Peconic Land Trust and Mattituck Farm Holdings Announce Sale of Farmland in Cutchogue
January 17, 2024
Southampton, New York. Peconic Land Trust and Mattituck Farm Holdings, owned by the Bacon Family Trust, are pleased to announce the purchase of 151.93 acres of farmland – 7 separate parcels – by the Peconic Land Trust within the Oregon Road farm belt in Cutchogue. All the properties were owned by Mattituck Farm Holdings and are protected with Town of Southold Development Rights Easements. At the closing the Trust simultaneously sold two (2) of the parcels to qualified farm operations. The transactions are part of the Trust’s Farms for the Future Initiative.
The Bacon Family Trust / Mattituck Farm Holdings ensured that these 151.93 acres will be conserved in perpetuity confirming their belief that the Peconic Land Trust is the perfect steward to carry this vision into the future. These parcels are part of over 240 acres protected by the Bacon Family Trust / Mattituck Farm Holdings in this area.
It’s important to note that the prime, productive soils along Oregon Road were most likely first cultivated by indigenous people less than 1,000 years ago followed soon after by the English and other European immigrants. Polish farm families are known to have been farming there since the early 1900s.
“This is a remarkable project for which we are very grateful to the Bacon Family Trust and the team at Mattituck Farm Holdings for putting their faith in us to ensure this productive agricultural land will be accessible to farmers and in production for generations to come,” said John v.H. Halsey, President, Peconic Land Trust. “We are pleased to have been able to immediately sell some of the land to local farmers and look forward to working with the local farming community through leases and additional sales for farmland in the months and years to come.”
The two parcels (38.9 acres) sold are:
- 8500 Alvah’s Lane, Cutchogue: To Fred Lee of Sang Lee Farms. This parcel is 26.07 acres.
- 19285 & 19155 County Road 48, Cutchogue: To Anthony and Lisa Sannino of Sannino Vineyards. This parcel is 12.83 acres.
These two parcels were part of a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued to farmers by the Trust in March 2023.
“I am extremely pleased to be involved with the Peconic Land Trust on the acquisition of this 26-acre Mattituck Farm Holdings farm parcel in Cutchogue.
Having worked with Dan Heston and John Halsey for many years, I can say that it is a confirmation of their continuing commitment in helping family operated farms, like Sang Lee Farms, remain in food production,” said Fred Lee, adding: “Farmland ownership does not guarantee, but most certainly aids, our resilience in growing food for our community in the challenging industry and landscape of eastern Long Island.”
“We are extremely appreciative of the opportunity to work with the Peconic Land Trust and especially Dan Heston. As a growing vineyard in Southold Town, it is essential to expand our production on land that we own to secure the ongoing success of the Sannino family, said Anthony Sannino, adding, “The second generation of Sannino's is becoming actively involved in our operation with hopes of continuing its expansion. We hope to see more of these opportunities for the broader farming community so that we all thrive in our town.”
In addition to the 38.9 acres referenced above, the Trust acquired five (5) other parcels totaling 113.03 acres.
Portions of one of the parcels – 39.89 acres located at 4710 Oregon Road, Cutchogue -- will be leased as part of the Trust’s Farms for the Future Leasing program. In particular, the Trust will look to lease the land to farmers in our incubator program who are looking to move into the next phase of operations.
The other 73.14 acres (in four different parcels) will ultimately be sold to qualified farmers. The Trust will be issuing Requests for Proposals to the farming community in the future. These parcels are:
- 8820 Alvahs Lane, Cutchogue – 4.68 acres
- 7040 Oregon Road, Cutchogue – 12.22 acres
- 8640 Oregon Road, Cutchogue – 30.36 acres
- 8900 Oregon Road, Cutchogue – 25.88 acres
As part of the Trust’s Farms for the Future Initiative, this acquisition and resale covers multiple areas of the Trust’s program:
- Preservation of farmland
- Providing access to farmland to working farm operations
- Providing leasing opportunities to new farmers interested in expanding beyond the Trust’s “incubator” fields at its Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm in Southold.
About Farms for the Future Initiative
The Trust’s Farms for the Future Initiative exemplifies a Pillar of the Trust’s work related to Food, Farms, and Farmers and advances agricultural viability and access to healthy food. It includes farmland leases, incubator programs, and sales of protected farmland, some with additional restrictions designed to ensure that protected farmland remains accessible and affordable to farmers in the future. The majority of the lessees operate on protected farmland owned by the Trust either at our Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm in Southold or at the Deborah Light Preserve in Amagansett, also home of the Trust’s Quail Hill Farm.
Objectives of the Farms for the Future Initiative:
- Keep conserved agricultural land actively farmed,
- Create opportunities for farmers to start‐up and/or expand their agricultural operations,
- Promote the diversity of farming and farmers on Long Island,
- Encourage food production farming,
- Ensure that farmland is available and affordable to farmers.
To learn more about this program, please contact Dan Heston, Director of Agricultural Programs, at 631.734.5630 or DHeston@PeconicLandTrust.org.
About the Peconic Land Trust
On August 1, 2023, the Peconic Land Trust celebrated its 40thAnniversary. Founded in 1983, Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island’s working farms, natural lands, and heritage. Since its inception, the nonprofit Trust has worked conscientiously with landowners, communities, municipalities, partner organizations, and donors, to conserve nearly 14,000 acres of land on Long Island. The Trust’s professional staff carries out the necessary research and planning to identify and implement alternatives to outright development. While working to conserve the productive farms, watersheds, woodlands, and beachfront of Long Island, the Trust is also protecting the unique rural heritage and natural resources of the region. For more information about the Peconic Land Trust, visit www.PeconicLandTrust.org.