AGAWAM – Pretty soon, Autumn Mist Farm will be the new name on the former 911 Burgers and Dogs property. It won’t be a new name around town, however.

Owner Derrick Turnbull said his family has been running the beef cattle farm at 300 N. West St. in Feeding Hills for years, and recently began selling farm-raised products at stores around the region. Having his own store will let him serve more retail customers and build his brand, Turnbull said.

What separates Autumn Mist Farm from other beef on the supermarket shelf is that it’s all natural, with no added growth hormones, artificial ingredients, or implants. Turnbull explained that the cattle’s “freedom” in what they consume is essential, because what they eat is what human consumers will be eating.
Turnbull said that a lot of people don’t realize all of the steroids that they consume in foods such as chicken or pork.

At the start of the pandemic, as grocery companies scrambled amid a shortage of meat, Autumn Mist Farm began supplying cuts to a local Big Y supermarket. In return, Turnbull said they were able to “get [their] name out there.”

He continued, “Customers are very happy with our product. We get good reviews.”

He explained that people are looking for fresh food, and that’s what the farm can supply. Every cut of meat is different, however, Turnbull works to keep the prices as “reasonable as possible for the consumer.”

Prior to the pandemic, Turnbull said his farm mostly supplied colleges and restaurants. One of those restaurants was Fazio’s in East Longmeadow. As the pandemic drags on, Turnbull said those customers are buying less, but Turnbull is still driven to expand his business.

Autumn Mist Farm recently purchased 911 Burgers and Dogs, at 1157 N. Westfield St. Former owner Dino Mercadante and his wife, Mary, announced their retirement in early November. When the opportunity became available, Turnbull said it was “perfect,” as he had been hunting for the right place for a while.

“It was a better opportunity than building on our farm,” he said.

Turnbull likes that his new shop will be on a busy road, and that “it’s within two miles of my house” – allowing him to easily supervise both the store and the farm. He was glad to be able to stay in the same area. He said his farm’s mission is “feeding Feeding Hills.”

At the new shop, Turnbull plans to “provide the same sides of services” as he does on the farm. This includes burgers, steaks, prime rib and more.

Additionally, the farm store will serve hot dogs, roast beef sandwiches, soups, weekly specials and to-go meals. Some of the special ideas include cheeseburger chowder, homemade meatballs and a smoked brisket sandwich.
Turnbull said uncooked meat will be sold frozen from the display cases. The store will also offer pre-made burger patties — easy to bring home, throw in the air fryer and enjoy, Turnbull said.

Autumn Mist Farm is set to move into the new building within the next few months. Turnbull said he plans to build an addition to the facility, and will be putting the foundation on soon.

“I hope to see the right clientele,” he added. Quality will be the store’s calling card: “I am confident that it’s going to set us apart from other places. You can’t compare. Our stuff stands out.”

He sees an opportunity in one of the effects of the pandemic, families coming together.

“People are not eating out – home-cooked meals are becoming a thing again,” he said.

His own family is heavily involved in the farm: parents Gary and Donna Turnbull, his fiancee Tracy, and two daughters, Bailey, age 12, and Autumn, age 5.

“They help out as much as they can,” he said. He noted that Bailey designed the farm’s logo, which appears on the packaging of its meats for sale at Big Y.

Turnbull’s interest in farming originated with his parents.

“My parents got me involved in cattle when I was young,” he said.

Although the farm is a family-owned business, Turnbull said he does hire outside of the family, and is hiring staff for the new store now. He is currently searching for cooks, someone to take orders, and to keep the shelves stocked.

The farm itself is a 100-acre property. Turnbull said he’s proud of how well his cattle are treated.

“[Our] animals have good lives,” said Turnbull. “They have housing, are fed, and make a lot of their own feed.”

The cows are separated into different barns and pens based on their size and stage of life. Turnbull said cows of different sizes have different needs, such as food portions. All cows are provided with adequate water, their choice of minerals and a “buffet” of food options throughout the day.

The beef processing operation is thoroughly inspected weekly, he added.
For more about Autumn Mist Farm, visit autumnmistfarm.com or search for Autumn Mist Farm in Feeding Hills on Facebook.com.