MONTVALE—As farms and open fields vanish across the region, Montvale is moving to keep a piece of its agricultural heritage alive by leasing and operating a working farm and farmstand on a portion of the former DePiero property.
According to a public notice posted on the borough website and published in The Record on Sept. 28, bids to lease roughly 8 acres at 53 Craig Road are due Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. The tract includes cultivated fields, a retail farm store, and greenhouses.
The borough this year acquired at least 8.4 acres of the 100-year-old DePiero Farm for $5.15 million, with the stated goal of keeping the land in agriculture, creating community gardens, and supporting seasonal pick-your-own operations such as strawberries. The May 30, 2023 bonding ordinance was estimated to cost the average household about $70 per year over 25 years. (See “Council clears $5.15M bond for DePiero land,” June 5, 2023, Pascack Press.)
DePiero’s farm and farmstand closed Aug. 28 after “101 years of growing goodness.” In a farewell shared with the community, the family said it was “grateful for every customer, every friend,” and called the farm “the heart of our family,” noting industry changes and rising costs behind the decision to close. The borough’s purchase aims to carry that legacy forward rather than let the last fields go fallow.
Lease at a glance
- Term: 20 years
- Minimum bid: $10,000 annually, with minimum 2% increases each year
- Name: Farm name to be mutually agreed upon by tenant and borough
- Required set-asides: At least 1 acre reserved for community gardens
- Allowable uses: Commercial farming (fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers); retail sale of agricultural products; community gardens; seasonal “pick-your-own” events (special events require borough approval)
- Improvements included: Farmstand, greenhouses, and two residential homes (tenant use only in connection with farm operations)
“The Borough has determined that it is in the best interest for these properties to remain open, accessible and farmed,” the Notice to Bidders states.
Portions may also be reserved “for conservation purposes to ensure the public has access…for community gardens and to help protect conservation values.”
The farm survived a century on stubborn work and loyal customers, even as nearby farms disappeared. With the lease now out to bid, the borough hopes to keep pumpkins on pallets, plants under glass, and local produce on the stand—while carving out space for residents to grow their own.
To mark the acquisition, Montvale will host “Town Day at the Farm,” 56 Craig Road, Saturday, Oct. 18, noon–3 p.m., featuring BBQ, music, line dancing, free pumpkins, hayrides, and a petting zoo.
The free event is open to residents, local businesses, their employees, and families, and is sponsored by the mayor, council, and recreation committee.