Supporting local agriculture and food production

We serve as the main retail outlet for Atlas Farm and shuffle over 200,000 pounds of fresh, organic veggies through the store annually. That number also includes veggies sourced from our partner farms throughout the valley. In fact, there are plenty of crops that Atlas chooses not to grow because our friends at neighboring farms do it so well! (If you’ve enjoyed a peak-season cantaloupe from the farm store, it was grown by Riverland Farm… or maybe you’ve ogled fresh ginger from Old Friends Farm with us every fall.) By working closely with these folks and planning ahead, we’re able to provide a sales outlet for lots of nearby farms!

We also work with non-farm producers who are cooking, crafting, and preserving locally. We love supporting businesses that are particularly invested in their communities, are committed to sustainable production, and are owned and operated by historically disadvantaged groups. And we are constantly amazed by the top-notch products our vendors create.

By shopping at the farm store, you’re supporting not only this farm but many others local producers and growers!

Increasing our customers’ access to fresh and healthy food

Atlas Farm Store has long been an access point for SNAP and HIP in the valley. After a lot of work with the DTA following the split from the farm, we were able to restore our HIP status in February 2022. Since then SNAP/HIP transactions have accounted for over ten percent of our total sales— a good example of how mutually beneficial the program is for farm businesses and for shoppers! We are proud to help increase folks’ access to fresh, local, and healthy food, and to be a welcoming community partner.

Over the past couple years, we’ve also ramped up our “scratch & dent” area— featuring produce and goods that are slightly old, slightly damaged, or need to be consumed within a day or two. In other words, stuff we would definitely eat but don’t feel justified selling at full-price. Day-old breads and pastries, sprouting taters, and wilted greens can all be found at half-price. This not only helps customers stretch their dollar further in the store, but also diverts food from our waste stream.

Food that isn’t sold at a reduced price is moved to donations. Every day, a different community partner picks up donations of dry goods, produce, dairy, and other grocery items, for distribution within their organizations. We give scraps and food beyond donation quality to a family pig farm ten minutes down the road in Deerfield. We compost the rest for our roaming wild critters, and very little is actually wasted.

Focusing on staff development and well-being

Our staff is our most valuable asset! We like to focus on staff development, training, and promotion from within. In fact, everyone in management at the store started in a more entry-level position. We’ve got staff members in school, full-time parenting, and working other jobs that fit within their career goals. Our staff benefits include free produce, because food security is an issue near & dear to our hearts, and we want to take care of our little community. We strive to keep bettering work conditions, pay, and benefits as we’re able to do so with our new business structure.

Engaging and supporting our community

The farm store is lucky to be situated in the middle of the Pioneer Valley, in Deerfield, a rich farming community that cares about and supports local business. We often partner with community organizations like schools, sports teams, and nonprofits to provide raffle donations, gardening materials, or food.

In The Before Times, we frequently put on events such as dinners in the field, gardening festivals, vendor markets, and music events. It’s been so nice seeing our community show up for a celebration, after all the support they show us throughout the year. When it’s safe to do so again, we’re excited to resume these event offerings.