What Caretaker Farm does

Caretaker Farm is a privately held Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm located at 1210 Hancock Road, Williamstown, Massachusetts, on a 35-acre site in the northwestern corner of the state. Founded in 1969 by Sam and Elizabeth Smith and converted to a CSA model in 1991, the farm currently serves 300 summer member families and 135 winter member families, distributing weekly free-choice shares of more than 40 crop types and 175+ varieties grown using regenerative, chemical-free methods (compost, cover crops, floating row covers, crop rotation, hand-pest removal). Operations are run by Don Zasada and Bridget Spann — who acquired the farmhouse and barns under a 99-year ground lease in 2017 — supported by an assistant farm manager, four crew members, and three seasonal apprentices; an agricultural library and CRAFT network participation underpin the apprenticeship program.

The revenue model is built on upfront seasonal CSA share fees plus a separate membership fee (which grants U-Pick access, farm-event participation, and bakery/egg/meat purchasing rights), augmented by on-site sales from Two Bear Bakery, free-range eggs, and locally raised meats. Pricing tiers include a Working Share option ($50 discount for 10 volunteer hours) and subsidized shares funded by the Caretaker Farm Share Fund, with SNAP benefits accepted. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer on-farm pickup across three weekly windows, eliminating intermediary channels.

The farm's competitive position is anchored in a multi-party land-tenure structure: the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation holds the land, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts holds an Agricultural Preservation Restriction easement prohibiting development, and the operators hold 99-year ground leases at as-restricted agricultural value pricing — a structure developed with Equity Trust Inc. and preserved via a $239,000 community fundraising campaign in 2017. This regulatory and community moat, combined with a sold-out 2026 Summer CSA, signals demand-supplied capacity constraints rather than growth ambition.

Name

Caretaker Farm

Legal name

Caretaker Farm

Website

https://caretakerfarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Caretaker Farm is a 35-acre Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in Williamstown, Massachusetts, serving 300 summer and 135 winter member families with weekly free-choice shares of 175+ crop varieties grown via regenerative methods, operated under a 99-year ground-lease and Agricultural Preservation Restriction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Supported Agriculture

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC)

Keywords

• Community supported agriculture
• Organic vegetable farming
• Farm apprenticeship training
• CSA share membership
• Sustainable agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Williamstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. CSA Membership Fees: Members pay a share fee (for harvested produce) and a membership fee (for U-Pick access, farm events, recreational access, and bakery/egg/meat purchases). The two-component structure accounts for how much produce is distributed to each share based on household size.
2. Farm Product Sales: Members can purchase freshly baked breads and pastries from Two Bear Bakery, Non-GMO free-range eggs, and meats during distribution times.
3. Apprenticeship Program: Provides training for future farmers. Apprentices receive a $2,000/month stipend, housing in rustic heated cabins, food allowances, and other benefits in exchange for farm work and learning.
4. Community Fund Donations: The Caretaker Farm Share Fund accepts donations from members to subsidize shares for families in need (up to 20% of total fee), making produce accessible to lower-income community members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Caretaker Farm is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm that sells annual subscriptions (shares) to local families for weekly free-choice distributions of freshly harvested organic vegetables from June through October (Summer CSA) and during the winter season (Winter CSA). Membership includes U-Pick crop access, farm events, and the ability to purchase bakery items, eggs, and meats on-site. The farm also runs a seasonal hands-on apprenticeship program that trains three aspiring farmers per season in small-scale regenerative farming.

