DeWitt Thomson and Doug Coldwell, Full Bloom Farm

2006 Local Hero Awardees

DeWitt Thomson and Doug Coldwell farm together as Full Bloom Farm based in Whately. They grow mixed organic vegetables on about 110 acres and produce greenhouse tomatoes and bedding plants in one-half acre of green-houses. Full Bloom has been a regular vendor at the Northampton and Amherst farmers’ markets for 14 years, and also sells at markets in Boston. DeWitt and Doug market wholesale through an organic growers’ cooperative – Happy Valley Organics – that they co-founded with two other growers (Paul Maiewski and Dave Jackson) in 1996.

DeWitt Thomson co-founded Full Bloom Market Garden in 1989, becoming sole proprietor in 1992. The mixed vegetable, bedding plant, and greenhouse tomato operation grew from seven acres to 60 acres before becoming a joint venture with Doug Coldwell. Doug Coldwell founded Coolwater Farm in 1996, specializing in sweet peppers, zucchini, and summer squash. DeWitt and Doug are both first-generation growers, each farming independently in the area before joining forces in 2001.