HADLEY - While legal issues with the state continue to plague the new owners of the former Seven Sister's bistro, the pair has embarked on a related pursuit - growing organic heirloom tomatoes in the greenhouses of the former Montgomery Rose.
Ted Crooker of Brunswick, Maine and Keith Rehbein of Windsor purchased the Route 9 bistro, 32.25 acres of farmland that is agricultural preservation restriction, and other property for nearly $3 million in February of 2015.
The state Department of Agriculture, however, decided to sell the farming rights to another farmer and Rehbein and his attorneys are trying to get those rights back.
The concept for the restaurant they want to open is farm to table with people being able to visit a greenhouse and farm behind the restaurant that will serve only plant-based food.
They plan to grow the crops organically and another farmer would not to have to adhere to that. But a dispute over the appraisal has resulted in the matter in land court.
But in the meantime, Rehbein and Crooker are transforming the former Montgomery Rose into a producer of organic, hydroponic heirloom tomatoes.
They started construction in October at Five College Farms and began planting in January.
Two greenhouses are still in the construction phase. He hopes to receive the organic certification within two weeks.
He said there is a huge market for heirloom, organic tomatoes and they have interest from places such as Whole Foods and Wegmans, which has stores in central and eastern Massachusetts.
But produce buyers need to see the tomatoes first before committing.
"It's very hard to find organic," he said.
Stores can purchase organic from Mexico but he said, "The USDA is not ensuring everything is organic."
At the Five College Farms, they are growing 10 varieties of heirloom that have been grafted with heartier blends to fend off diseases.
They started with about two inch seedlings but from now on they will grow all of the plants from seeds. He said the former owners of the greenhouse had been growing some tomatoes, but they were not organic.
He said they have 15,000 plants and with two five-month planting seasons could produce nearly a million pounds of tomatoes, said manager Arthur Mulyono.
Rehbein said with the greenhouses, "it's a controlled environment." They have grow lights if needed.
In a separate room sit six nutrient-enriched water tanks that are used for the growing operation. "None of the water is wasted," he said.
He said they have an additional acre behind the greenhouses where they plan to grow baby cucumbers.
So far they have hired about 25 people to work on the operation and with housing prices at a premium they have purchased two houses where employees can live.
But he and Crooker want to be able to farm the land behind the restaurant on Route 9.
They are hoping the legal dispute over farming rights can be resolved in land court so they can proceed with their plans for the business they are calling "Way Home Farm."