A FreshPoint Local Initiative. TM
For over 95 years our search for the finest quality produce has lead us to our own backyard. Here at FreshPoint we want to introduce you to the kind of folks we do business with. For decades we have supported local farms by helping local farmers and growers choose the items they bring to market, assisting them with food safety, and helping them build sustainable food systems. To help celebrate this, we have created our “Eat Southwest Fresh” local initiative. We are responding to our partners’ needs for more local and sustainable products by linking the farmer directly to you. To kick off our local Southwest produce season we want you to meet the farmers – see who they are, the products they grow, and their farming methods. Our farmers are hard working folks who cover the state. FreshPoint is committed to the resurgence of locally grown products. Our mission and integrity have helped shape the landscape of our local farming community. We are committed to supporting local produce. We encourage you to join us.
Table of Contents Texas Farms
1 - 29
1. B & G Garden 2. B & M Blueberry Farms 3. Bella Verdi Farms 4. Briar Patch Farms 5. Caddo Farms 6. Cooper Farms 7. Direct Advantage, LLC 8. Froberg’s Farms 9. Generation Farms 10. Genes Greens 11. Green Valley Foods 12. Hayter’s Mill Creek Farms 13. Jenschke Farms 14. John Newman Farm & Ranch 15. Lightsey Farms 16. Lucky Layla Farms 17. Mandujano Brothers Farms 18. Mill Creek Farms 19. Monterrey Mushrooms 20. Mozzarella Company 21. Patty’s Herbs 22. Rio Queen Citrus 23. Sides Pea Farm 24. Texas Organic Mushrooms 25. Village Farms 26. Wade Peddington & Sons Farm & Ranch 27. Winter Garden Produce 28. Wood Duck Farm 29. Young’s Greenhouses
Oklahoma Farms
30 - 33
31. Peach Crest Farm 32. Progressive Produce 33. Tumblson Family Farm
Availability Guide
34 - 35
Texas
TEXAS
B&G’s Garden Poolville, Texas
Established in 1996, Ben Walker and Greg Johnson are the owners of B&G’s Garden in Poolville, Texas, about 40 miles from Fort Worth. The farm is noted for its high quality Parker County produce. The two main crops that are available for wholesale are asparagus and blackberries. With a degree in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin University, Ben Walker has always enjoyed gardening and is a charter member of the Tarrant County Master Gardeners Association, a nonprofit organization that teaches the basics of gardening in the state of Texas. The organization is affiliated with Texas A&M University and the Texas Agrilife Extension. B&G grows two varieties of asparagus on their farm, Jersey Knight and Jersey Giant. Jersey Knight will grow tall and still keep a tight head in the warm spring weather. Jersey Giant has to be picked shorter for the heads to remain tight, but will out produce the Jersey Knight two to one. Contrary to popular belief, jumbo asparagus is just as tender as standard or pencil size. They also grow Kiowa blackberries. Largest of the southern varieties, Kiowa ripens beginning in midMay and can fruit till the end of June. Some of the other crops that B&G Garden produce are spring onions, red potatoes, peaches, tomatoes, squash, peas and lima beans, turnips and beets. Most of these vegetables are sold through the Cowtown Farmers Market. FreshPoint is proud to support Ben and Greg’s small farm operation and to be able to share their fine fruits and vegetables with our customers.
Farm Stats Location: Poolville, TX Acreage: 7 acres Crops: Asparagus Blackberries Tomatoes Peaches Red Potatoes
Peas Beans Turnips Beets
“I have always enjoyed being involved with agriculture and seeing things grow. It gives me great satisfaction to produce quality fruits and vegetables, knowing that my produce will be on someone’s table for dinner tonight.”
- Ben Walker
1
TEXAS
B&M Blueberry Farms Silsbee, Texas
B&M Blueberry Farms is located in Silsbee, Texas, just north of Beaumont. It was established in 1989 by Kelly McKeehan as a way to diversify and develop a new business enterprise for his family. It has grown over the years to 22 acres of mature blueberries. He and his wife, Anette, have developed a thriving on-farm marketing program for a wide variety of other fruits and vegetables they grow. Kelly is a refinery superintendent at the Valero Oil Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, but has always had a love of the land and growing things. He has won several awards for his soil conservation methods and is a firm believer in a minimalistic use of chemicals to ensure food safety and to protect the local environment. All of his blueberries are drip irrigated and most are handpicked to give the highest quality fruit with the longest shelf life. B&M Farms is definitely a family affair. His wife Anette, along with their children help run the small country store located on the farm. There is always homemade blueberry preserves and syrup cooking on the stovetop, along with fresh squeezed blueberry lemonade to cool the u-pickers down after a hard morning of picking blueberries. Visitors come from all over the Beaumont/Houston area to pick enough blueberries to get them through the winter. The health benefits of blueberries are well known. They have the highest concentration of antioxidants of all fruits and vegetables. People eat them for their anti-aging, cancer fighting, and cardiovascular enhancing properties. Pilots in WWII ate blueberries before going on missions because blueberries would improve their vision and help relieve stress on their eyes.
Farm Stats Location: Silsbee, TX Acreage: 22 acres Crops: Blueberries Peas Squash Okra Peppers
“We always wait for the sun to ripen our blueberries to their sweetest potential before they are harvested. Our blueberries are not only good, but they are also good for you.� - Kelly McKeehan
2
TEXAS
Bella Verdi Farms Dripping Springs, Texas
Bella Verdi Farms in Dripping Springs, Texas, specializes in the production of micro greens and culinary herbs in their 13,000 square foot state of the art greenhouse. Owner Darrell Joseph explains, “About 10 years ago I knew I needed a change and based on my history, the food business was a natural consideration for me. I started Bella Verdi Farms in 2003 as a way to be engaged in a field I had some passion for and a way of pursuing my entrepreneurial spirit. It kept me connected to the things and people I enjoyed even when I was not working - fine dining, chefs, farmers markets, and small local farmers.” Micro greens are very “early versions” of greens or herbs. They are intensely flavored and beautiful. They are typically harvested after 7-14 days. Though small in size, micros are packed with flavor and nutrients. Bella Verdi offers many varietals and mixes that are sought after by chefs for both the visual appeal and the culinary diversity they bring to the plate. One of the expanded product offerings for Bella Verdi is Bibb Lettuce. “We have always had Bibb, but we are increasing our production capacity for this item and are real excited about the prospects,” says Darrell. The backbone of their hydroponic growing system is “captured” natural rainwater that is filtered and sanitized. Nutrient levels are constantly monitored and adjusted to maintain the perfect balance for the plants. “Because we locally grow and package on site, we are able to deliver product within 48 hours of harvest,” explains Darrell. “Demanding chefs know they can always depend on Bella Verdi Farms to deliver the highest quality herbs and greens.”
