stand building is completely new and has refrigeration inside the newly-painted yellow and red building. Flowers, vegetables and Cheshire-made candles, soap and honey are for sale. On Cheshire Street, Joe Arisco and his father Mike, grow vegetables on land leased from the Cheshire Land Trust on the Ives Farm property. Joe’s wife, Mary Ann Arisco, manages the farm stand and their Community Supported Agriculture customers. Mary Ann estimates 100 customers in the CSA this year, a project she has worked on for seven years. The farm stand is extremely popular and receives up to 150 visits from customers each day. Back in the farm stand, Rich Zink of Meriden filled a bag with corn, helped by his daughter, Patty, age 7.Īt the cash register, Ozimkoski said it wasn’t unusual for the Carmody’s to draw out-of-towners. She walked from the stand with arms full of tomatoes and lettuce. “Everything is so fresh,” said Linda, from Cheshire, who did not give her last name. John Carmody owns the stand and it is run with the help of local young people each summer, like Jasmine Ozimkoski. The stand has been in operation since 1927 and the land surrounding it is still being farmed today. One popular farm stand is Carmody’s on Peck Lane and West Johnson. From A as in Arisco, to Z as in Zentek, there’s a farm stand for just about every person in almost every reach in town. CHESHIRE - What is one of Cheshire’s best home-grown assets? Farm stands – the town has an abundance of them.
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