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Meet the Farmers
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My name is Christina
and my interests in food
and soil trace to my
childhood. In the
kitchen, my father taught
me to wield a knife
toward tasty vegetables
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My name is Rob and
2010 marks the fifth year
of business for
Montalbano Farms.
Growing up in Chicago, I
became interested in
farming during my 30s.
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as soon as my hands could grasp the
handle. My summer visits to Michigan
and my uncle’s farm encouraged my
romantic notions about fresh,
homegrown food. Helping to plant my
stepmother’s annual flower patch was
one of my favorite weekends of the
year. On Mothers’ Day, my mom often
found gifts of potted flowers or a small
plot dug up in the back yard ready for
planting. Through a series of
internships during and after college, I
gained the agricultural and teaching
skills that enabled me to farm. I am
thrilled to be growing fresh food for
you and to keep my hands
“perpetually” dirty.
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Nutrition and health have long been
interests of mine,however, and I have
gardened for as long as I can remember.
I decided to become a farmer not only
because I care about how we treat our
natural resources but also because I want
to know what's in the food I eat. Since
2006, I have been honored to supply
families around Chicago with lots of
fresh, nutritious, certified organic
produce at our market stand and
through our Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) program. This coming
year is shaping up to be our best ever
and I am excited to grow the very best
produce for our families.
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We are committed to using sustainable, organic agricultural practices on our
farm. We manage soil and plant health through cultivation, crop rotation,
and cover crops. We control pests and diseases by selecting varieties that do well in
our region, pruning to physically remove problems, attracting beneficial insects that
prey on the "bad bugs", and using biological soaps and oils. Our freshly harvested
vegetables and herbs are all grown locally in the Chicagoland area. While we
transition our farm to become certified organic, we are strictly following the organic
guidelines as provided by the USDA's National Organic Program.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to grow food forever. How we achieve that goal is a big part of
the story.
We grow healthy plants: By growing healthy plants, we ensure you get the freshest,
most nutritious vegetables possible. That's good for you and good for the long-term
health of the business.
We use environmentally sustainable practices: By respecting the soil, air, and water
resources on and off of the farm, we work to ensure that these resources are around
for generations to come.
We prioritize socially responsible practices: We prioritize the safe production and handling
of all produce, we insist upon fair wages for all farmhands, and we view community
education as a primary objective.
We are transparent: Visitors and volunteers are welcome to arrange visits to the farm at
any time to see our operations, to lend a hand with planting and harvesting, and to
learn about organic agriculture.
Tell a friend about our farm!
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