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Date: 5/10/2023
WILBRAHAM — The former Green Acres Fruit Farm at 868 Main St., has been purchased by brothers Anthony and Dominic Maloni, owners of nearby Rice Fruit Farm.
The Malonis bought the 65-acre fruit farm and orchard from Kathy Smedberg. She had owned the property since purchasing it from a member of the Green family in 1985. The land had been “a working farm all along,” Smedberg said, adding that in addition to the fruit orchard, she had raised chickens there and lent a portion of the property to beekeepers over the years.
Smedberg decided it was time to sell the farm after developing mobility issues and no longer being able to tend to the land.
“You know, it’s a little overgrown and we’ve been working on it,” Anthony Maloni said. “It’s a beautiful property and we’re looking to maximize the existing trees. Many of the trees that are alive need some work.”
Anthony Maloni said that after working his day job, he heads over to the orchard to clear brush and get the farm in working order.
“It’s a slow project. It is exciting though,” he said. The neighbors are just as excited to see work being done on the property, even though “we don’t even know what we’re doing,” Anthony Maloni said with a laugh.
The $525,000 purchase added Green Acres Fruit Farm to the agricultural properties already owned by the Malonis, including the former Bennett Turkey Farm at 603 Main St. In total, the brothers own about 180 acres of mostly agricultural land in Wilbraham.
Anthony Maloni assured Reminder Publishing, “We are not planning to develop it for housing or anything. The land is under an agricultural conservation restriction and must continue to be used for that purpose.”
While the Malonis do not yet have a name for the fruit farm, they plan to ensure it is a “family farm,” with a “friendly feel.”
Rather than growing fruit for wholesale markets, Anthony said the goal is to make the property into an agritourism business. He said, “We want to try to make it a destination in town.”