MONTVALE—Three prospective farm operators have submitted bids to lease 8.4 acres of the former DePiero farmstead on Craig Road, with two bidders offering $12,000 per year and one coming in much higher at $43,200.
The 20-year agricultural lease, with an option for a five-year renewal, carries a minimum bid of $10,000 annually and requires a 2% yearly increase, according to the bid specifications. The lease includes about eight acres of farmland along with a retail store and greenhouses on the borough-owned property at 53 Craig Road.
Following the Oct. 8 bid opening, borough officials have 60 days to review proposals before awarding the lease. The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Bids received included:
- D’Agostino Landscaping, $43,200
- Matthew Worgul and Matthew Epstein, $12,000
- Demarest Farms of Hillsdale, $12,000
Officials did not comment on the wide difference between the top bid and the two lower offers.
Montvale acquired the 8.4-acre property earlier this year for $5.15 million, with plans to preserve it as farmland. The borough’s long-term vision includes community gardens, a pick-your-own strawberry field, and other public uses. One acre will be reserved for community gardening, and the lease calls for the borough and the lessee to mutually agree on a name for the farm.
The bonding ordinance, approved May 30, 2023, is estimated to cost the average household $70 annually over 25 years.
Meanwhile, residents won’t have to wait for the lease to see the site in action. The borough will host its first “Town Day at the Farm” celebration on Saturday, Oct. 18, from noon to 3 p.m., featuring BBQ food, live music, line dancing, hayrides, a petting zoo, and free pumpkins. The event, open to Montvale residents, local business employees, and their families, is sponsored by the Mayor and Council and the Montvale Recreation Committee.
Residents can pick up admission wristbands at Borough Hall beginning this week or on the day of the event. Proof of residency is required, and wristbands are available for all household members. Montvale employees can show a company ID to receive theirs.
DePiero’s Farmstand, a century-old institution, closed Aug. 28 after 101 years of “growing goodness.” Borough officials say the goal is to keep the property’s agricultural legacy alive — with Town Day marking the start of a new chapter.
Read our online tribute to the farm, “‘Grateful for every friend’ — Beloved DePiero’s Farmstand closes after 101 years of growing goodness; mayor on next phase,” by John Snyder, Aug. 29, 2025.