South Windsor's TicketNetwork Has a Farm, E-I-E-I-O...

Jim McKinney has been in the agriculture business for 25 years, and he’s never seen a project like the one he’s working on at TicketNetwork in South Windsor.

Indeed, McKinney, a farmer by trade, has planted apple trees, squash, cucumbers, nectarines, plums, tomatoes and corn on a half an acre of land on TicketNetwork’s campus.

The idea is to promote healthy living for the company’s employees by having the small farm’s yield available in the cafeteria for the lunch program, according to TicketNetwork founder and Chairman of the Board Don Vaccaro.

“It was always a dream of mine to have a sustainable form of food for our cafeteria,” Vaccaro said. "We have about 50 acres total, and there is plenty of room to expand.”

And there are plans for expansion, including the possibility of obtaining up to 40 chickens if the town allows it.

According to Town Planner Michele Lipe, TicketNetwork must first apply for a special permit because the company is located in an area of town zoned for industrial use. The application must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

So far, Vaccaro said that the town has welcomed everything else with open arms.

“The town of South Windsor has been very accommodating,” Vaccaro said. “We hope to have chickens and fresh eggs for our employees soon, if we get an OK from the town.”

McKinney, for his part, said that he’s excited about the new opportunity for the large garden.

“I love it,” he said.