Volante Farms

Immigrants from Atina, Italy, Peter and Caterina Volante began the farm on Dedham Street in Newton in 1917, initially operating as a truck farm delivering to the Boston Produce Market. Peter, known as 'The Celery King,' was famous for his Pascal Celery. After WWII, their daughter Margie opened the first physical farmstand, which evolved from a tent to a small building. By the late 1950s, the farmstand became the primary income source. In 1962, the family moved to Needham, purchasing the 14-acre Fletcher Farm. The farm was modernized in the 1970s and expanded with new greenhouses and additional land acquisitions. The fourth generation, consisting of siblings Dave, Teri, and Steve, continues to operate the farm today.

The farm employs several natural resource conservation methods, including high-efficiency boilers for radiant floor heating, a 10,000-gallon rainwater capture system, micro drip irrigation, and water-recycling flood benches. The modern greenhouses provide an ideal environment for plant development.

The current farmstand, opened in 2012, features a variety of new departments such as a seasonal ice cream stand, a gourmet deli, a butcher shop, and a bakery. The farm also offers locally sourced groceries and continues to produce high-quality crops on its 15 farmable acres.