Getting To Know Your Local Farmer
Atkins Farms
Amherst & Belchertown, MA

By Kelly Ely, Atkins Farms Management

I have been writing this “Producer or Farmer” article nearly every month since May 2002. Needless to say finding new local farmers and producers is becoming increasingly difficult, as Atkins is quite loyal to our current farmers and producers. When I first was given the task of writing monthly articles, I immediately thought I should do a piece on Atkins Farms, however after thinking it over, I realized that we have lots of information about our farm and how it got started already available to the public, so I didn’t want to bore everyone with known facts.

When I approached Stanley Baj, farm manager, and told him that I wanted to do an article on Atkins Farms, he responded, “well it’s about time you asked me.” I told him that it would be on one condition, he had to give me fun, interesting information that is not already made available to the public. Stanley thought it was a good idea and immediately agreed.

Stanley has been with Atkins Farms for 35 years so he has lots of memories, facts and information to share. Throughout his 35 years of working on the farm Stanley has employed many people from the surrounding towns. Every year the farm recruits help to pick the fruit, thin the apples and work in the packing house sorting apples. Many of the people who acquire these jobs are high school students. Stanley said that he frequently runs into former employees no matter what town he is in.

Stanley remembers that it was not long ago when the farm produced 300 acres of fruit for wholesale as well as for the retail store. That was quite an operation which consisted of extremely long days and hard work. While Stanley and crew still experience long days during harvest season, and still work just as hard, Atkins Farms currently maintains 70 acres of fruit trees in our Belchertown and Amherst orchards combined, which are used exclusively for our retail market. Our 70 acres of fruit trees yield approximately 10,000 bushel of apples consisting of 10-12 different varieties, 1,000 bushel of peaches and 800 bushel of pears. Stanley and crew not only pick, prune and care for the fruit trees, but they also have the task of sorting the fruit once it is picked, which helps provide you, our valued customers, with only the highest quality and best tasting fruit possible. Stanley explained that our fruit is “right from the tree to our customers.”

As many of us here at Atkins have learned from our own experience, or from simply living in a farming community, crop yield is extremely dependant on Mother Nature. Stanley explained that he does not know what kind of apple and pear crop we will have each year until mid June. By late June we are free from potentially damaging frost and the bees have had the chance to pollinate the blossoms. So, I then asked Stanley how our crop is shaping up this year. He is confident that we will have a really good crop of peaches, apples and pears. “The pears look good and the apples look really good.” Stanley has a real appreciation for local farmers because he knows how hard it is to make a living at the mercy of Mother Nature. “The fruit is right out there, not protected from the elements. It is like a victory when the fruit is off the tree and in the cooler.” At that point it’s safe for Stanley and his crew to breathe a sigh of relief!

After 35 years of working on the farm and tasting in excess of 50 different varieties of apples, Stanley’s favorite apple is the McIntosh. However, he has spoiled himself over the years and only eats the apples right off the tree. Right off the tree is when any tree ripened fruit has the most flavor. It is not uncommon for Stanley to be driving the tractor during harvest time with an apple – McIntosh of course – in hand.

To learn more about Atkins Farm visit their web site.