 Kielbasa Orchards and their stunning view of the Holyoke Mountain Range. Kielbasa Orchards is a small apple orchard located in Amherst, MA that has been in the family for four generations. This local farm, with a stunning view of the Holyoke Mountain Range, provides UMass Dining with tasty heirloom apples every year. Kielbasa Orchards is owned and managed by Kyle Kielbasa and his family. Kyle grew up working and playing on the orchards and has always loved farming. “I am happiest when I am out there,” Kyle remarked.
Kyle shared with us that growing apples has been especially tricky in recent years because of the effects of climate change. Fruit trees depend on slow-changing and predictable weather patterns, but climate change creates extreme weather changes that are often difficult for apples to survive through. Kyle explained, “When warm weather arrives, the apple buds start to bloom, leaving the entire crop at risk to freeze and die when the temperatures drop again. You lose the crop to the frost in the spring and that’s it. There is no replanting.” It takes eight years for an apple tree to grow before an orchard can start selling its apples, and if a frost comes after the weather has warmed enough for apple trees to bud, an entire season’s apple crop can be lost. “Working with mother nature is a very humbling experience,” Kyle laughed.  Kielbasa Orchards apple blossoms. Despite the huge challenges they face, Kyle and his family always find a way to make things work because growing apples is what they love. “I work seven days a week on the farm and it doesn’t feel like work for me. It is just a part of me.” Thank you so much to the Kielbasa’s for working with UMass Dining, and a special thanks to Kyle for speaking with us! Visit Kielbasa Orchards’ website here to visit their farm, experience their spectacular view, and pick your own apples!
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 Little Leaf Farm's greenhouse in Devens, MA. Little Leaf Farms is a three-acre greenhouse operation run by Paul Sellew, Pieter Slaman, and Tim Cunniff in Devens, Massachusetts. Little Leaf Farms grows their greens hydroponically indoors all year round and is dedicated to producing sustainable, nutritious and fresh greens. 95% of the lettuce greens we consumed in Massachusetts are grown in California and Arizona. Not only is all of this produce trucked thousands of miles, California has been suffering from an extreme drought for over five years. Little Leaf Farms is proud to provide New England with sustainable greens that are produced locally and reach their consumer within only a day of being cut. We spoke to Paul Sellow, the Owner and CEO of Little Leaf Farms for more information about their approach to local food production. Farming has always been a part of Paul’s life. He grew up on a New England farm called Pride Corner Farms and graduated from Cornell with a degree in Horticulture. Paul has created a few farming operations in addition to Little Leaf Farms, and started his first company at only 24 years old.  Pictured from left to right: Paul Sellew- Owner, Pieter Slaman- Grower, and Tim Cunniff– Sales and Marketing. Paul believes that “technology has an important future in constantly innovating and dealing with issues around sustainability.” Paul argues that controlled systems like greenhouses can increase the capacity of our local food system while withstanding the impacts of climate change. Little Leaf Farms have a rainwater collection system which allows them to utilize 90% less water than field-grown lettuce, making their operation more resistant to drought. Little Leaf is also currently working with Dwayne Breger and the UMass Clean Energy Extension Program to create a plan for their greenhouse to use energy that is normally wasted to heat and cool their greenhouses.
Our thanks to Paul for taking the time to speak with us. For more information about Little Leaf Farms, visit their website.
“Sustainability and a viable business enterprise are not incompatible. We try to use natural systems in a way that is economically efficient and better for the environment.” -Paul Sellew |
