About Massaro Community Farm

Massaro Community Farm, Inc. (MCF) is a nonprofit, certified organic vegetable farm in Woodbridge, CT, which has been in operation since 2010.

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The Massaro property is 57 acres, including ten acres in mixed vegetable and flower production, and five acres in pasture. Over 30 acres of the property are in woods, including some wetlands, in which there is a nature trail open to the public and used for our educational programs. Our primary distribution channel for our produce, flowers and eggs is through seasonal Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions. In addition to the CSA, we have a farmstand, sell to local restaurants, attend farmers markets, and are committed to donating at least 10% of our annual harvest hunger relief organizations. MCF uses its buildings and land to offer on-farm educational programs and events for children and adults throughout the year.

Vision

We envision a world where everyone has access to fresh, local, healthy, affordable food, where communities feel connected to the land and each other, and where hands-on engagement helps individuals build a healthier future for themselves and for the planet.

Mission

Our mission is simple: Keep Farming, Feed People, Build Community. We fulfill this mission by maintaining a working farm, growing a wide variety of produce using organic, regenerative methods, and offering it to the community through seasonal CSA subscriptions, farmers markets, restaurants, and by donation to local health and human service agencies. We also fulfill this mission by creating a place where the community can come together for learning, inspiration, and fun; offering farm-based education programs for youth and adults, and hosting community building events throughout the year.

Land Acknowledgement

Massaro Community Farm exists on the ancestral homelands of the Paugussett and Wappinger nations. We recognize and respect the Indigenous peoples who have been the traditional stewards of this land for thousands of years, and strive to honor their example in our practices.

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Massaro History

When John and Mary Massaro emigrated from Italy in 1916, they purchased over 100 acres of land which spanned the border of Woodbridge and Ansonia. They operated a small dairy farm, grew grapes to make wine, hay and corn to feed their cows and chickens, and fruits and vegetables to nourish themselves. When John Massaro died on a snowy Christmas Eve in 1947, two of the three sons, Tony and John Jr., suddenly had to run the farm with only their mother’s help. They continued in their father’s footsteps and kept the farm running.

Louis Massaro moved West, while Tony and John Jr. remained on the farm, but never married or had children. With no children of their own, they created their own extended family by recruiting local teenagers to work on the farm. This hands-on experience with thousands of chickens and dozens of dairy cows left a lasting impression on each person who contributed to the Massaro farm effort. In the early 1990s, facing similar challenges as many small, family farms in Connecticut, the portion of the farm located in Ansonia was sold and developed into a residential neighborhood.

When John Jr. passed away in 2007, the 57 acres of the family farm that existed in Woodbridge was put in conservation easement and deeded to the Town of Woodbridge. In the autumn of 2008, the nonprofit Massaro Community Farm (MCF) was formed with the goal to restore the farm to serve the community. The Town of Woodbridge leased the Massaro property to MCF for an initial period of 20 years, which has since been extended for an additional 20 years, through 2049. MCF stewards the property and operates the farm without any funding from the town.

Throughout the years of financial hardship, the Massaro brothers worked hard to ensure their farm survived, and engaged the community in their work. Massaro Community Farm is committed to continuing their dedication, stewardship and community engagement for generations to come.