Farm Stats Location: Dripping Springs, TX Greenhouses: 13,000 Sq Ft Crops: Micro Greens Culinary Herbs Bibb Lettuce
“I believe dramatic changes need to happen in food production in the coming years to be able to adequately feed the world population. However I also believe it must be done in a way that doesn’t contradict certain standards.”
- Darrell Joseph
3
TEXAS
Briar Patch Farms Deberry, Texas
Briar Patch Farms is owned and operated by Jimmy Fruge who has farmed blackberries for 10 years. His 40 acre farm is located in the sandy soils of the Sabine River bottoms. Jimmy has 24 acres of the Ouachita blackberries, chosen because of its uniform large size, sweetness and firmness. Jimmy graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with degrees in English and Biology. After teaching for several years, he worked in the lumber industry as a timber buyer. In 2000 he planted his first field of blackberries on a farm he owned near DeBerry and had his first harvest in 2001. “The Ouachita blackberry really seems to like the soils and climate here in the Sabine River bottoms,” explains Fruge, “They have always been a good producer of large, sweet fruit.” Jimmy utilizes good water and soil conservation practices in his operation. He uses drip irrigation with water sourced from wells and he also uses these drip lines to apply water soluble fertilizer, a process called Fertigation. Jimmy practices a minimalistic approach in the use of chemicals and uses mechanical tillage methods under his blackberries for weed control. A firm believer in the benefits of rapid post-harvest cooling of fruit to prolong shelf life, Jimmy uses a state of the art cooling tunnel which has the ability to pull the temperature of the incoming fruit from 8590 F. to below 35 F. in 45 minutes. This can double the shelf life of the fruit and firm up the berries for shipment. All of the fruit at Briar Patch Farms is handpicked in clamshells and regularly loaded on carts and taken to the packing shed where it is precooled before shipment. Jimmy Fruge has a real passion for growing fruits and vegetables. He has a small planting of peaches and plums and a variety of vegetables which he sells locally.
Farm Stats Location: Deberry, TX Acreage: 40 acres Crops: Blackberries Peaches Plums
“We take great pride in producing blackberries here in Texas. The consumer cannot buy a fresher, sweeter, higher quality blackberry than what we can grow right here in our own back yard. Buy American-buy Texas!”
- Jimmy Fruge
4
TEXAS
Caddo Farms Athens, Texas
Caddo Farms is located in Edom, Texas close to the East Texas town of Athens. It was established in 1986 by Dr. Mark Huff who purchased the farm because of his love of blueberries. The farm already had a 12 acre blueberry patch which was only a couple years old at the time. In 1989, they planted 15 more acres of blueberries along with 9 acres of Apache variety blackberries. Dr. Huff was fortunate to find an experienced farm manager by the name of Geraldo Robledo, who had worked for several years growing and planting many of the first blueberry fields to be planted in Texas. Caddo Farm’s relationship with FreshPoint goes back to the American Produce days and FreshPoint is proud to call Caddo Farms one of its most reliable small growers. Unfortunately Dr. Huff passed away in 2011, but his son, Mark Huff III, has chosen to retain the property and the berry legacy now continues. All the blueberries make use of a drip irrigation system that is fed by a spring fed lake. Geraldo has a minimalistic use of chemicals philosophy for his farm. He uses mechanical soil tillage under the plants to control weeds. Caddo Farms has several varieties of blueberries which allows Geraldo to stretch out his harvest and to minimize risk associated with late frost in the spring. The varieties are Climax, Premier, Brightwell, Tiffblue and Alapaha. Most of the blueberries and all the blackberries are handpicked and placed in clamshell containers for shipment to market. Geraldo stays on top of the harvest to ensure the berries are picked at their peak sweetness and flavor. “We try to stay on a 5-7 day rotation on all our varieties to keep up with the ripening process. This keeps the berries left on the plants from getting soft and the berries will have a nice bloom people associate with quality,” explains Geraldo.
Farm Stats Location: Athens, TX Acreage: 53 acres Crops: Blueberries Blackberries
“Caddo Farms has been growing blueberries and blackberries for FreshPoint since 1988. They have allowed us to grow with them and their customer base. It has truly been a win/win situation.” - Geraldo Robledo
5
TEXAS
Cooper Farms Fairfield, Texas
Tim Cooper planted his first peach orchard in 1978 outside of Fairfield, Texas, while still a student at Texas A&M. He and his wife Kathy have a passion for growing things and since their union in 1983 they have been providing Texans with some of the best tree-ripened peaches available anywhere in the country. The Coopers have perfected the art of marketing their peaches and other crops through well placed “road side stands” up and down the I-45 Corridor. Their Cooper Farms Country Store located in Fairfield is a very popular stop at Exit #198. It is also yearround featuring homegrown peaches June through September and green house tomatoes during the winter months. Tim learned about growing peaches by working on a local peach farm owned by Ralph Alexander. Mr. Alexander took Tim under his wing while Tim was still in high school and taught him what he knew about growing peaches. Tim continued to work on this same peach orchard throughout his college years at Texas A&M. In 1989 following a late spring freeze that destroyed that year’s peach crop, the Coopers built green houses to grow other cash crops. This has proven to be a good diversification allowing them to grow fruits and vegetables in the winter months when most other crops are dormant. Tim’s state of the art farming methods allow them to bring newly planted peach acres into production a full year earlier than using conventional farming methods. Drip irrigation, minimal use of pesticides, wind machines, and Fertigation are just some of the conservation methods that allow Cooper Farms to consistently bring lush, tree-ripened peaches to market at reasonable prices. Tim has won many state-wide awards for his innovative farming methods, soil conservation practices and aggressive marketing strategies.
