Pleasant Valley Gardens

Pleasant Valley Gardens celebrated its 100th growing year in 2009, having been started by Clementi Bonanno in 1910 on 100 acres along the Merrimack River. Over the years, the farm has been involved in dairy, swine, vegetable, and flower production. Prior to World War II, over 4000 pigs lived on the farm. Currently, it is operated by Richard Bonanno, his wife LuAnne Bonanno, daughter Heather Bonanno-Baker, and father Angelo Bonanno. The farm now owns about 35 acres and leases another 15 acres at the former DeLucia Farm, now owned by daughter Cara and her husband Mike Griffin.

Vegetables and flowers are produced for wholesale markets, retail at the farm stand, greenhouses, local farmers markets, and for their own CSA. The farm participates in a number of Farmer’s Markets and operates a greenhouse open to the public from April to October. They grow a variety of vegetables including leaf lettuce, rhubarb, kale, beets, pepper, tomato, eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, leeks, and many leafy greens. The farm also partners with Lilac Hedge Farm to offer a meat CSA, providing pasture-raised beef, chicken, turkey, duck, and poultry.

The farm stand is stocked daily with fresh produce, as well as products from local artisans. They offer a variety of CSA options including vegetable, meat, and egg shares. The greenhouse features flowering annuals, vegetable transplants, hanging baskets, and giant tomato plants. After Thanksgiving, the greenhouses are filled with Christmas trees and decorations. The farm also carries products like Carolyn’s Farm Kitchen baking mixes, Valicenti Farms pasta and sauces, Shaw Farm ice cream and milk, and Carlson Orchards lemonade and cider.