By Katie Johnson
For the Old Orchard Greenhouse and Nursery in Farnham, tomatoes arenât just a delicious summertime crop, theyâre a family tradition.
It started out as an unassuming retirement hobby for carpenter and family patriarch, Angelo S. Militello Jr. (aka Papa), on an old apple orchard he purchased in the late 1960s. Over three generations it became something even greaterâthree bustling greenhouses built by hand and a tradition of growing tomatoes ever since. (Not to mention all the flowers, shrubs and other veggies.)
âIt was always in his blood,â said Larry Militello (Larry #1), Angeloâs son who now runs the greenhouses. âBefore we built this, he had a little greenhouse over on Detroit Street next to Angieâs Restaurant, which my mom ran. He raised geraniums and vegetable plantsâ¦and maybe about three varieties of tomatoes.â