Benjamin and Etienne Green wanted to know what was going into the food they were feeding their growing family.
The Greens started raising beef cows on their property in Wayland, and soon found plenty of other people shared their appetite for “farm to table” food.
The couple founded Green Acres Family Farm in 2022, and now they’re offering their products to the general public with the debut of a farm store on the property at 8047 Schwab Hollow Road in Wayland.
A grand opening event is planned for Saturday, March 28 from 8 a.m. to noon.
“It has been growing a little bit every year. There seems to be more of a demand for farm to table,” Benjamin Green said. “People want to know where their beef is coming from. We grow with it as our demand grows.”
Both Benjamin and Etienne had a background in farming before launching Green Acres. Ben’s family raised beef cows for a time when he was growing up in Dansville, while Etienne’s family still operates an organic dairy farm in Canaseraga.
“It was kind of natural to get into it,” said Benjamin, who also operates a tree service and logging business. “It started out just doing it for ourselves for our own health benefits and knowing what you’re eating. Somebody tried it and asked if they could get some. It kind of grew from there.”
Green Acres has grown from two beef cows to over 60 animals. The farm store offers beef, pork, chicken and turkey products, all raised on the farm, along with fresh eggs and maple syrup.
Green said all the meat is raised organically with no pesticides or synthetics.
“We offer it the way it was originally intended,” he said. “It’s raised here. It’s not bought at the lowest cost. It’s what we’ve worked hard for and raised.
“People want to know where their food is coming from. We wanted to be able to offer that. You can see basically the area it comes from, you can see the animals. Customers have a better idea of what’s put into it before it comes to the plate.”
Free coffee and donuts will be offered at Saturday’s grand opening. Moving forward, the farm store will be open from 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Both cash and cards will be accepted.
Green said the store will have something for everyone, including customers just looking to pick up some steaks or burger on their way home from work.
“There’s a lot of smaller families and couples who are looking for individual packages,” he said. “We wanted to make an opportunity for people to come and buy our own products here at the farm, and be able to buy smaller quantities and more of exactly what they want for their homes and what’s useful for them.
“We’re looking for quality over quantity.”
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: ‘Farm to table’ inspired Wayland couple to open new organic food store
Reporting by Chris Potter, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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