Simone Farm up for sale
4th-generation farm still plans to open in spring
By Steve Whipple
MethuenLife Writer
One of Pleasant Valley’s most visible businesses is on the market.
The 52-acre Simone Farm at 445 Merrimack Street is up for sale for $2.2 million. The farm is located on the banks of the Merrimack River in the Pleasant Valley section of Methuen.
“Last year a group of investors approached us and asked if wanted to sell,” explained Bill Simone, who runs the farm with his wife and three adult sons. “They were interested in putting in a garden center.”
Bill said that at the time, the farm had not shipped produce in 10 days due to poor weather, so the decision to sell was not difficult.
“In the fall, the deal fell through. Until then we hadn’t thought of selling the property, but it was a good offer. Then we said, ‘Let’s see if there’s anyone else out there who would be interested,’ ” said Bill.
The farm is being marketed by Bill’s younger brother John who had also worked there full-time until about four years ago. He is now a real estate agent.
Although up for sale, Simone Farms plans to re-open in the spring as it always has.
“It will be business as usual,” said Bill. “I have planting material arriving every day. If we sell it, we still have our other farm, and if it doesn’t sell we will continue on here.”
The Simone family, dating back to at least Bill’s grandparents, operates a 17-acre farm off nearby Pitman Street. They purchased the 52-acre Borgesi farm in 1989. A dirt road separates the two properties.
Together they became New England’s top lettuce grower from 1987 to 2002, said Bill, noting that the farm still supplies romaine, Boston, red- and green-leaf lettuce as well as peppers, radishes and tomatoes to Market Basket and Shaw’s and to customers of their farm stand.
Both Simone brothers cite a shaky economy and especially damaging weather as the main reasons for at least trying to sell the farm.
“We’ve had weather the last couple years that I’ve never seen in my lifetime,” said John Simone. “I always said years ago that if we had bad weather, we’d be able to recoup over the summer. Now we can’t afford a setback.”
In previous years the farm would sell 60 bins of pumpkins; last year they sold 10 bins.
John cited increased fuel costs, higher taxes and workman’s comp insurance for their 21 peak-season workers as contributing to a farmer’s woes.
“I remember when fuel was 62 cents a gallon. Now it’s $2.54. In the early 1990s we got more for the (produce) than now. If you’re not getting more for your product, it doesn’t take an accountant to figure out that it’s all coming from the profits,” said John.
The Simones don’t expect to see housing developments going up should the property sell. The Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program limits the use of farms. Bill said the restrictions are somewhat vague but state that any new construction would have to benefit the community, such as a library or hospital.
“More than likely, it won’t get sold ... but you never know. It’s a farm and it will go as a farm,” said John.