Product overview

Caretaker Farm operates as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm offering a primary Summer CSA Share program (300 member families) and Winter CSA Share program (135 member families). Members receive weekly free-choice vegetable distributions from June through October, supplemented by pick-your-own crops and farm access. The farm offers tiered membership options including Working Share Membership (10 hours volunteer work for $50 discount) and the Caretaker Farm Share Fund (subsidized shares up to 20%, SNAP acceptance). Educational programming includes seasonal workshops and the farm's apprenticeship program. Additional offerings include farm store products (bakery, eggs, meat), and an online signup/payment system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer CSA Shares Annual CSA subscription providing weekly free-choice shares of freshly harvested vegetables from June through late October, including pick-your-own crop access, farm events, recreational farm access, and weekly newsletters. Sold to local families and households.
• Winter CSA Shares

Quantifiable outcome

• Grown from 50 families (1991) to 300 families (summer CSA) and 135 families (winter CSA)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation (WRLF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRLF purchased all the land (both farmstead land and land subject to the Agricultural Preservation Restriction) to preserve Caretaker Farm as a working farm for the Williamstown community. WRLF holds ownership of the land as part of the innovative ownership structure developed to make the farm permanently affordable to future generations of farmers.
• Equity Trust Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization based in Turners Falls, Massachusetts that works on land tenure issues nationwide. Equity Trust developed the innovative ownership structure for Caretaker Farm, providing technical expertise and legal documents to preserve agricultural land while protecting affordability for farmers. They also participated in fundraising campaigns and provided moral support.
• Commonwealth of MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurchased an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) easement that prohibits development of the land (except immediate farmstead) and requires minimal agricultural use. The price of the APR represented the amount of market value removed from the land by the restrictions.
• CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaretaker Farm is a founding member of the CRAFT Program. Apprentices participate in CRAFT events including visits to other farms on Monday afternoons or Saturday mornings. The program provides comprehensive agricultural training through the regional network of farms.
• Two Bear BakeryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCaleb Wolfson-Seeley operates the on-farm bakery providing fresh bread, cookies, pastries, and more to farm members during distribution times. Many ingredients are sourced from local farmers and producers, including fruit, vegetables, and herbs directly from Caretaker Farm.
• The Food ProjectminorOthersDon Zasada previously worked as Director of Agriculture at The Food Project in Boston for 7 years. This was Don's prior employment before joining Caretaker Farm, rather than an active partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Farmer Dave's: Multi-location Massachusetts CSA and farm stand operator with deep CSA roots in the region. Comparable direct-to-consumer produce distribution and CSA share structures.
• Red Fire Farm: Larger Massachusetts organic CSA farm operating summer and winter share programs with on-farm pickup. Comparable CSA structure and direct-to-consumer model with multiple pickup sites.
• Gaining Ground: Nonprofit farm in Concord, MA that donates produce grown on preserved land. Comparable mission-driven model combining organic farming, land preservation, and community engagement.
• The Food Project: Boston-area nonprofit running CSA-style farming with youth development and apprenticeship programming. Don Zasada, Caretaker Farm's primary operator, served as Director of Agriculture at The Food Project for 7 years.
• Hutchins Farm: Long-established organic CSA and pick-your-own farm in Concord, MA. Comparable multi-decade operating history, organic certification, and direct-to-consumer distribution model.
• Crimson & Clover Farm: Massachusetts CSA farm in Florence, MA operating a similar multi-season vegetable share program with pick-your-own fields. Comparable scale, member structure, and Pioneer Valley/regional CSA positioning.
• Waltham Fields Community Farm: Massachusetts nonprofit CSA farm with subsidized share program and volunteer/apprentice pathways. Directly comparable community-focused CSA model with affordability programming.
• Barrett's Mill Farm: Small-scale organic CSA farm in Concord, MA with pick-your-own and farm-stand operations. Referenced directly in Caretaker Farm crew member work history; comparable model and size.

Broad incumbents

• Imperfect Foods: National direct-to-consumer produce and grocery delivery service that competes for the same household food budget as CSAs. Not a CSA but a broader incumbent that has reshaped farm-to-doorstep consumer expectations.

Regional players

• Roxbury Farm: Large-scale Hudson Valley CSA farm in Kinderhook, NY operating year-round vegetable and meat shares. Comparable CSA model at larger scale but serving the New York City region rather than Massachusetts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DWt8whODmDW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caretaker-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Caretaker Farm