Meet the Animals and Shop Fresh Local Meat at the SouthCoast’s Newest Farm

Farm fresh and made with love. A new farm is open on the SouthCoast. Tricia Marraffa and her partner, John Berg, are the owners of Snipatuit Pond Farm in Rochester, MA.

I noticed their new roadside signage recently and decided to pay them a visit – with my kids in tow of course.

A day at a local farm is always a treat for our family and the visit to Snipatuit Pond Farm was no different. We met with Marraffa, who greeted us with a friendly smile as she took us around the property, meeting the pigs, petting the cows and holding the baby ducklings. If you happen to see the fluffy brown one on your next trip to the farm, that's Sophie. Tricia so generously allowed my son to name her.

From Two Cows to a Thriving Farm in Rochester

From there, I spoke with Marraffa in a picture-perfect farm setting. We were sitting at a picnic table under the shade of an apple tree as a rooster crowed in the distance. "We started with two cows, Buttercup and Zorro," she said.

That was just the beginning. The two cows needed a barn, which Marraffa and Berg made into a micro dairy. Then came the ducks and the pigs and the chickens. Now, six years later, there are 18 cows, a garden, a store and more.

"It's a lifestyle. We love it. We love the animals. For me, we don't just milk the cows in the morning. I'm going up to them, kissing them, hugging them...they become part of your family," Marraffa said. Her passion for the animals stood out immediately and the joy in her voice when talking about the farm certainly didn't go unnoticed.

"When the alarm goes off at 5:30 and you get that first cup of coffee, you're like, 'oh yeah, I have a mission,'" she said. "They're providing for you, you're providing for them. You have this relationship that's indescribable."

"It feels rewarding," she said.

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Fresh Local Meats, Sourdough, and Farm Gifts

Fresh racks of ribs, delectable ribeye steaks, spicy chorizo sausages, even locally-made sourdough fill the freezers at Snipatuit Pond Farm, while fresh veggies and eggs sit alongside in the fridge. Marraffa and Berg also offer marinades and seasonings to pair with their meats, as well as a variety of prepacked snacks, drinks and on-brand gifts like farm books and stuffed highland cows, which my kids were excited to take home. The farm-fresh ingredients have quickly become a hit.

"It feels like we're living back in times like what it used to be, in the days where milk was just milk. Pork was just pork. Beef was just beef. You knew your neighbors and you raised stuff on your own land and you shared with each other and the community helped everybody to provide for each other," Marraffa said. Her fresh products have provided many delicious meals so far.

Michaela Johnson/Townsquare Media

"There's something about looking at your plate and going, 'Everything came from this farm'," she said. "Everything gets raised here and then processed through Meatworks in Westport and they're so great there. It's all USDA certified, so it's good to know where everything's coming from."

Plan Your Visit to Snipatuit Pond Farm

See for yourself where it comes from and why this SouthCoast farm is so special by planning your next visit. It is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 440 Snipatuit Road in Rochester.