Connecticut Farm Gets First State Purchase Option
A new agreement limits future sales of 199 preserved acres in East Canaan to qualified farmers at agricultural value.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Organic Food
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The Connecticut Farmland Trust has established the state's first option to purchase at agricultural value (OPAV), a voluntary legal agreement with Freund Farms in East Canaan. The arrangement preserves 199 acres along Route 44.
Why it matters
Rising land costs make it difficult for new and established farmers to buy the acreage they need, and the OPAV adds a purchase-price restriction on top of existing development protection. Connecticut's aging farm population and shrinking dairy sector make the tool relevant to the state's agricultural future.
The Connecticut Farmland Trust has protected more than 6,200 acres statewide, and the first state OPAV covers 199 acres in East Canaan. The average Connecticut farmer is now 58.5 years old, and it remains unclear how quickly OPAVs will spread to other farms.
The players
Connecticut Farmland Trust
A nonprofit founded in 2001 that has protected more than 6,200 acres of farmland across Connecticut.
Freund Farms
An East Canaan farm whose agreement created the state's first option to purchase at agricultural value.
The details
The OPAV is a voluntary legal agreement that restricts future sales of conserved farmland to qualified farmers or family members at a lowered agricultural value. The Freund Farms agreement was signed by Ben, Matt, and Theresa Freund and builds on existing development protection.
Timeline
1975: Connecticut had 817 dairy farms.
2001: The Connecticut Farmland Trust was founded by farmers, agricultural business owners, policy experts, and conservation-minded donors.
2018: Connecticut dairy farms fell to 100.
Culture Shift
The OPAV follows the pattern of conservation easements that protect working farmland from development, but it adds a purchase-price restriction aimed at keeping land affordable for farmers. Connecticut's dairy count dropped from 817 farms in 1975 to 85 by 2021, which frames the tool as an attempt to slow that loss.
Connecticut residents who buy food from local farms may see farmland preserved for continued agricultural production rather than sold for development. The OPAV's restriction may also make land more accessible to new farmers seeking to start operations in the state.
The takeaway
Farmland protection tools like the OPAV show how Connecticut is trying to keep working land in agricultural use as farm operators age and land prices rise. Residents who want to support local farms can look for products from preserved farms in their area.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food to see how farmland preservation fits into the wider local food landscape in Connecticut.
More information
Learn more about the Connecticut Farmland Trust's mission and work at ctfarmland.org.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hartfort Courant.
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