C&C Reading Farm is a real farm, producing over 90% of our own quality products, organically and traditionally grown. Our farm has nearly quadrupled in size since it’s inception, boasting over 75 acres of lush and fertile farmland. We were the first farm in Massachusetts to pass the GAP certification with a 100%. We are Baystate Organic certified and the second farm in the state of Massachusetts to be Commonwealth Quality Certified. We are members of The New England Vegetable Growers Association, Farm Bureau, Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association.
Our Mission:
One of the most important priorities of C&C Reading Farm is food safety. Both Farmer Pete and Lynn, and all of their employees working at C&C Reading Farm, are tremendously committed to producing and marketing a safe product through GAP that focuses on the highest standards of food safety and quality. These safe practices include ensuring that there is no safety risk present in areas where the produce is grown, processed and packed, and that any risk of contamination of the product is avoided. We also make sure that insects, rodents, birds, and pests pose no risk of contamination to our fine products. It is also a priority that all of our employees follow healthy practices when working at our farm. Our mission is to make sure all information and paperwork is documented in a reliable, efficient and ethical manner.
Our History;
Grandpa Tom’s Farm Stand was built in the early 1970’s by Jeannette & Tom Reading of Pembroke, Massachusetts. After being released from the Army, Jeannette and Tom’s son, Pete, joined his parents at the family business.
In 2001, the business had to move after Pete’s parents passed away. With the help of Pete’s wife, Lynn, the business was moved to Billingsgate Farm in Plympton, MA. The new property was originally owned by the Perkins family, turned into a cow farm by the Billings family, and sold to the Sheehan family prior to being operated by the Readings. At the new location, Farmer Pete and Lynn began to sell fresh-picked vegetables wholesale and retail off of Farmer Pete’s flatbed trailer.
In 2006, an authentic New England country-style farm stand was built on the property. Today, the land is a working vegetable, fruit and fresh cut flower farm.
In 2012, Farmer Pete and Lynn added a corn maze to their Plympton location, expanding into their agritourism industry – providing new options for visitors. Families and friends could come enjoy the maze, u-pick, and many other fun attractions in the fall.
In 2014, the Readings expanded their businesses, purchasing the 74-acre C&C Reading Farm, LLC (formerly known as the Hayward Dairy Farm), located in West Bridgewater on 175 East Center Street. With this expansion, they now offer two farm stand locations that are open during the growing season.
At the end of the fall season in 2016, the Readings consolidated operations after making the difficult decision to cease operations at Billingsgate Farm in Plympton. Effective for 2017, all operations will be moved to our C&C Reading Farm location (175 East Center Street, West Bridgewater, MA) and we will be operating fully under that name. We’ve enjoyed over a decade in Plympton but look forward to new opportunities and making memories in West Bridgewater. We hope you’ll all visit us there in 2017! We’ll re-open in the spring when our harvest season begins.