A Farm For All Seasons

Written by on August 2nd, 2010.
Filed under: Farm Fresh

Back in 2007, we started a project that’s very special to me—special because all of us at Wegmans are committed to helping you eat more fresh foods and live healthier, better lives. The project was our Wegmans Organic Farm, which we built near Canandaigua Lake in Upstate NY.

Our goal has been to learn more about how we can make it easier for all of us to enjoy more local, fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of our local growers in the Northeast have been concerned with switching to organic methods. Plus, growers in the Northeast have different challenges with weather that limit the growing season. We decided to start a small research farm to learn all we can to help our local growers.

In the beginning, our biggest challenge was to strengthen our soil. It all starts with the soil- healthy soil, healthy plants; so it was important that we took our time to get it right. We’ve learned a lot over our first few years on the farm, and we’re just getting started.

Danny Wegman at the Farm


One of the special things we’re doing this summer is partnering with one of the leading authorities in organic farming—Eliot Coleman. Eliot is a farmer-author who lives in Harborside, Maine. Together with his wife, he founded, the Four Season Farm using innovative techniques to extend the growing season. We’re learning a lot from him.

Eliot Coleman with Danny Wegman

A lot has happened on the farm, and there’s more excitement on the way that I want to share with you through our blog. In August, our new “hoop houses” are being built—meaning we’ll be able to make our harvest season weeks or even months longer. In fact, I have one holiday wish this year—and that’s to be able to harvest three crops from our hoop houses here in New York State in December! I know we can do it, and I’ll be telling you all about it when the time comes.

So that’s the latest about our farm and what we’re doing. I’ll be posting updates to our blog periodically over the next few months. When I’m not around, our farm team will be writing and answering questions.

As always, I want to know what you think. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Danny Wegman

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14 Comments »

14 Responses to “A Farm For All Seasons”

  1. Hi Danny,
    Do you welcome volunteers at your farm?
    My daughter is interested in working on a farm, she is between jobs.
    Thanks,
    Vickie

    Vickie commented on April 17, 2012.
    Reply

    • Hi Vickie,

      To inquire about jobs at the farm, please call Sheri Strauss at 1-800-WEGMANS, ext. 3263.

      -Valerie
      Media Specialist

      Valerie Fox commented on April 19, 2012.
      Reply

  2. Hi, I have bought some of the organic farm veggies at the Canandaigua store – -Delish! I also spoke with the woman who was educating shoppers and let her know that the company I work for, BioWorks, Inc., offers plant/root disease control organic pesticides and we’re right here in Victor NY…would love to be able to buy veggies treated with OMRI listed products like ours. Check us out at http://www.bioworksinc.com

    Julie Caulfield commented on February 22, 2012.
    Reply

  3. I just graduated from Finger Lakes Community College with a major in environmental studies, I am very interested in working at the organic research farm. I was wondering how to get in touch with someone there.

    Jess Loveless commented on May 14, 2011.
    Reply

  4. As a Culinary Nutritionist and author of The Healthy Apple at http://www.thehealthyapple.com I cannot thank you enough for your amazing produce and delicious fresh, ‘clean’ foods. I’m looking forward to your longer harvest season as are my clients and readers! Keep up the great work.

    The Healthy Apple commented on August 18, 2010.
    Reply

  5. wouldn’t it be cool if Wegmans grew some grapes there and made a little wine? The white grapes grow pretty well in NY and I could actually purchase a bottle in the Virgina Wegman’s stores. I hear that the NY politico’s again folded to the Liquor Lobby in Albany again and refuse to let wine be sold in stores like Wegmans. For all of you who dont know… Wegmans has a great wine selection in the Virginia stores. (and samples…)

    john commented on August 4, 2010.
    Reply

    • I heard from the owner of Fox Run Winery on Seneca Lake that his wines are available for purchase in Virginia Wegmans stores. They are delicious!!!

      Ed Draves commented on August 5, 2010.
      Reply

  6. Been here for a tour. VERY cool place.

    Chuck commented on August 3, 2010.
    Reply

  7. Even though Wegmans is not actually a public service company their interest in providing localy grown food, organic production methods, and hoop tunnels is outstanding in retailers. I love shopping there. The only thing i wont buy from Wegmans are products like lettuce shipped across the country and imported produce when the local grown alternative is available at a farmers market.

    john commented on August 3, 2010.
    Reply

  8. The organic farming initiative is very commendable! Is there anyway that Wegmans can incorporate compost receptacles in the stores?? The composting could be very useful for the farming and nutrient rich soil! Thanks for the consideration!

    Casey commented on August 2, 2010.
    Reply

    • Thanks Casey for your question. I reached out to our Sustainability Specialist, Jason Wadsworth, to provide more info about our current composting efforts.

      The farm currently picks up our Canandaigua store’s produce and floral dept. waste for use in compost piles at the farm.

      Also, at our Ithaca, NY store, we have a unique composting program; customers use compostable plates, forks cups etc, in the café and then place these items in a designated bin. From there those bins go to our composter, Cayuga Compost, where they have a process for mixing it all in and successfully breaking those packaging items down with the produce/food/floral waste from the store.

      The challenge is that composters need to have the expertise to handle post consumer waste and collection needs to minimize non compostable contaminates, like plastic. We are not ready to expand on Ithaca’s program just yet.

      Courtney Briggs commented on August 3, 2010.
      Reply

      • Hi Courtney,
        Don’t forget about the Penfield and Webster Wegman’s Stores. They both compost and have a local farm (Freshwise Farms) pick up every other day hundreds of pounds of pre-consumer compost. The farm creates compost in windrows and uses it in their soil for organic farming. The farm has hopes one day to add pasture raised pig’s on the farm and use some of the compost for feedstock!

        Freshwise Farms commented on October 18, 2010.
        Reply

        • Oh hello Freshwise Farms- Thanks so much for the reminder! What a great partnership : )

          Courtney Briggs commented on October 18, 2010.
          Reply

  9. Thank you for researching ways to use more local organic agriculture. Buying local is a great way to get fresh produce while helping the local economy at the same time.

    Ed Draves commented on August 2, 2010.
    Reply

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