Former Lisbon lettuce grower Springworks Farm sold for $1.1 million at auction
Springworks Farm, a once‑thriving aquaponics operation in Lisbon, was sold at auction on Friday for $1.1 million, far below the $6 million opening bid. The buyer was an anonymous private investor from the town, who said he had no immediate plans for the property.
The 168‑acre parcel includes two adjoining lots, 117,000 square feet of greenhouse space and 56,000 square feet of light‑industrial buildings, along with all associated farm equipment. The farm had been a major supplier of organic and conventionally grown lettuce to grocery chains and schools. From 2021 until earlier this year it was the exclusive supplier of baby romaine and Boston bibb lettuces to 184 Hannaford stores, and it also shipped products to Whole Foods, Roche Bros., Food City, Sysco of Northern New England and local K‑12 schools.
The auction, conducted by Tranzon Auction Properties, opened at $6 million. After a quiet first round, a single bidder offered $500,000. Auction principals later returned with the bidder increasing his offer to $1 million. Bidding then shifted to a back‑and‑forth between the original bidder and the anonymous investor, who ultimately secured the deal at $1.1 million.
“We’re happy to see that property go to a third‑party and there will be continued use here,” said Mike Carey, co‑owner of Tranzon Auction Properties. “The town of Lisbon has been wonderful to deal with through this whole scenario. They care about what happens in their community.”
Springworks Farm was founded by Trevor Kenkel, who purchased the land in June 2014 for $457,500. Kenkel, who was not reached for comment, had overseen the farm’s growth into Maine’s largest provider of lettuce to major retailers.
The sale marks the end of an era for a farm that helped put Lisbon on the map as a hub for sustainable agriculture. While the investor’s future plans remain unclear, the community will watch to see how the property’s legacy is carried forward.
