Bristol Buys Fales Farm Development Rights for $1.4 Million

After years of planning, the Town of Bristol has made the final step to help preserve one of the few operational farms left in Bristol.

Bristol Town Administrator Diane C. Mederos recently announced that the Town of Bristol has partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to purchased the development rights to Fales Farm, located at 646 Metacom Ave.

According to a release, the town and NRCS split the cost of $1.4 million to purchase the rights to the 36 acres of land. The town's money to support the purchase will come in the form of a long-term bond, approved in a referendum by town voters back in 2006.

While the town maintains the development rights to the farm, the property itself is still privately owned.

Donald Fales, 58, who lives and works on the farm with his wife, Peggy, promises that everything will stay the same at the farm. Fales says the farm will continue to run as a family business, as it has been in his family for nearly a century since it was purchased by his grandfather, Stephen H. Fales. 

"We never had intent to sell the farm, but ever since my father ran the farm we have been trying to figure out a way to preserve it," Fales said. "We are not going to change the operation, but now it will be preserved as raw farmland."

Fales gives credit to Mederos and Ed Tanner for contacting the NRCS and finding a way to make it happen. 

"It's a good situation for us and a good situation for the town," Fales said. "I'm rather surprised it could actually be done."

According to the release, the Town of Bristol purchased the development rights to preserve the farm to “ensure that the property remains agricultural in perpetuity.”

“I am proud that the preservation of this important piece of Bristol’s agricultural history could occur during my administration,” Mederos said in the release. “We thank the NRCS and RIDEM for their funding and technical assistance, as this project demonstrates a true partnership between local, state, and federal government agencies. This is a great day for Bristol.”

Fales Farm remains privately owned and will continue to sell sweet corn, summer vegetables and flowers.