Mello's Looks to Community for Support with New Farm Program

Spring fever is running rampant and many residents are looking forward to the time when local farmers make their bounty available at the many farm stands around town.    

One such establishment is Mello’s Farm Stand, which is owned and operated by Art and Laura Mello. Located at 364 Boyds Lane, the stand was originally opened 28 years ago by Art Mello, near the farm where he grew up.

The stand is also the pick-up location for members of their relatively-new Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

Started three years ago, individuals or groups can buy shares of the farm’s spring harvest and will, in return, receive fresh, seasonal produce weekly throughout the season, which typically runs from mid-June through mid-October.

“It is a really great way to eat fresh and eat local,” said Laura Mello. “You are also supporting local agriculture, which helps our local economy, preserves open space, cuts down on the usage of fossil fuels which would have been used to ship the produce you eat from long distances, reduces global warming and ensures your grandchildren will still be enjoying this planet long after you are gone.

"For families, it is a good way to teach your children where their food comes from- from a farm, not a supermarket! That's a pretty big bang for your buck!”  

The Mello’s are currently accepting shareholders and will continue to do so until the season begins in June. Individuals, couples and small families can purchase single shares at a cost that works out to be about $15 per week.

Although the stand won’t be open to the public until July, the Mello’s have been busy since January preparing their farm for the upcoming season.  

The stand offers produce like sweet corn, tomatoes, green and yellow squash, leaf lettuce, raspberries and pumpkins, from their farm, which for the last four years has been located in Tiverton.

“Believe it or not, we started in January, planning, ordering seed, etc. Right now, we are starting plants in our greenhouse, planting early season crops like peas directly in the field, lining up labor, etc.,” said Laura Mello of spring preparations at their Tiverton farm. 

Potential customers of Mello’s Farm Stand who are concerned with how their food is grown can rest assured knowing the Mello’s utilize both sustainable and organic farming methods. 

Despite not being “certified organic,” the Mello’s make efforts to make as little impact on the environment as possible.

“We use environmentally friendly practices like 'low-till,' which prevents soil erosion, crop rotation and biodegradable mulch. The benefits to this type of farming are that the food is safer to eat, the soil and water resources are conserved, and the impact to the environment is less,” said Mello.

 Mello's Farm Stand typically opens once they start picking their sweet corn, which is usually the second week in July. They will be open seven days at week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information about their CSA or their farm stand, please visit their Web site.