NEWTON, Mass. -- Just a few miles outside of Boston, Newton's last farm is still thriving after more than 300 years.

NewsCenter 5's David Brown reported that the city of Newton bought the former Angino Farm, located on the corner of Winchester and Nahanton streets, for $2 million after residents persuaded the city to save the last working farm as a community resource instead of letting the land be scooped up by developers.

Farmer Greg Maslowe and volunteers were recently picking early crops at the Newton Community Farm that will go from field to dinner plate in a matter of hours.

"We are extremely popular at the farmers' market, at our farm stand, our (Community Supported Agriculture farms) all are in high demand. People like local produce. They like getting local, organic food," Maslowe said.

Newton residents like the local produce because they know where it comes from, they know who grows it and they know how it is grown. That is very different from produce bought at a store.

"You don't even know where it comes from, how longs it's been on the truck. But here, it's picked and tonight we'll have a delicious salad," farm volunteer Laurie Brownstein said.

The demand for locally produced food and vegetables increased dramatically because of certain food safety issues, including recent E. coli outbreaks.

"You can come here talk to me at the farmers' market; you can talk to me at the farm," Maslowe said. "That kind of real immediate relationship between farmer and the people eating the produce is really valuable."

Just as valuable as honoring the farming heritage that dates back to the mid-1600s is keeping an eye toward the future.

"Part of farming is constantly changing and moving on. We are really a mix of bringing new people in and new ideas and connecting with that agricultural past," said Becka Smillie, Newton Community Farm board member.