Our Story
“For me, farming is a calling. It asks a lot of you, but it gives back just as much. There’s something deeply meaningful about growing food for your community, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this every day.”
– Dave Dumaresq
From a Small Beginning to Something Bigger Than We Imagined
Farmer Dave’s started in 1997 when Dave Dumaresq returned from serving in the Peace Corps as a crop extensionist and set out to build a farm rooted in both good food and good purpose. What began on 15 leased acres in Dracut, Massachusetts has since grown into a vibrant, multi-site farm with more than 90 acres of owned and leased land across Dracut and Tewksbury.
In 2006, Dave purchased the Leczynski Farm in Dracut, which is now permanently protected under an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR). This “home farm” is still the heart of everything we do, with a year-round farmstand, kitchen and bakery, and pick-your-own fields for strawberries, blueberries, and apples. We also run a seasonal farmstand at East Street Farm in Tewksbury, keeping fresh, local food close to the communities we serve.
We grow a wide range of vegetables—everything from tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant to carrots, beets, radishes, potatoes, onions, garlic, scallions, and leafy greens—along with fruits like apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and melons.
Food access has always been central to our mission. We distribute surplus crops through the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) and donate regularly to local food pantries and the Boston Area Gleaners. We were also early adopters of the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), helping make fresh produce more affordable for low-income households. Today, SNAP/HIP benefits are accepted at our farm stands, all Massachusetts farmers’ market locations where we sell, and through our CSA program.
What started in 2008 as a single 16-week CSA share at one location has grown into a year-round program serving 20 pickup sites plus home delivery options.
Our team has grown alongside the farm, too—today we’re proud to have eight year-round managers (most of them women), 30 year-round staff members, and more than 90 seasonal workers who help bring each season to life.
Sustainability is a big part of where we’re headed. We’re actively working toward carbon neutrality through investments in solar power, geothermal heating, electric refrigerated vans, and innovative greenhouse heating systems that help us reduce our footprint while improving efficiency and resilience.
At the end of the day, Farmer Dave’s is about staying rooted in the land while always looking forward—strengthening local food systems, supporting our communities, and continually improving how we grow.
Our Growing Practices
Our approach to growing food is always evolving, shaped by curiosity, experience, and a commitment to doing what’s best for the land and the people who depend on it. We draw from both time-tested practices and modern techniques, always with the goal of producing high-quality food in a responsible, thoughtful way.
We grow the vast majority of our vegetables without synthetic sprays. When we do need additional tools—such as with certain crops like sweet corn—we use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. That means we rely first on prevention: crop rotation, building healthy soil, supporting beneficial insects, regular field scouting, and using biological controls whenever possible. When intervention is needed, we choose the least disruptive, most targeted options available.
We also work closely with the University of Massachusetts Vegetable Team to trial and refine sustainable growing methods that can benefit other farms in the region. This includes exploring beneficial insect releases, testing organic-approved treatments, and developing practical systems that reduce pest pressure while maintaining crop health.
Across much of the farm, we’ve built growing systems that minimize or eliminate the need for sprays altogether. Drip irrigation plays an important role in this work—helping us conserve water while keeping foliage dry to reduce disease pressure and encourage stronger, healthier plants.
While our practices align closely with organic principles, we focus on direct relationships with our customers rather than formal certification. We also do not use genetically modified seeds or plants.
At the center of it all is a simple goal: to grow food that’s healthy for the people who eat it, the people who grow it, and the land we depend on.
Growing Food. Supporting Community.
How to give back & support our neighbors is always at the front of our mind at Farmer Dave’s.
Meet the People Behind the Farm
Nothing happens without the hard work of all our amazing Farmer Dave’s team members.
Where to Shop, Pick, and Connect
No matter the occasion, we’re here to help you find what you’re looking for. We can’t wait to see you!