Farm Stats Location: Fairfield, TX Acreage: 200 acres Crops: Peaches White Peaches Tomatoes Plums Blackberries Figs
“It is only through our faith in God and the loyalty of our friends and customers that Cooper Farms has been able to grow to what we are today.” - Kathy Cooper
6
TEXAS
Direct Advantage Farms Pearsall, Texas
Jeffrey Grissom and Joe Klare own and operate the 3,000 acre Direct Advantage Farms as a partnership. The farm is a family operation, with Jeffrey being second generation to farm the place about 10 miles west of Pearsall. Their main crops are leaf lettuces and cabbage. Joe Klare, the marketing partner of DA Texas, explains, “The goal behind regional farming is to reduce the energy footprint involved with production of certain crops. You do this by selecting macro climates within a state or region where specific cultivar of certain crops are compatible with heat unit models, weather patterns, local infrastructure.” It just so happens that the area just south of San Antonio is a great place to grow lettuce from November through March. By cutting three days off the shipping time from the West Coast, the farm is able to bring lettuce to market three days fresher and cheaper because of savings on freight. This is in line with their company goal of reducing the expense and energy footprint involved with the production of fruits and vegetables. They provide custom solutions to their customers by tailoring farming, harvesting, and packaging procedures to specific customers. Direct Advantage strives to always provide the highest level of food safety and product traceability and the freshest product possible by harvesting for need, not inventory. They compel a hyper-responsive environment and innovate needed value solutions. Cultivars are selected to optimize areas, and they aggressively manage the crops, paying attention to details. Multiple geographic ship points mitigate risk. Providing different locations sustains a growing window outside traditional harvest schedules. DA Farms is always looking for more locations to expand their customer base and provide the highest quality product.
Farm Stats Location: Pearsall, TX Acreage: 3,000 acres Crops: Romaine Red & Green Leaf Iceberg Red & Green Cabbage
“At Direct Advantage, we have a vision to continuously add value for our customers, communities, and team members by delivering the highest quality and freshest produce.” - Joe Klare
7
TEXAS
Froberg’s Farms Alvin, Texas
Froberg’s Farms, located in Alvin, Texas has been in the produce business since 1936. Specializing in strawberries, the farm now grows 30 different fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Strawberry picking begins in early March and lasts till midMay. Alfred Froberg, a third generation Froberg, and his wife Nina now operate the family farm just south of Houston. For decades people have been coming to Froberg’s to pick fresh strawberries and to enjoy Froberg’s Farms country store, which sells a variety of homegrown produce items year round. Homemade strawberry fried pies and other bakery goods are made fresh by Nina and staff daily. The Froberg family came to the Alvin area in the 1920’s and in 1936 Fred and Katie Froberg purchased 21 acres that is the nucleus of Froberg’s Farm today. Since then it has been passed down through the years and today Alfred and Nina carry on the Froberg farming tradition. Their children also can be seen on the weekends showing customers around the farm and helping in the store. The Frobergs produce a variety of other fruits and vegetables for farm sales to the public. Some of these are fresh greens, tomatoes, onions, peas, beans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. You will be able to find Froberg strawberries in local grocery stores and in restaurants around the state during the season (March-May). These are usually the first local strawberries available anywhere in Texas. FreshPoint takes pride in the fact that it can help promote these locally grown specialties as they become available.
Farm Stats Location: Alvin, TX Acreage: 21 acres Crops: Strawberries Collard Greens Mustard Greens Onions
Peas Beans Potatoes Blackberries Strawberries
“My grandfather tended this land, my father took care of this land, I currently farm this place and now my son is helping to carry on the traditions. We do things the very same way we always have.” - Alfred Froberg, Jr.
8
TEXAS
Generation Farms Rice, Texas
Ethan Milkes, a native New Yorker, graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1980 with a business degree. Upon moving to Texas after graduation, the entrepreneurial “bug” hit him. His love of good food and cooking enticed him to buy a struggling hydroponics operation in 1989 called Golden Circle Farms that grew tomatoes, lettuce, and spinach. Opportunities arose, and the operation switched their focus, name (Generation Farms), marketing, and production practices into fresh, culinary, organic herbs and edible flowers. The operation grew by leaps and bounds, and is currently farming on 50 acres with over 300,000 square feet of greenhouses, all certified organic by the Texas Department of Agriculture/USDA, with land in Rice and Waxahachie Texas. “All of our herbs and edible flowers are harvested, cooled, and packed by hand, under lights run by portable generators, by a crew that starts at 3 in the morning,” explains Ethan. All the harvesting must be completed very early before the Texas sun gets too hot. Watering and fertilizing are done through drip irrigation to conserve natural resources and to be a good steward of the land. Natural, organic pesticides are used when needed to control grasshoppers, aphids, and other insects. No herbicides are used on the herbs and all weeds are pulled by hand. Although the operation has grown tremendously over the years, Ethan’s original mission remains the same as when he started: “providing the best, freshest, locally grown Texas herbs and edible flowers to all our customers!”
Farm Stats Location: Rice, TX Acreage: 50 acres Greenhouses: 300,000 Sq Ft Crops: Organic Fresh Herbs Edible Flowers
“We take pride in our down-home Texas service, the quality and variety of the products we grow, and the fact that we are 100% organic!” - Ethan Milkes
9
TEXAS
Genes Greens Keller, Texas
Geno Stilles comes from a long line of pioneers in the food industry. Geno’s family has been in the grocery business in California since the 1920’s. His family still operates the Nuggett Markets. After selling his stock to his younger brothers, Geno pursued a degree in Viticulture and Wine Technology, and planted a vineyard in Sonoma, California which produced ultra-premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Geno sold Stille Vineyards in 2004 and shortly thereafter moved his family to Texas to build a greenhouse business specializing in micro greens. “Our guiding principle, Amazing Grace, is much more than a song because we have truly been blessed,” proclaims Geno. Genes Greens has been growing Certified Organic Micro-Greens in Texas for over seven years. ”It’s only through the soil that you can achieve the astonishing flavors that the chefs require! God grows them, the soil adds its many wonders, and we simply water,” claims Geno, “Like humans, when plants are healthy, they will ward off diseases and live longer. We guarantee a 10-day shelf life from the date of packaging.” That could be as much as three times longer than hydroponic plants. They offer year round Micro-Arugula, Broccoli, Radish, Red Mustard, Pak Choi, Kohlrabi, Red Cabbage, as well as the famous Genes Green’s Rainbow Mix, which is packed in 4 or 8 oz. containers. Cilantro, Bulls Blood and Wasabi are also packed separately, and from March-September, Green Basil is offered. “This year, we are working on a large project to bring to you, our chefs, organically grown tomatoes from September through May. Just like the ones you grow in your own garden, with that great tomato taste!”
Farm Stats Location: Keller, TX Greenhouse: 7,000 Sq Ft. Crops: Micro Greens Green House Tomatoes* (*coming soon!)
