​Avalon Gardens Farm​
Nanuet, New York 

DePiero's Farm - Montvale - Bergen County

A new farmstand concept is in the works for Montvale 🌱

Montvale Farmstand is planning to take over the former DePiero’s property, with a focus on local agriculture, community, and education.

Early plans include a traditional farmstand, weekend farmers markets, classes, and events designed to bring people together around local food

The concept is being described as a “community forward farm,” with more details still to come as planning continues

📍: To be located at 156 Summit Avenue, Montvale, NJ

Here’s what is known so far about Montvale Farmstand, including what we can (and can’t yet) say about ownership and operations, based strictly on verified local reporting.

🌱 What Is Montvale Farmstand?Montvale Farmstand is a new, community-focused agricultural concept planned for the former DePiero’s Farmstand site at 156 Summit Avenue, Montvale, NJ. The project is still in its early planning phase and has been described publicly as a:
“Community Forward Farm / Farmstand × Farmers Market × Education” [boozyburbs.com], [dailyvoice.com]
Early plans include:

• A traditional farmstand
• Weekend farmers’ markets
• Educational classes and workshops
• Community events centered on local food and agriculture

The goal, according to organizers, is to create a space where residents can gather around local food, farming, and learning, rather than just shop and leave. [boozyburbs.com]

📍 Why This Location MattersThe site has deep local significance:

• It was home to DePiero’s Farm Stand & Greenhouses, a Bergen County institution that operated for over 100 years before closing in August 2025. [northjersey.com], [wmtram.com]
• The Borough of Montvale purchased the remaining farmland to prevent commercial redevelopment and preserve it for agricultural use. [wmtram.com], [aol.com]
• Town leadership has been explicit that the land should remain active farmland with public benefit, including a farmstand and community access. [wmtram.com]

This makes Montvale Farmstand part of a larger municipal preservation effort, not a standalone private redevelopment.

👤 Who Owns the Property vs. Who Runs the Farmstand?✅ Property Ownership

• The Borough of Montvale owns the property at 156 Summit Avenue. [wmtram.com], [aol.com]
• The land was purchased with public funds specifically to:
  • Preserve farmland
  • Prevent large-scale commercial development
  • Ensure continued agricultural use

❓ Operations & Leadership (What’s Still Unclear)

• No individual owner or operator has been publicly named for Montvale Farmstand as of mid‑March 2026.
• Local outlets (Daily Voice, Boozy Burbs) note that:
  • An Instagram account exists
  • Vendor sign-up links have appeared
  • Media inquiries to operators have not yet been answered [dailyvoice.com]

This strongly suggests:

• The project may be led by a new nonprofit, LLC, or farm operator not yet formally announced
• OR it may be in negotiation with the Borough as part of a lease or operating agreement (common for municipally owned farmland)

Until a formal announcement is made, there is no confirmed founder, board, or operating entity.

🌾 How This Fits Into Montvale’s Bigger PlanSeparate but related reporting shows that Montvale has been:

• Seeking professional farm operators for borough-owned land
• Exploring long-term agricultural leases
• Emphasizing education, sustainability, and community participation [thepressgroup.net]

Montvale Farmstand appears aligned with this wider strategy, even if it is distinct from other parcels or lease bids discussed in earlier borough actions.

🧭 What to Watch NextBased on how similar municipal farm projects roll out, the next likely steps will be:

1. Formal announcement of operators (individuals, nonprofit, or business)
2. Clarification of:
   • Lease terms
   • Governance or advisory board
   • Role of the Borough
3. Public timeline for:
   • Opening
   • Events
   • Vendor participation

🔍 Bottom Line (Straight Talk)

• ✅ The land is publicly owned
• ✅ The intent is strongly community- and agriculture-driven
• ❌ The people behind Montvale Farmstand have not yet been publicly identified
• ❌ No governance or ownership structure has been disclosed

Bidders vie to run new borough farm
​October 18, 2025 Michael Olohan

Fresh and organic vegetables at a farmers' marketMONTVALE—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.

​DePiero’s Farm in Montvale officially closed on August 28, 2025, after more than a century of operation.

Here’s what’s happening with the property:

• Who owns it now?   
  
• The Borough of Montvale purchased the remaining farmland using taxpayer funds (with no grants or outside conditions) to ensure it is preserved from private development[1].
• What will the property become?
  The land will remain a working farm, professionally managed.
  

​
Plans include:

• A community garden for residents
• A farm stand to continue offering local produce
• Preservation of the farm’s heritage as a community asset rather than commercial development[1].

