Condzella’s Farm
About
John and Ginny Condzella, along with their son John operate Condzella’s Farm. The Condzella Family has farmed this land for 100 years. The Peconic Land Trust initially started working with the Condzella family in the early 2000s on conservation strategies for the farm.
“While growing up in Wading River I have seen a lot of things change over the years, but the one thing that has never changed is my love for our family farm, and the desire to preserve it forever. It wasn’t easy, and at times I thought that it would be impossible, but through perseverance and the help of the Peconic Land Trust I finally have achieved my goal. While many things have changed in Wading River, the one thing that will remain forever, and almost the same as when my grandfather started it over one hundred years ago, is Condzella’s Farm. Thank you, Peconic Land Trust, and everyone who contributed to this effort,” said John Condzella.
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Six parcels the Trust is working to conserve on the north and south sides of Route 25A in Wading River, directly east of the Wading River Commons and west of the Shoppes at East Wind. The current Condzella farm stand and Strawberry U-Pick can be found at 6274 NY-25A, Wading River.
In December 2023, the Trust acquired a conservation easement (aka development rights) on 8.5 acres of farmland from the Zoumas brothers, restricting the land to agricultural purposes (and eliminating the possibility of residential or commercial development). Funding for the conservation easement was provided by New York State’s Ag and Markets farmland protection program ($2 million), donations from the community, and a bargain sale by John and Bill Zoumas. Notably, this was the first time the State provided funds for the acquisition of an easement on property that had a commercial site plan approval in place
“As lifelong residents of a town called Wading River that we moved to in the 70’s, raised our families in, and have grandchildren growing up in, my brother Bill and I have closed a 25-year chapter on the farmland preservation endeavors presented to us through the Peconic Land Trust. The hard work and perseverance of Julie Wesnofske was a long and admirable road,” said John Zoumas.
Subsequently, in March 2024, the Trust worked with Ginny and John Condzella to conserve 15 acres of farmland they currently own and farm. This conservation easement was made possible by donations from the community along with the NYS Ag and Markets grant funds ($1.946 million). The Condzellas also contributed through a bargain sale of the easement.
Using the proceeds from the sale of the easement, Ginny and John Condzella purchased the restricted farmland from John and Bill Zoumas in mid-March 2024.
These properties were part of the Peconic Land Trust’s Wading River Initiative fundraising campaign that concluded in the Spring of 2022, raising $305,000 from the members of the public. The funds raised have been applied to both of these easements, in addition to $3.946 million in grants from Ag and Markets*. As such, these funds have restricted the future use of the farmland to agriculture.
*Funding for a significant portion of these transactions was through the New York State Farmland Protection Program under the Environmental Protection Fund – and administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The funding was from Round 18 of the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants announced in May of 2021. To be eligible for funding, matching funds in the form of donations and a bargain sale were required.
Farmers John Condzella Sr. and John Condzella Jr. in front of the farm's nearly 100-year-old barn.
John Sr. smiles with his grandson, who will hopefully be the fifth Condzella generation to farm this land.
The first asparagus frond pokes out from the soil. May is a mad dash to keep up with nature, as the spears must be harvested every other day. "You can almost see them grow before your eyes," Ginny says.
John, Ginny, and daughter Katherine walk the fields. The family tries to do everything "the good old-fashioned way," and value their close relationship to the land they care for.
At the farm stand, fresh strawberries glisten in the summer sun.
John shows off the new strawberry variety grown by daughter, Katherine.
Katherine has turned a handful of seedlings into over 1,200 plants that will soon be ready to go in the ground. They’ll have to wait to enjoy the fruits of her labor, and the family’s investment, as the plants won’t produce berries until their second year.
Strawberries have been grown in these fields since the 1920s.
The strawberry U-Pick is a delight to visitors young and old.
The family uses traditional techniques and modern technologies to steward this land and best serve the health of people, the soil, and nature.
Cover crops help reduce erosion and nourish the land. Turnips and mustard greens were planted in between the hop vines, then tilled into the ground to make a healthier and better-aerated soil.
Hop vines -the first grown on Long Island- and strawberry fields shine in the late afternoon light.
Bees begin to leave their hives in search of pollen. They had made it through the winter by huddling together inside, leaving only to eat the sugar-paste fondant cakes the family leaves on top of their cozy wooden boxes. Now that spring has arrived, they're starting to get to work pollinating crops on the farm.
For over 50 years, visiting the U-Pick has been a cherished summer tradition for families across Long Island.
Blackberries, a recent addition to the farm, have flourished in the area's long summer light.
John Sr. walks his grandson through the strawberry fields that their family has cared for for three generations.
Hear from John Condzella
Visitor Information
Visit www.condzellasfarm.com for information about strawberry picking and the farm stand.
The farm is open every June to families wanting to pick their own strawberries. They also have a farm stand and sell their produce at farmers markets. In addition to fruits and vegetables like asparagus, garlic, and blackberries, they also grow hops that they sell to local micro-breweries.
Things To Do