“The motto of our company: We are the paint, you are the artist and your restaurant is the canvas. Now, go create!” - Geno Stilles
10
TEXAS
Green Valley Food Dallas, Texas
Green Valley Food Corp. was founded in Dallas, Texas and is a family owned operation that continues to be a leader in the sprout industry. Allison Chang and her husband began the company on the founding principles of introducing sprouts as a healthy way of life for all. The business philosophy is simple: give a high level of service, provide quality products to all customers and consumers, exceed the high levels of food safety, and be in the forefront of the industry. Allison is a first generation immigrant from China who obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration. In 1995 she began her journey in the sprout industry, alongside her husband. She has become well-known nationally in the sprouting industry as a master sprouter and continues to push the envelope. The best known retail chains and foodservice companies in the nation know her and her products to be superior. Allison also believes that a company should not only have superior products, but exceed expectations with a high level of customer service. These founding principles and her drive to be the best have made Green Valley a leader in the industry. Allison assures the safety of her Green Valley products with an FDA approval. The company’s practices are certified by SQF 2000 Code Level 2, an accredited HACCP based Food Safety Plan, as well as passing frequent and regular inspections by the FDA, along with Military and Steritech inspections. There is also a microbiological test program in place which includes “hold and release” for all of their sprouts. Green Valley offers an array of sprouts that have been grown with these high standards to assure the customer safety and quality.
Farm Stats Location: Dallas, TX Production Rooms: 60,000 Sq Ft Crops: Bean Sprouts Broccoli Sprouts Zesty Sprouts Daikon Sprouts Snow Pea
Shoots Black-Eyed Peas Wheatgrass Tofu
“Green Valley Food Corporation was founded on the principles that every individual can and should live a healthy lifestyle. By offering natural, Kosher, and organic products to the consumer we hope to live that goal.” - Allison Chang
11
TEXAS
Hayter’s Mill Creek Farms Nacogdoches, Texas
Hayter’s Mill Creek Farm is a 68 acre blueberry farm located in the piney woods of East Texas close to Nacogdoches, Texas. It is nestled within a 9,000 acre pine timberland tract owned by the Hayter Trust. For six generations the Hayter family has been involved in agribusiness in the Nacogdoches area. Established in 1988, the first 54 acres were planted on some of the deep sandy soils that cover one third of the farm, with 14 more acres added in 2003. These soils are well suited for blueberries when watered daily using drip irrigation with the clear spring water that flows from the streams adjacent to the field. As one of the larger blueberry fields in Texas, Hayter’s Mill Creek Farm’s blueberry field has contributed to making Nacogdoches County recognized as the blueberry center of the state. Annual production averages 400,000 lbs. The berries are sold commercially and at the annual Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches. This one day event brings over 20,000 people to Nacogdoches in search of everything blueberry. Farm manager, Clay Sunda, has spent his whole life on the farm started by his father. Clay took over operations when his dad retired and has continued to make blueberries his top priority. Growing up on the farm, he has been involved in the business since early childhood. In charge of Marketing and Food Safety, Mary Boutwell strives to make sure the berries are picked and packed with quality as the first objective. She has seen dramatic changes in the requirements of food safety regulations. Processes haven’t changed all that much but making sure everything is documented has been the biggest challenge.
Farm Stats Location: Nacogdoches, TX Acreage: 68 acres Crops: Blueberries
“We take pride in sharing a quality Texas grown blueberry with people from all over the state. Come visit us at the Texas Blueberry Festival !” - Clay Sunda, Manager
12
TEXAS
Jenschke Farms Fredericksburg, Texas
In Luckenbach, Texas just down the road from the music hall “Waylon, Willie and the Boys” made famous is the gateway to another long-standing tradition, Jenschke Farms. The farm has been owned by the Jenschke family since 1948 when it was originally purchased by Eugene and Ruby Jenschke. The farm is currently maintained and operated by Billy Jenschke and his son Craig. The Jenschkes own a fruit and vegetable stand in Kerrville that is operational seven months out of the year. Craig now manages the farm and handles the summer harvest operation. A wide variety of produce is grown on the farm including squash, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers to name a few. They strive to be proactive in water conservation, and recently installed a state of the art electronically controlled drip irrigation system, which maintains the soil moisture content. Minimalistic use of pesticides is good for the environment and ensures a safe, healthy product for their customers. Jenschke Farms uses safe handling practices when packing and shipping produce and is committed to delivering you the best product from their farm to your table. FreshPoint is proud to be a supporter of this and other small local farming operations. It helps the local economy, reduces the energy footprint, and allows produce items to be delivered to the consumer days fresher than products coming from the coasts.
Farm Stats Location: Fredericksburg, TX Acreage: 150 acres Crops: Squash Eggplant Tomatoes Peppers Onions
“We provide our customers with the highest quality produce and the best possible service by always striving to pick one day, and deliver the next.” - Craig Jenschke
13
TEXAS
John Newman Farm & Ranch Frankston, Texas
John & Dottie Newman have been growing vegetables for the specialty produce market for 35 years. Their relationship with FreshPoint goes back to 1977, when the company was known as American Produce. John was born and raised on a farm and ranch in Central Texas, and his family’s history in farming and ranching goes back over 150 years. Currently the Newmans grow several special crops including Japanese eggplant, habanero peppers, shishito peppers, red fresno peppers, and sweet cherry peppers. Over the years, their farming operation has tried to cater to the ever changing trends, tastes and demands of chefs in the Dallas area. Newman Farm and Ranch is located on 500 acres in Henderson Country, 100 miles east of Dallas, allowing the fresh produce to be delivered to the metroplex in 24 hours or less. Most products are delivered to the FreshPoint warehouse the same day they are picked. John has a natural love for the land which is evident because of his use of sound soil conservation practices. When the crops are harvested in the fall, there are cover crops planted to hold the soil in place and to add organic material back into the soil. His use of all natural fertilizers and his minimalistic use of chemicals are good agricultural practices that are sustainable. He also practices good water conservation by using drip irrigation on all his crops. The ranch also has a wildlife and wildfowl operation and furnishes swans and other waterfowl to zoos, parks, and private parties, both nationally and internationally. Registered Simmental cattle with top blood lines are also raised on the ranch.
