Antonellis Farm, formerly known as Ciesluk farm, had its beginnings in the 1930’s when the previous owners Frank Ciesluk’s parents, began farming vegetables. The rich soil of the Connecticut River Valley provided the perfect bed for all they grew, from sweet corn to potatoes. Chuck, Frank’s son, soon joined him on the farm. Together, they planted corn as early as July and harvested their last crop just after the autumn frost. According to Frank and Chuck, the corn is best when planted this early. There is something about the cold that makes the corn unbelievably sweet. To this day, even though the farm has grown in size, Frank’s descendants farm in the classic style, picking all their produce by hand to prevent bruising.
In 2018, Mike Antonellis, Frank’s grandson, took over the 350-acre farm in Deerfield, MA. Mike grows all his produce using integrated pest management, also known as IPM. He works alongside his sister Jen who runs the farm stand. With about 140 acres devoted to sweet corn, Mike is clearly following in the footsteps of his grandfather. Over the past 47 years, Antontellis Farm has become a well-known stop on Route 5 for their sweet corn. Their seasonal store also offers a variety of vegetables, flowers, bakery items and local goods!