This move follows earlier redevelopment of much of the original DePiero land into the Shoppes at DePiero Farm (anchored by Wegmans) years ago, leaving only a few acres for this preservation effort[2].
​
References
[1] After 100 Years, DePiero’s Farm Is Closing: Here’s The Plan For Its ...
[2] End of an Era: Beloved DePiero Farm in Montvale Closes After 100 Years ...
​

​Here are the working farms in Bergen County that are preserved under New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program:

✅ Active Preserved Farms in Bergen County

1. Abma’s Farm – Wyckoff
2. Demarest Farm – Hillsdale
3. Goffle Brook Farm – Ridgewood
4. Abma’s Greenhouse & Nursery – Wyckoff
5. Riverside Greenhouses – Lyndhurst
6. Van Saun Farm – Paramus
7. Riverside Nursery – North Arlington
8. Riverside Farm – Lyndhurst

These are the eight farms officially listed as preserved, meaning they are protected from development and remain in agricultural use.[1]

References
[1] Which Farms Are Still Being Preserved In Bergen County? See The List ...
​

expanded Bergen County guide that now includes:

• 4 working farms (Abma’s, Demarest, Secor, Fresh & Fancy)
• 2 seasonal patches (Ward’s Pumpkin Patch, Goffle Brook Farm & Garden Center)
• 3 farmers’ markets (Ridgewood, Englewood, Fort Lee)

​
​Buy live plants ​on AmazonPlants
SNAP Benefit eligible

Bergen County farm guide (CSV) — names, addresses, and what each farm offers:  bergen_county_farm_guide_updated.csv

The map locates each farm by latitude/longitude and labels them for quick reference.

Name                    Address                       

Abmas Farm                          700 Lawlins Rd, Wyckoff, NJ 07481
41.01701-74.18415                   Farm market, CSA, petting zoo, greenhouses, seasonal events

Demarest Farms                    244 Wierimus (Werimus) Rd, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
41.00785-74.070755              Pick-your-own apples, peaches & pumpkins; farm market; seasonal events

Secor Farms                            85 Airmont Ave, Mahwah, NJ 07430 Mahwah
41.09056-74.12544                  Farm stand produce; fall hayrides & pumpkin picking; seasonal plants

Fresh & Fancy Farms            575 River Rd, New Milford, NJ 07646
40.9343-74.02285                  Small urban farm & market; flowers; farm cafe & events

📄 Downloadable Farm Guide (CSV)

• Bergen County farm guide (CSV) — names, addresses, and what each farm offers:
  bergencountyfarm_guide.csv

What’s included (and why)To keep this practical for residents and visitors, I focused on active, public‑facing working farms that (a) operate in Bergen County and (b) currently sell to the public and/or host seasonal activities. I validated against Bergen County’s official Agritourism page and each farm’s official site.[1]
Core farms in the guide

1. Abma’s Farm — Wyckoff
   Offerings: Farm market, CSA, petting zoo, greenhouses, seasonal events.[2][3]
2. Demarest Farms — Hillsdale
   Offerings: Pick‑your‑own apples, peaches, pumpkins, farm market, seasonal events.[4]
3. Secor Farms — Mahwah
   Offerings: Farm stand produce; fall hayrides & pumpkin picking; seasonal plants. (No summer U‑pick at this time.)[5]
4. Fresh & Fancy Farms — New Milford
   Offerings: Small urban farm and market, flowers, farm café & on‑farm events.[6][7]

Bergen County’s official Agritourism page highlights Abma’s, Demarest, and Secor as county farm attractions; I added Fresh & Fancy Farms, a long‑running New Milford micro‑farm that actively sells/hosts events, to round out the Bergen‑based options.[1][6]

Notes & quick caveats

• Addresses/coordinates used on the map come from each farm’s published contact details and map listings; minor GPS variations are normal (e.g., Secor appears as 85 or 168 Airmont Ave in different listings).[5][1]
• If you’d like me to also list seasonal patches/garden centers that sell local produce (e.g., Ward’s Pumpkin Patch; Goffle Brook Farm & Garden Center), I can add a separate section—these are great resources but not full working farms in the traditional sense.[8][9]

References
[1] Agritourism – Bergen County, NJ – Official Website
[2] Abma's Farm
[3] FAQs at Abma's Farm in Wyckoff, NJ Bergen County Farm
[4] Demarest Farms
[5] Home - Secor Farms
[6] Fresh&Fancy Farms
[7] Small Farm; Big Reach: New Milford's Fresh & Fancy Farms
[8] Ward’s Pumpkin Patch
[9] Goffle Brook Farm&Garden Center
[10] New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program | Preserved Farms