Farm Stats Location: Frankston, TX Acreage: 5 acres Crops: Habanero Peppers Japanese Eggplant Red Fresno Peppers Shishito Peppers Sweet Cherry Peppers
“My love of growing crops and my fascination with animals are the reasons I get up everyday. Every season has its own challenges and opportunities.� - John Newman
14
TEXAS
Lightsey Farms Mexia, Texas
Lightsey Farms has been in continuous operation since the early 1920’s close to the small Texas town of Mexia. It was established by Erie Elijah Lightsey and left to his son Erie Ellice Lightsey who passed away in 2009. His daughters, Mary Lightsey and Lisa Lightsey Hadden are currently managing the operation. Lisa and Mary were both school teachers, who changed careers from teaching to growing fruits and vegetables full time. Lightsey Farms is well known throughout the state of Texas for some of the sweetest peaches, berries, figs and persimmons found anywhere. Their fruits and vegetables are sold throughout the state of Texas at farmers markets, grocery stores and restaurants. Lightsey Farms is most famous for its mouthwatering peaches, which can be bought at their fruit stand close to their farm starting in mid-May. Each year Lightsey Farms plants a few fruit trees of the newer varieties to replace old wood in the orchards. Blackberries are harvested between mid-May and July from the 15 acre berry patch. Peas are a big favorite of many customers and are harvested from June to August. In total Lightsey Farms produces over 300 acres of fresh fruits and vegetables. Their sandy soil is perfect for its production of fruits and vegetables. Visitors come from miles around to get to the fruit stand located 3 ½ miles south east of Mexia on FM 1365.
Farm Stats Location: Mexia, TX Acreage: 300 acres Crops: Peaches Blackberries Peas Watermelons
Plums Onions Pears Beans
“The success of our farm is a combination of hard work, good soil and good management. This is evidenced by the size, taste and overall quality of our fruits and vegetables.” - Lisa Lightsey Hadden
15
TEXAS
Lucky Layla Farms Plano, Texas
As a third generation dairyman, Todd Moore, owner of Lavon Farms, grew up on his family’s Texas farm where raising cattle that yield championship milk was second nature. Growing up just outside of Dallas, Todd was driving his family dairy truck delivering milk to the local creameries before his feet could technically even reach the pedal. As a child he dreamt of owning his own herd of Guernsey and Jersey cows, a dream that came to fruition in 1992 at his family’s Planobased dairy. Todd realized he needed to take his business one step further. The result was a migration of the operations to a new dairy farm, Springville Farms in Emory, Texas, which now supplies all of the milk to his dairy brand, Lucky Layla Farms. His goal was to grow his farm to produce a quality natural niche marketable product. In 2004, Todd and his wife, Deanna, established Lucky Layla Farms, where today they produce some of the country’s finest drinkable yogurts, caramel, golden butter and yogurt cheese. Slow Food, a movement towards a more discerning and health conscious consumer who values local farmers and products, is Todd’s continual inspiration for his dairy products. His Lucky Layla line is all-natural and handcrafted using milk from his own rBGH-free cows. Every product is made with thoughtful care, with special attention to the quality over quantity. The Springville Farms residents (the Guernsey and Jersey cows) could quite possibly be the happiest cows in Texas, if not the nation. Todd designed the farm to allow the cows to roam free, bask in the sun and graze on acres upon acres of lush grass, a difference that sets the Springville dairy apart from its competitors.
Farm Stats Location: Plano, TX Acreage: 300 acres Crops: Drinkable Yogurt Mexican Cheese Caramel Golden Butter Yogurt Cheese
“The high quality milk we get from only milking Guernsey and Jersey cows allows us to make a superior, yet simple line of products designed to promote healthy lifestyles, while tasting clean and delicious.” - Todd Moore
16
TEXAS
Coyanosa, Texas Mandujano Brothers Farms, located in Coyanosa, Texas is most famous for their sweet Pecos Cantaloupes. Beto Mandujano, marketing manager for the four brother partnership, says “Watermelons and cantaloupes grow especially sweet in Pecos County because of the deep sandy-loam soils and arid climate.” Beto and his brothers raise approximately 200 acres of watermelons, 200 acres of cantaloupe, 230 acres of onions and 150 acres of pumpkins and fall squash. Beto, along with his brothers, attended San Angelo State University in nearby San Angelo. After their college years each of the brothers chose to come back to the family farm which was bought by their father in the 1970’s after working on the land for many years. Their father still operates the family fruit stand, on the highway close to their home. Along with their vegetable operation the Mandujano Brothers also farm 2,000 acres of cotton and about 1,000 acres of alfalfa hay. All crops in the Pecos area must be irrigated and the most efficient method of watering vegetable crops is drip irrigation. This is in line with their other soil conservation measures such as minimum tillage or no-till planting methods and a minimalistic use of pesticides which helps protect the environment. Beto and his brothers have invested in new, efficient harvesting equipment to allow them to harvest on a regular basis at the lowest possible labor cost. They also try to hedge their cost by pre-ordering their largest input costs such as electricity, fuel and fertilizer. Two years ago they added a large cold room to pre-cool each box or bin of melons before they are shipped, thus adding days to the shelf life.
Farm Stats Location: Coyanosa, TX Acreage: 4,000 acres Crops: Pecos Cantaloupe Watermelons Onions Peppers Pumpkins Fall Squash
“I attribute our success to our Pecos sandy soil, available water, good management tools, which have been developed over the years, and good teamwork between my brothers and me.” - Beto Mandujano
17
TEXAS
Mill Creek Farms Canton, Texas
Mill Creek Farms, owned and operated by Roger Heddin, Sr., is located close to Canton, Texas about 60 miles east of Dallas. Canton is famous for its First Monday Trade Days, and draws thousands of people from all parts of the state. Roger, with help from three of his sons, farms 150 acres of mixed vegetables. They grow 10 different varieties of tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini squash, slicer cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, sweet potatoes, sweet onions and a few greens. Roger has been selling East Texas produce to FreshPoint for more than 30 years beginning before 1980. “I really appreciate the reliability and respect they have shown me over the years,” says Roger, “Due to the flexibility of FreshPoint’s receiving hours, we can go from harvesting, packing, and the delivery of the produce to the warehouse within hours.” With the three sons present this is truly a family affair. Josh, the oldest of the three is in charge of maintaining all farming equipment, vehicles and all the production machinery inside and outside the packing shed. He also delivers produce daily during harvest season to Dallas and the surrounding area. JJ, the youngest, takes care of the greenhouses and sells on the weekend. He also helps in the field and packing shed along with keeping track of what is loaded on the trucks for deliveries. Jeremy is in charge of new construction, quality control and keeping the packing facility in order. He also sells on weekends. Because of their proximity to the Dallas Metroplex area, farm land is becoming extremely scarce. With only 150 acres to farm, they have to make every acre count and they have to take care of every acre. “I practice a sustainable type of crop rotation and chemical use is very limited. We use a drip irrigation system in order to conserve water and allow for cover crops to prevent soil erosion,” explains Roger.
