by Mike Gioscia.

Val and John Souza have been running the Souza Family Farm for over twenty years in North Rehoboth. Their son Anthony and daughter Laura also help during the long growing season. Val took a break from picking blueberries in the 80+ degree heat to speak with Edible, saying the weather “isn’t too bad” after a very wet start. “We had to wait for the mud to dry” she said, “but we’re really busy now” she added.

You can find the Souza’s at the Brockton Farmers Market at City Hall Plaza, every Friday from 10-2, all season long through October 25th. The market offers farmers, artisans, and crafters a space to market their produce and homemade goods while promoting the local economy to a wider audience. If you can’t make the market, their farmstand is open seven days a week.

The Souza’s season starts in the spring by offering the usual flower favorites; impatiens, marigolds, daisies, geraniums, and other annuals that make any hanging basket catch your eye. Then as the season progresses the lettuces and salad greens hit the stand.

She told me the crops are doing well utilizing raised beds and “drip irrigation”. Drip irrigation involves placing tubing with emitters on the ground alongside the crops, which slowly drip water into the soil. Because moisture levels are kept at an optimal range, plant productivity and quality improve, and water is used more efficiently.

New foods are seen at the stand every day, especially now. “As soon as we pick it, the produce hits the stand, always fresh” Val said. Right now, blueberries, kale, cherry tomatoes, scallions, and some squash are hitting the stand, and soon more tomatoes, peppers (including hot portugals), cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, and cukes (slicing and pickling) will be coming in. “All the usual veggies” Val says.

How about corn? “Yes, corn too! We have a round table we put the corn on, when people see the table, they know the corn is here” Val added with a laugh. Keep your eyes peeled for the Souza’s ‘Corn Table’!

While the Souza’s do supply some wholesalers (mainly Hannaford and Big Y), the farm stand is the main attraction, open seven days a week. What started as a “small table” that the kids would run when they were little, has turned into a thriving shop, and a must for locals. “We got a grant about ten years ago that really helped us expand. We’re on the Attleboro line, so we get plenty of traffic from that area as well” Val said proudly.

The farmstand also has partnerships with other local producers, supplying local honey, organic garlic, soaps and much more. “We can usually track down any item locally we may not carry or are temporarily out of” she said.

As the season turns to fall “we’ll have garden mums we planted in June, and flowering cabbage and decorative kale, corn stalks and pumpkins” Val said, adding “whether you need a couple or a truckload we have you covered”.

Farmstand Hours:
Mon 12-5
Tues-Fri 10-5
Sat/Sun 9:30-5

33 Agriculture Ave., Rehoboth, MA 508-245-4635
https://www.souzafamilyfarm.com
Photo’s are from Souza’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Souzafamilyfarm

This farmer profile is sponsored by The Brockton Farmers’ Market and made possible through a grant from Massachusetts Agriculture.