The History Of Jaswell’s Farm
Jaswell’s Farm is the oldest operating apple orchard in the heart of Smithfield, RI’s “Apple Valley.” The roots of their family tradition began in the 1890’s when Nicholas Jaswell (Nicola Gesualdi) emigrated from Italy and started the farm in 1899. In the 1930’s Nicholas passed the reins to his son Joe who, with his own son Richard, sold his harvest to the farmer’s market in Providence. Richard and his wife Pat were the third generation to take over the farm in 1967. This was the beginning of the Jaswell’s Farm we know and love today.
Richard and Pat focused on selling produce directly to their customers. They constructed their first farmstand, initiated “pick-your-own” offerings, and in 1970 added a cider mill–putting apples at the center of their harvest and using the product from beginning to end. 1998 marked further expansion and diversified offerings with the addition of a pasteurizer for apple cider and an on-site bakery. After graduating from Bryant University in the 1990’s, the next generation, Chris and Allison, took over operations of the farm in 1999.
The fourth generation is one of the few brother/sister teams in Rhode Island agriculture. As Jaswell’s Farm continues to grow and evolve, they are proud of what their great-grandfather created over 120 years ago. Together, Allison and Chris have cultivated the farm to become a long-standing tradition for families across Rhode Island. Jaswell’s farm has been recognized both locally and nationally– Richard Jaswell was inducted into the RI Heritage Hall of Fame and in 2009, the Jaswell Family was inducted into the Smithfield Heritage Hall of Fame for their contributions, heritage, and impact in the community. In 2021, the farm was ranked the 7th best pick-your-own apple orchard in the United States to visit by USA today (click for 2021 USA Today article) and in 2022 was again ranked 9th in the country (Click for 2022 USA Today Article).. As the fifth generation grows along with the harvest, the family is looking towards the future with the dream that their proud family tradition will continue on for generations.