Farm Stats Location: Canton, TX Acreage: 1,100 acres Crops: Tomatoes Yellow Squash Zucchini Squash Cucumbers Sweet Potatoes Onions Greens
“The freshness, quality, and safety of my harvested crops are, and always will be, my number one priority.” - Roger Heddin
18
TEXAS
Monterey Mushrooms Madisonville, Texas
Monterey Mushrooms started as a single farm operation in the Watsonville, California area in 1971. Through application, vision and teamwork, Monterey has grown to its present position of leadership within the mushroom industry. Monterey’s Madisonville, Texas farm, which began harvesting in 1976 reflects this, employing about 580 people and harvesting 97,000 square feet of mushrooms weekly. Crops or varieties of mushrooms produced annually at Madisonville include 28 million pounds of White mushrooms, 5 million pounds of Brown/Baby Bella or Crimini mushrooms and 45,000 pounds of Oyster mushrooms. Monterey’s Madisonville farm employs sustainable growing practices dedicated to the highest standards for growing, harvesting, and packaging mushrooms to ensure their customers receive fresh and wholesome mushroom products. Madisonville is one of nine Monterey Mushrooms growing operations located across the country. Their fleet of trucks and refrigerated trailers service all of Texas and ships east to New Orleans, Louisiana, west to Phoenix, Arizona, and north to Denver, Colorado. Madisonville recently joined with the other Monterey operations - introducing the totally new, unique and sustainable fiber packaging and labeling for fresh mushrooms. This new “green” packaging replaces the polystyrene foam packaging used in the industry for decades. As a result of this packaging introduction, Monterey Mushrooms received the Produce Marketing Association’s Packaging Impact Award for 2012.
Farm Stats Location: Madisonville, TX Production Rooms: 97,000 Sq Ft Crops: White Mushrooms Portabella Baby Bellas Oyster Crimini
“Madisonville is proud to be a part of the Monterey Mushroom family of growing operations. In addition to being dedicated to producing the finest quality mushrooms for our regional customers, we adhere to all environmentally-friendly growing methods”
- David Nesselrode
19
TEXAS
The Mozzarella Company Dallas, Texas
Paula Lambert loved food and she loved Italy. Lambert thought about ways she could combine her two passions to create something that Dallas lacked. In 1981 she and her husband traveled to Italy (where Lambert had lived before marrying) to visit friends. “The first thing we ate there was fresh mozzarella. It was perfect,” she remembers. She convinced the chef at a nearby cheese factory to let her observe their cheese-making process. Lambert’s enthusiasm and charm also got her in with the director of an Italian cheese school, who arranged for one of his professors to travel to Dallas and help Lambert get started. In 1982, fresh mozzarella was a bit ahead of its time in Dallas. Realizing that Dallas didn’t know it would love fresh mozzarella as much as she did, Lambert shifted her focus from gourmet shops to restaurants. Some young chefs took notice and began cooking with her mozzarella and word spread. Over the years, Lambert has gained business across the country. Many of those young chefs are now top chefs at hotels, restaurants, and chains – and they are still fans of the Mozzarella Company cheeses. And after many business trips to Italy, they no longer stick to just mozzarella and ricotta; Lambert and her cheese-makers now produce 30 different cheeses, all with a staff of 18, out of her original small factory and store in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood. Some now consider the Mozzarella Company a Dallas institution, but to Paula Lambert she’s still working to make it. “We have a wonderful reputation,” she says, but stresses the need to focus on quality. “You’re only as good as your cheese.”
Farm Stats Location: Dallas, TX Production Rooms: 4,000 SQ Ft Crops: Mozzarella Cheese 30 Specialty Cheeses
“Owning a business is always harder and takes more time than you anticipate. Be persistant, positive and have a good time.” - Paula Lambert
20
TEXAS
Patty’s Herbs Pearsall, Texas
Since 1981, Patty’s Herbs has been providing fresh herbs and edible flowers to the state of Texas. Patty’s Herbs founder, Patty Johnson, saw a need for fresh cut culinary herbs in Texas and soon turned a hobby into a business. As restaurants, distributors and retail grocers became aware of the company’s superior product quality and service, Patty’s Herbs soon became known as a reliable, year round source for fresh herbs. In 1994, Patty’s son, Charles, joined the company as its president, after spending fifteen years in the banking industry. Charles grew up around agriculture, working on his dad’s cotton farm between Pearsall and Uvalde, as well as working for other farmers in the Pearsall area. Charles attended Texas A & M in College Station, where he earned a B.S. in Agronomy in 1978. He continued his studies at A & M, earning an M.B.A. in finance in 1981. When Charles joined Patty’s Herbs in 1994, the company employed eight workers and packed its product in a small, 1,000 square foot facility. Today the company employs 35 people year round, growing and distributing 18 varieties of fresh herbs and edible flowers throughout Texas. The company operates out of a refrigerated packing facility that is considerably larger than the one used when Charles joined the company, packing seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. Patty’s Herbs is a year round grower, with nearly 30 acres in production.
Farm Stats Location: Pearsall, TX Acreage: 30 acres Crops: Fresh Herbs Edible Flowers
All crops are irrigated using drip irrigation and grown under plastic mulch, to conserve precious ground moisture. Patty’s Herbs is a certified organic shipper/ distributor by the Texas Department of Agriculture, and as such, ships both conventionally grown and organically grown herbs.
“I feel like the success of our company has to do with responding to customer demands for unique products, superior quality and unparalleled service.” - Charles Johnson
21
TEXAS
Rio Queen Citrus Mission, Texas
Rio Queen Citrus, Inc. has evolved incredibly over the last 40 years. This third generation, familyowned business has grown into one of the leading shippers of citrus and onions in South Texas. Over the years, the company has expanded its initial operation from a 20 acre citrus grove in Mission, Texas to the present day management of over 5,000 acres of citrus and 1,400 acres of onions across the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Rio Queen Citrus’ vision for growth has helped the business evolve to include the sale of onions, honeydew, tomatoes, and more. Citrus, mainly Texas Rio Star Grapefruit, is the core of their business. They are the largest grower in Texas. They know that Texas grows the best tasting grapefruit available. Rio Queen Citrus stands apart from the rest of the growers/shippers because they take pride in producing the very best quality grapefruits available. Their onion business is quickly catching up to grapefruit in terms of volume. Rio Queen Citrus has been in the onion business for over 10 years and has grown to be the largest onion grower and shipper in Texas. Their attitude, with regards to stewardship to the land and environment, is based on the belief that they have an obligation to their future generations to care for and improve the lands they depend on to grow crops. Rio Queen practices Integrated Pest Management in all its farming operations. IPM relies on beneficial insects along with enhanced field scouting to minimize the use of agricultural chemicals. They are involved in industry organizations and always try to stay on top of, if not ahead of, any new innovations or initiatives. They embrace the latest techniques and technology available in agriculture, and take seriously their responsibility to provide a unique and healthy product.
