A century ago in America, family farms thrived—the countryside dotted with small, prosperous farms. New Castle County was no different from the rest of the country. Farmland reigned around Newark until urban expansion eased in some 20 years ago, nudging aside established farms in favor of residential development. I think President Harry Truman had it right when he said that the way to keep agriculture viable in the United States was to confine the agricultural support system to the family-sized unit.
Yet today, the small family farm struggles to survive. But struggle they do, with strong resolve, for growing the nation's food is not just a career choice, it is a way of life. Take the Filasky family of Filasky Produce. They have farmed in this county for 40 years and long before that in Long Island—five generations of Filaskys in all. John and Cindi Filasky began producing vegetables in New Castle County in 1981. They, with the help of their three children and John's parents, grow sweet corn, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, squash, cabbage and pumpkins, which they sell from late April through Thanksgiving.
John was a farm boy—the son, grandson and great grandson of farmers; Cindi, however, grew up in Newark with "no idea about farming." Together the two have built a successful produce business, serving both retail and wholesale markets. By putting in long days and hard work, they have managed to hold their own in a demanding, competitive business. In fact, the Filasky family was honored recently by the Farm Bureau, at both the state and county levels, as the Delaware Farm Family of the Year.
Well known in this area for their fresh-picked vegetables and fruit, the Filasky family sells directly to the public and to wholesalers from their farm in Middletown. They also network with other small farm operations in the county; they feel a loyalty to farmers like themselves. Getting strawberries and potatoes from the Lovett Farm, they supply Lovett's cows with leftover sweet corn. They also handle home-made ice cream from Woodside Farm, which, in turns, sells their produce. This networking benefits the small local farmers and their customers, who get a wider variety of local farm products.
Just two weekends ago, the Filasky's opened their operation to "A Day on the Farm: Agriculture in Your Community," an event that gave visitors an opportunity for a behind-the- scenes look at Delaware agriculture. Because they feel that communication between the farm and the public is the only way that family farms can keep on farming, the Filasky family welcomed the opportunity to show neighbors how much they accomplish on their 125 acres of cropland. The event, which was co-sponsored with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, the Delaware Farm Bureau and the New Castle County Conservation District, drew 400 visitors. If you care about your food, you have to care about local family farmers. Stop by and see the Filaskys. They not only offer quality vegetables, picked fresh daily, they also have the time and inclination to welcome you, just like visiting with a neighbor. On second thought, you would be visiting a neighbor as well as supporting a way of life—small family farms—which are the very root of American independence and enterprise.
For more information on locally produced farm products, contact the New Castle County Extension office, at (302) 831-COOP (2667) or email ncc-ext@udel.edu, and request a copy of the Delaware Farm Market Directory.
—Carl Davis is Extension Agent, Agriculture
Originally published in “Newark Outlook,” The Newark Post
Copyright © 2001 NCC Cooperative Extension. Last revised July 10, 2001.
It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.