On Lunenburg’s Northfield Road, rows of greenhouses and a barn red farmstand mark the entrance to Dick’s Market Garden. This farm, established in 1944, is now in its second generation of family ownership. With Stephen Violette at the helm, Dick’s Market Garden produces plants, fruits, and vegetables. Other products like honey and early-season corn are sourced through close partnerships with local farmers.

The market, gardens, and greenhouses are named after Stephen’s father, Dick Violette, who moved to the property in the early 1940s after earning a degree from UMass Amherst’s Stockbridge School of Agriculture. He sold squash and tomatoes from a wheelbarrow, and his produce soon earned a local reputation. The farm has since grown to 160 acres.

Stephen Violette followed in his father’s footsteps and took over the farm once he, too, had graduated from the Stockbridge School. He runs the farm with the help of several dedicated employees and his son, Gareth.

All seasonal produce is available at the farmstand, or at many farmers’ markets in the greater Boston region.

Photo: facebook.com/Dicks-Market-Gardens-and-Greenhouses-176876535716702
Sources: dicksmarketgardens.com, sentinelandenterprise.com