Stuart's Farm Worries its Legacy is in Jeopardy

Stuart's Farm might be in jeopardy after Westchester officials are refusing to pay for the county’s $1.1 million share of a state farmland protection implementation grant, according to an article in the Journal News. 

Bob Stuart told the paper that officials have not been returning his phone calls and had been ignoring his letters. The Somers farmer's family has been in business for almost two hundred years – operating the farm, located on Granite Springs Road.

"That’s like the dog ate my homework. I’m very disappointed in the county,” Stuart told The Journal New's Alex Weisler. "We’re the oldest farm in the county, been there 184 years — you think they would at least call back."

Stuart’s Farm sells fruits, vegetables, and offers apple and pumpkin picking in the fall. Customers can cut their own Christmas trees in the winter.

According to the Journal News, county officials had informed the farm the county would not be able to contribute its share of the grant. In turn, the county had received a letter from the state informing them that if the money was not secured by a June 14 deadline, the grant would be rescinded.

The state told the paper the county has not been returning their phone calls either and the grant is not yet fully rescinded.

Stuart told Weisler he is working on securing alternate funding sources to make sure the grant is not fully revoked. 

Read the entire Journal News article here.