Spotlight On: McKinstry Market Garden Inc.

Our Member Relations Committee was pleased to surprise McKinstry Market Garden Inc., as our June 2026 Member Spotlight Presented by Ted & Barbara Hebert of Teddy Bear Pools & Spas.

McKinstry Market Garden, Inc., is multi-generational family-run farm & market, and their roots run deep in Chicopee. If you are from Chicopee, chances are you have been to McKinstry Market, you remember the original farm stand, and you also know what the best sweet corn around tastes like.

The McKinstry family has been planting seeds since the early 1800s, which led to generations of family farmers who have raised livestock and vegetables - their focus was chickens and eggs. In 1908, young Willard McKinstry took over the farm at just 14-years-old to support his family after the passing of his father. Willard left school to run the farm, and began shifting the business to vegetables, selling them from his market wagon. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the retail location was established on Montgomery Street in Chicopee, which operated from May through September.

The farm and market are currently run by Bill McKinstry and his wife Nicole, and their sons Willard and Warren. With growing customer base and demand, the farm has expanded from 15 acres in Chicopee to over 300 acres across the Valley, with land in Hadley and Granby, too. The farm is always adapting and growing, and their farm store is no exception; in 2021, the family took down the original 2,500-square-foot farm stand and opened the store we know today, a 7,500-square-foot garden store, open year-round.

In 2024, McKinstry opened their ice cream shack, Scouty’s Scoop Shack, named after their family dog, Scout. They also opened Momo’s Snack Shack, after their other dog & farm greeter, Momo, which offers sandwiches and savory delights. The farm store offers freshly baked goods from their in-house bakery, flowers and starter vegetables, local honey and maple syrup, dairy products, meats, and more. This year, McKinstry Market Garden Inc., is expanding to take on management of Sapowsky Farms in Granby, as a second location.

For the second year, McKinstry offers a CSA for members to get fresh fruits and vegetables all summer long. With their CSA, McKinstry is offering mini, small, and family farm shares - you can sign up for the summer, and pick up a weekly share of fresh, local produce all season long. The share begins in mid-June, starting with the first spring greens and vegetables, then strawberries, then the late-summer favorites like tomatoes and of course, the famous McKinstry sweet corn! Be sure to support local farms & markets, and head to 753 Montgomery St in Chicopee to see their offerings.

Thank you to our friends over at McKinstry Farm & Market Garden, for all you do to feed the community!