Standing(L-R): Gary, Sally, June, Neil, Frank, Kevin, Sam
Seated(L-R): Laurie, Cheryl, Sybil, Melissa, Melanie

Running a farm business 363 days a year, closed New Year's and Christmas Day, requires a big family that wants to stay involved. Sam has been blessed in having four out of five of his daughters involved with day-to-day operations-- Laurie Bombard and son-in-law, Gary Bombard, Cheryl Patterson, Melissa Mazza, Theresa Mazza and granddaughters and grandsons, all becoming a vital part in the operation of the business. In addition, many of the staff (both full-time and part-time) have been part of the team for years and the store couldn't run without them.

Sam's secret to his success has been hard work, diversifying, staying in step with the times and keeping the family involved. He originally started in farming with a 13 acre poultry farm; however, due to health problems he had to get out of the poultry business. At this point in his career (1988) he started the retail farmstand and over the next few years added an extension, attached a greenhouse and enlarged the retail store twice. The operation now has 100,000+ square feet of growing space and 5600 square feet of retail space and Sam's family is an integral part of day to day business operations.

If you are browsing through the greenhouses or need help with any of your planting needs Cheryl is the Mazza that has the "expertise" in this area. Cheryl has the ability to be able to take a mixture of plants -- put them in a pot -- and create a masterpiece. She is very knowledgeable about the greenhouses and works closely with the customers on all of their needs. You will also find her scheduling the "tours" for the pumpkin rides in the fall--and diversifying into the retail operations when the greenhouses are off-season.

You also might find Neil Comstock working in the greenhouses taking care of the plants and ensuring they are properly watered, fertilized and receiving all the care they need. Neil worked with Sam's father years ago and then joined the farm operations 16+ years ago. Neil watches closely over all of the greenhouse activities.

You also might see Sibyll Bullis as she works in the greenhouse checking to make sure that everything is stocked and ready for the customers. Many of our customers refer to Sibyll as the "geranium lady" and she has earned that title by the tender, loving care she provides to the flowers in the greenhouse. She also is part of the packing house operations when the season is in full swing. It doesn't matter what you ask Sibyll to do---she is always there to do it and with a smile.

Theresa has responsibility for the gift section of the retail operation. From buying--to setting up displays --to adding new items to delight the customers is Theresa's responsibility. Theresa has a "flair" for finding the unusual gift items and you will find a wide variety of gifts when you visit the store. You can also browse the gift section of the web page to get a better idea of some of the items you might discover!

Melissa works side-by-side with her father on the wholesale end of the business during the busy season and helps her sisters in the retail operation during the winter. Melissa works on a daily basis with both the customers and the buyers ensuring that what is needed is ready to be shipped or picked up the next day when they arrive. Melissa and Sam are the core team that runs the wholesale operations.

Art Hawkes is the field manager and started with the farm when he was in high school. 20+ years later, Art plays a key role in overseeing fields operations, mechanical repairs and working closely with Sam and Melissa on the wholesale operations.

Laurie, Sam's oldest daughter, runs the business office with help from her daughter, Melanie. That means you can find Laurie either writing an article for the newspaper, working on payroll, putting together an order, working on taxes, etc.--- all the things that keep the workplace humming!

Her husband, Gary, oversees front end retail operations, shipping & receiving, Petting Zoo and The Mazza Corn Maze. He can be found in the store most of the time either stocking items, handling the produce area, helping a customer or fixing something that might need to be taken care of.

The fifth generation of Mazza's are now becoming a part of the business! Melanie Morse is the first to join the team and is a valuable asset to her mother, Laurie, in helping to manage the office. Melanie's expertise is in the bookkeeping and IT support of the business.

The bakery is a big piece of the retail business and Frank Peters and his brother, Kevin, are the team that makes the wonderful bakery items you will find. You can meet Frank and Kevin by browsing the bakery section of this web page.

The only non-family member who works full-time in the retail store is June Provost. June's smile is known by all of our customers as you will find her at the front of the store at the register most of the time. June is a vital part of the team and we consider her family.

Jamaicans "The Boys"

The Mazza farm in Colchester is still a farm for one reason. Actually, for 20+ reasons. Each reason has a name, a strong body, and a long day. The 350-acre farm remains a farm after three-quarters of a century because 17 Jamaican men work there. They travel by airplane to Miami, then ride for two days and two nights on a bus to Vermont.

At the farm, they hoe and pick and haul from 6a.m. to 5p.m., six or seven days a week. Sam would have sold the land for development more than a decade ago if the Jamaicans didn't arrive each May. They are the backbone of the farm, in every sense of the word.

The Jamaicans earn a good wage and send their wages home to their families whom they miss during the Vermont harvest season. They say that the sacrifice is worth it for the money they make. Many of them have been coming to the Mazza farm for a decade or longer.

"The men, lean and strong, rise together, eat together, sleep together in a large bunk room, and ride a tractor to the fields together. Together, they bend over row after row of vegetables, legs straddling the crop. They leaf through the foliage for ripe produce, pick it, drop it into bushels. They carry and unload the bushels, which - if they contain winter squash - can weigh up to 60 pounds.

They are soldiers because they are a solid and intent unit, isolated from non-farm life by the monotony of their routine. Their existence is rigid and repetitive - a steady rhythm of rise, eat, work, rest, rise, eat, work, rest."

The men typically work 10 hours a day, six or seven days a week. Some of the crops must be picked daily or the crop is lost.

The Jamaicans are eligible to work in the United States through a U.S. Department of Labor program. Government regulations say that precedence must be given to American workers, however, the Labor Department has been unable to fill the jobs with Americans, so it is left to the Jamaicans. According to Sam, the Jamaicans have a high work ethic and are very conscientious. "They want you to survive, so they can survive."