Congratulations to Picadilly Farm, one of four recipients of the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund grant awards in 2018. Farmers Jenny and Bruce Wooster own Picadilly Farm, a 71-acre certified organic farm in Winchester, NH. They harvest more than 100 tons of organic fruits and vegetables each year — including a bounty of winter root crops that keep us eating local throughout the holiday season.

Demand for year-round locally grown produce continues to rise and in past years, Picadilly Farm sold out of root crops by early February. To catch up with demand, they used the Farm Fund grant dollars to expand their crop storage capacity and plan to provide more local food to their wholesale customers from February to April. Their new 25-foot long storage space will accommodate another 18,000 – 20,000 pounds of root crops.

“The local wholesale market is there and ready to buy, our production capacity is there — we now have more appropriate storage capacity when the root crops are bulk harvested in October and November,” shared Bruce. “We’d enjoy hearing more folks say to us all winter, ‘I picked up some of your carrots at the Co-op!’ As for a broader benefit? Veggie farms and farmers wouldn’t be forgotten in the winter, and folks who want to keep eating local all year would have more options!”

About the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund

The Farm Fund is made possible through a partnership between the Monadnock Food Co-op and Cheshire County Conservation District. The fund’s mission is to support local farmers to increase sustainable food production for a thriving local farm economy. To donate to the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, round up your change at the co-op registers during February 2020. Learn more at monadnockfood.coop/farmfund or call the Conservation District at 603-756-2988 ext.116.