Backyard Farms

Backyard Farms is a Madison, Maine-based agricultural company specializing in massive greenhouses to produce vine-ripened tomatoes.[1] It had been owned by Devonshire Investors, a Boston-based branch of Fidelity Investments[2] but was sold in June 2017 to a Canadian produce company, Mastronardi Produce of Ontario.[3]

## History

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The company was started in 2004.[1][4] In 2007, the company's first 25-acre (100,000 m2) greenhouse was built in Madison, Maine, making it the largest building by volume in the state.[1] It covers the area of 20 football fields. The 240,000 plants grow up to 10 feet tall and are projected to yield 1 million tomatoes each week.[5] Their second greenhouse, connected to the first, was built in 2009. The combined area was then 42 acres (170,000 m2).[1] Plants are grown in rock wool and pollinated by bumblebees that are kept inside the greenhouses.[2] Rainwater that sheds off the greenhouse roofs is recycled to supplement the water used to irrigate the plants.[6]

Although the tomatoes originally had been a specialty variety called "Backyard Beauty", they had been replaced with other, undisclosed varieties.[2] There had been plans for the operation to expand to include peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, herbs, and strawberries.[7]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Ladd, Chris (March 30, 2010). "Giant Greenhouses Mean Flavorful Tomatoes All Year". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
2. ^ a b c Harlow, Doug (March 16, 2010). "Massive tomato-growing operation in Madison is thriving". Morning Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
3. ^ "A heavy loss in Fidelity's pursuit of the perfect tomato - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
4. ^ "About Us". Backyard Farms. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
5. ^ Harkavy, Jerry (February 1, 2007). "25-Acre Greenhouse Thriving in Maine". Associated Press in The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
6. ^ Vandergiessen, Arie (April 2008). "Summer Fresh Tomatoes Available Year-Round". Tomato Magazine. Columbia Publications. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
7. ^ "Backyard Farms". Madison, Maine. Retrieved 2013-06-01.

## External links

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* Official website

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