This weekend is considered the busiest for Hartford’s Regional Farmer’s Market on Reserve Road.
People line up looking for flowers for mom or plants for their gardens.
There’s one vendor that’s been on a first-name basis with his customers for decades. Joe Diglio, Sr. is the owner of Country Farm, out of Northford and North Branford. Before dawn, his family is up, helping him unload his truck.
Like many vendors, flowers are a family affair for the Diglios. A fixture at the farmer’s market, three generations work to keep the business blossoming.
“This business means everything to me,” said Diglio in a thick Italian accent.
When Country Farm started coming to the Hartford Regional Farmers Market 43 years ago they had just a small stall of flowers. Since then, the business has grown, and so has the family.
“I learned a lot of math from doing it, because I’ve been doing it a few years now,” said his grandson, Joe Diglio, Jr.
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“You get to be with your family all the time. You get to learn from generations before you,” added another grandson, also named Joe Diglio, Jr.
Customers come back to the market week after week, to see what Joe's growing.
“Everybody knows him. He’s like a celebrity,” said the elder grandson.
“They’ve always taken care of me and he’s the nicest guy,” explained Tom Hamed who buys plants from Diglio for his own stand in New Fairfield.
“I love it here because the quality of the products are really good. The prices are really good, and the people are knowledgeable in what they do. They’re very friendly,” added Dawn Garcia of Hebron.
“They call me ‘Big Mouth,’” said Joe Sr. of his customers.
His son, daughter, and grandsons all there to help. If you’re not sure who to ask for, just ask for Joe.