Farm Stats Location: Mission, TX Acreage: 6,400 acres Crops: Grapefruit Texas Onions Honeydew Tomatoes
“Although we have grown into a large company, we are a family. We treat our employees as such and as a result, we have a great staff and a 95% return rate of our seasonal workers.” - Ken Martin
22
TEXAS
Sides Pea Farm Canton, Texas
Sides Pea Farm began in 1957 when Winford and Virginia Sides bought 70 acres just south of Canton and began farming. When Winford began farming he tried growing many varieties of fruits and vegetables: squash, tomatoes, potatoes, okra, watermelons, cantaloupes, peas, and beans. Winford soon realized he was much better at raising peas and beans than anything else, so he decided to focus strictly on peas and beans and soon became the largest grower of fresh market peas in the state of Texas. Pho
to
by Mi
nd yR le iff ,w
Winford did all the farming and Virginia did the selling. She sold them at the farm and at surrounding farmers markets. Since 1957, Sides Pea Farm has grown larger every year and now has several hundred acres of peas. You can find Sides Pea Farm fresh peas at numerous fruit stands, markets, and stores all across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Over the years, the farm and its marketing have changed. The Sides no longer sell at the Dallas market. In fact, most of their previous Dallas customers now come visit them at their local market.
And while customer demands have changed throughout the year, the farm has kept a steady stream of business. “My grandson is with me in the business and my husband has retired,” she said. “He was the one that raised all the peas. I mean, back when he was farming, we raised many a pea.” Sides Farms delivers to customers three times a week. They go to Dallas, Huntsville, Houston, Hempstead, Bryan, Austin, San Antonio and back three times a week. Virginia hopes that eventually her grandson will pick up where she leaves off, and continue the family tradition of growing the “perfect pea.” Fresh Point is proud to support Sides Pea Farm and wish them another 50 years of success.
w
w .c
ou
nt
ry
wo
rld
ne
ws
.com
Farm Stats Location: Canton, TX Acreage: 500 acres Crops: Peas Okra Beans
“I tell people our peas are perfect. We do a good job cleaning the peas and they are always perfect. That is the only reason my business is the way it is. I wouldn’t let anything go out that door that I wouldn’t buy myself.”
- Virginia Sides
23
TEXAS
Texas Organic Mushrooms Denison, Texas
Texas Organic Shiitakes are considered the gold standard of Shiitake mushrooms by some of the most discriminating chefs in Texas. “The extra care we take to grow our Shiitakes without chemicals results in superior flavor, aroma and texture. They don’t fall apart when cooked,” explains Elizabeth McCarthy, “Our mushrooms are organically grown and harvested daily, year-round, to provide our customers the freshest shiitakes they can buy anywhere.” Growing their mushrooms indoors allows for total control of the production process. The strain of Shiitake they grow is known for its meaty cap. They have the appearance and the flavor of wild mushrooms without the risk. Responding to requests from chefs, TOM now offers its foodservice customers trimmed, ready to use caps and baby caps, which greatly reduce prep labor and eliminates waste. The fact that they are grown organically without the use of pesticides, growth stimulants, preservatives or animal byproducts reassures chefs that they are serving the best possible product to their customers. TOM sells only mushrooms they grow themselves, no repacking of shiitakes from other growers, states or other countries. They are the only Shiitake grower in the State of Texas and are certified organic by the Texas Dept. of Agriculture using the strict USDA organic standards. Texas Organic Shiitakes are available in retail packs for grocery stores in 3.5 oz. clamshells made from recycled water bottles, and in 5# bulk boxes.
Farm Stats Location: Denison, TX Production Rooms: 22,000 Sq Ft Crops: Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are loaded with nutrients, vitamins and essential amino acids and are great for special diets and anyone who is health conscious.
“Our mushrooms are organically grown, produced locally, harvested daily, year round to provide our customers with the freshest Shiitakes they can buy anywhere.” - Elizabeth McCarthy
24
TEXAS
Village Farms Monahans, Texas
Arie Van der Giessen is the Regional Facility Manager for Village Farms’ newest greenhouse in Monahans, Texas. With almost 30 years experience as a world class greenhouse grower, Arie was actually raised among a family of growers. Sprouting from three generations of growers, Arie was born in the Westland region of Holland also known as the “Glass City.” His first memories as a child are happy ones; growing tomatoes and lettuce under his dad’s watchful eye in their family greenhouse. Fostering a keen interest in technology, Arie attended university pursuing dual degrees in technology and agriculture. With his first love being agriculture, Arie went to work in the greenhouse after college and was on the forefront of technology more than 20 years ago when Holland took the swift turn toward hydroponics. Hydroponics’ ability to reduce costs while increasing production intrigued Arie enough to open his own operation and run it for close to 5 years. After this time Arie came to the USA where he has worked for Village Farms for nearly 11 years. Arie appreciates helping Village Farms achieve its mission of growing great quality produce while maintaining the highest food safety standards using cutting edge technology and environmentally friendly growing methods.
Farm Stats
Arie happily acknowledges that above all else he resonates with the human element of his chosen life work. “Village Farms feels like family,” Arie says. But as Arie tells it, on a day to day basis, “the plants are the boss.” Arie is thrilled to be heading up Village Farms Monahans, “The greatest greenhouse in the world,” as he calls it.
Location: Monahans, TX Acreage: 30 acres of Greenhouses Crops: Tomatoes Cucumbers Peppers
“Working in a controlled enclosed environment where climate is continuously regulated, it does not matter what the conditions are outside of the greenhouse. This is better for the people working in the greenhouse and in the end better for the plants.”
