Harris Family Farm

Ben Harris of Harris Family Farm worked with the Vermont Land Trust’s Farmland Access Program to find a farm to purchase in Vermont. When he found the Gleason Farm (home of Gleason Grains) in Bridport, he knew it was a great fit. The Gleasons had been farming on this land since 1980, growing organic wheat and crops. The commercial milling operation was started in 1982 and has operated continuously since, milling 50 tons of wheat annually.

Ben and his family operated a certified organic dairy farm in Westport NY for 4 years. They planned to add black beans and hay to the crop rotation as well as a small number of pasture-raised pigs.

They came to the VFF for a loan to allow them to purchase in local wheat for milling to service the existing wholesale accounts since at this point in the season they have already milled all of their own harvest. This loan will allow them to immediately take over the existing flour accounts and generate cash flow before their first crop of wheat comes in.