Johnny’s Luncheonette committed to donate 10% of its revenue on Saturday, October 4 (8AM-8PM) to help fund the construction of a new barn at Red Fire Farm after the original barn burned down 19 months ago. Kay Masterson, co-owner of the Newton Centre restaurant, told Fig City News this is the first fundraising event of its kind that Johnny’s has undertaken.
Ryan Voiland purchased 50 acres of farmland in Granby, Massachusetts in 2001 to start Red Fire Farm and has since expanded into parts of Montague as well. Ryan met Sarah a couple of years later, and now married with children, they operate the farm together.
Masterson has known the Voilands for a long time and has sourced produce from Red Fire Farm for Johnny’s over the years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Masterson volunteered to hand out Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares for the farm in Cambridge.
Losing the barn
In February 2024, a fire burned down the farm’s century-old barn, which had been the central distribution center for the annual harvest of organic fresh produce sold to thousands of people. Community members poured in donations and helped the farm continue operations with a temporary storefront for the past 19 months.
Masterson said she cried when she heard the news of the barn fire.
“It’s the heart of a farm,” Masterson said. “Imagine your house without your kitchen.”
Sarah said the farm is now unable to generate sales “anywhere near” to what it made at the old barn, since the temporary store has limited capabilities.
“We’re in a bit of a hole as a result of the fire,” Sarah said. “We are hoping to be able to put together this store in a way that will bring more income to the farm and help us keep going.”
Ryan noted that inflation over the past couple of years has increased the building costs, and insurance payments have not kept up.
Sarah said…