by Aliou Sissoko, Tolman High School Marketing & Management Academy Student
Hocus Pocus Farm is a local farm that was started by a group of women four years ago. The farm grows a variety of items from herbs, to vegetables, to flowers. The farm is not a family business as it was previously run by Sophie Soloway who has now taken a step back in order to pursue her nursing career. Because of this, her colleagues are now in charge of the farm operations. The one-acre farm is based on safety and taste. Therefore, they grow their produce chemical-free, making products higher quality and tasting better.
As for their produce, they grow a total of over 50 vegetables. They grow many varieties from broccoli to garlic, to even pumpkins. Along with the fully grown vegetables, their website offers a list of their seeds including basil, cucumber, eggplant, beans, beets, and many more. You can also find herbs such as chives, mint, and white pine tips at the Hocus Pocus Farm. Additionally, they offer flowers including sunflowers, cut flowers, and even edible flowers.
Hocus Pocus Farm is located on 80 Walnut Street in Seekonk, Massachusetts. The Farm operates as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. This program is designed to connect farmers and their communities. CSA shareholders purchase a season’s worth of native-grown fresh vegetables before the season begins. This provides Hocus Pocus the capital they need to begin planting your fresh vegetables, flowers, and herbs. If you are interested in becoming a shareholder, you may sign up online at hocuspocusfarm.com. The season begins around June 15 and ends sometime in November. Your freshly grown vegetables, flowers, and herbs are distributed weekly throughout the 21-week period at below retail market value.
Hocus Pocus Farm works with Farm Fresh RI to sell some of their produce via Market Mobile wholesale e-commerce and distribution service. After speaking with Sasha Wolfe from Hocus Pocus Farm, she informed me that they initially connected to Farm Fresh RI through Market Mobile to sell their vegetables to local restaurants and other businesses. This distribution system links up food producers from the Northeast region with wholesale buyers across Rhode Island and Boston area, like grocers, schools, chefs, and farmstands, among others. (And during COVID19 has recently pivoted to home delivery in Providence, Pawtucket, and the East Bay.) This increases the sale of locally grown produce. Sasha also stated that it was her first season working with Hocus Pocus Farm, and she was looking forward to growing food and flowers for her new community. Working alongside Sasha is Sylo Cermak, who joined Hocus Pocus Farm in late 2019. She is thrilled to co-manage the farm with Sasha — together they hope to accomplish great things.
Hocus Pocus Farm is a great local farm that provides their community with freshly grown items, and their partnership with Farm Fresh RI gives everybody a chance to enjoy quality vegetables, herbs, and flowers. If you can’t make it to Hocus Pocus Farm this season, you can contact them by email (hocuspocusfarm@gmail.com) or phone by calling 781–608-9024 (Sasha Wolfe) or 206-579-2926. Don’t miss out on the magic!
A group of students from the William E. Tolman High School Marketing & Management Academy in Pawtucket recently took on a project of writing profiles about some of the local farms that work with Farm Fresh RI. This was a great opportunity for students to get interviewing experience, learn about the local food system, and see it firsthand. Thank you to all of the students and farmers who participated!