- Arie Van der Giessen
25
TEXAS
Wade Pennington & Sons Farms and Ranch Grapeland, Texas In 1941, Wade Pennington planted his first crop of watermelons. After serving his country in World War II, Wade returned to Grapeland and to farming. Over the years farming practices may have changed, but Wade Pennington’s commitment to family and farming stayed the same. Wade Pennington & Sons was named Texas Family Small Business of the year in 2004 by Baylor University. In 2010, Wade Pennington was honored by the State Fair of Texas by being inducted into the Texas Heritage Hall of Honor for his contributions to agriculture and ranching. Although Wade passed away in 2010, his sons Glynn, Stanley, Troy and Troy’s son Ross continue the farming traditions that make Pennington watermelons the best in Texas! The sandy East Texas soil and warm spring days help make Pennington Melons the sweetest in Texas. The Pennington family raises over 500 acres of watermelons, which can be found in grocery stores all across Texas. One major innovation of Pennington Farms was the development of the Red Diamond watermelon which was unveiled in the spring of 2008. The Red Diamond is a seedless watermelon breakthrough combining all the most desired characteristics into one watermelon. The consistently crisp sweet taste, red flesh and extended shelf life of the Seedless Red Diamond makes it a very desirable choice for foodservice, retailers and processors. With over 65 years of experience, Pennington Farms continues to be innovative in its farming practices. The Penningtons led the way early on in the use of transplanting plants instead of seeds as well as planting under plastic mulch and drip tape irrigation. Soil and water conservation methods, along with minimalistic use of pesticides are standard practices at Pennington Farms.
Farm Stats Location: Grapeland, TX Acreage: 500 acres Crops: Watermelons
“Strong family farm legacy, East Texas sandy soils, hard work and good management are the key ingredients for our success. We love growing the sweetest watermelons around.” - Troy Pennington
26
TEXAS
Winter Garden Produce Uvalde, Texas
The Carnes family has been in the agriculture and produce industry in Texas since 1950. At the present time they harvest and ship over 1.5 million packages per year and have annual sales over 15 million. J. Allen Carnes, the 36 year-old president and third generation of Winter Garden Produce, returned to the family farm in 1997 after graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in finance. He married his high school sweetheart and they have three children. “This is not the path that I expected to take, but after coming back home from college to help my father, I realized how satisfying it was growing the crops that clothe and feed our nation.” J. Allen soon realized that he had a passion concerning the issues affecting agriculture and soon became involved with the Mission-based Texas Vegetable Association. He was president of that association from 2005-2009 and currently serves on the board, as well as being active in the National Council of Ag Employers, the United Fresh Produce Association and the Texas Sweet Onion Committee. “This is kind of where I have found my calling,” explains J. Allen, “We don’t have a lot of voices out there working on agricultural issues and I feel a sense of responsibility to speak out on issues such as labor and food safety.” Winter Garden Produce continues to be an industry leader in addressing food safety issues on the crops it grows and ships. The farm is third party certified by Primus Labs on the farm, harvest crew and in the packing shed. “Food safety and the quality of the produce we deliver are the two driving factors in everything we do here at Winter Garden,” says J. Allen, “Everything else is secondary.”
Farm Stats Location: Uvalde, TX Acreage: 3,000 acres Crops: Cabbage Onions Broccoli
“We’re feeding and clothing our society. One of the biggest challenges is making people realize how big this is and what an impact it has on everyone’s lives.” - J. Allen Carnes
27
TEXAS
Wood Duck Farm Cleveland, Texas
With a background in marketing in the financial and commodity industries and a B.S. in Agricultural Mechanization from the University of Georgia, Van Weldon elected to follow his passion and become a full time farmer in 1998. Wood Duck Farm was one of the first to produce Micro Greens for the Texas market. Right now he is on the cutting edge of the new trends in fruit and vegetable production. The public is demanding locally grown fresh produce that is either organically grown or at least “natural” with minimalistic use of chemicals. Being a small producer allows for the necessary nimbleness to change crops on the very next planting cycle. One main outlet for Van’s produce is the Farmer’s Market located in Houston. Van’s operation is strengthened because he has opted to market most of his produce through a concept called Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA). He pre-sells a share of his crop to individuals who get weekly allowances of fresh produce for a 10 week period. The advantage to the consumer is that they are assured to get 6-8 kinds of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables each week without having to drive an hour out in the country to the farms. The advantage to the farmer is that a large portion of his crop is pre-sold at a good profit and all he has to do is harvest and take it to a small number of drop points. Van sells weekly at farmer’s markets in the Houston area. He also allows people to pick up produce at the farm if they call ahead. Once a month Van hosts a meal at the farm where people can come to the farm and get a home grown gourmet meal, cooked by a local chef.
Farm Stats Location: Cleveland, TX Acreage: 87 acres Crops: Micro Greens Sweet Corn Strawberries Broccoli
“Given the mild winters of southeast Texas, we are fortunate that we are always growing some variety of vegetable or herb.” - Van Weldon
28
TEXAS
Young’s Greenhouses Charlie, Texas
Cooper Young began converting the old family peach and pecan farm to hydroponic greenhouse production in 1980 as a way of diversifying from traditional fruit and vegetable crops. Young stays on the cutting edge by keeping up with new growing technologies and weekly communication with chefs to identify changing market trends. “Using the new technologies and ideas to grow our lettuce and being as efficient as we can, means that the lettuce you put on your tables and before your guests is the best you can buy,” explains Cooper. Cooper and two of his sons, Joe and Chad, use a computer monitoring system to adjust light, temperature and growing solution to ensure the lettuce they take to their demanding chefs is the best and the freshest you can buy. They have just installed a 30 KW solar array to make the best use of available energy sources and to keep cost low. Using the least restrictive pest management practices ensures the highest levels of food safety and promotes a sustainable agricultural system. In addition to Bibb lettuce, which is one of the best sellers, there is a list of six Baby Lettuces: Baby Red & Green Romaine, Baby Lolla Rossa, Baby Red & Green Oak, Baby Swiss Chard, along with fresh mint and fresh watercress. These items have been delivered to FreshPoint twice a week, for the last 32 years, ensuring homegrown quality and freshness. “Our grandchildren, Madison, Chevy, Stewart and Sam, that run and play around the greenhouses, represent the sixth generation of Youngs on this farm. Joyce and I have turned the daily operation of the greenhouses over to two of our sons, Joe and Chad, shall I say under the watchful eye of their mother, who was the grower to whom we owe our success. Thus we have a changing of the guard at Young’s Greenhouses.”
Farm Stats Location: Charlie, TX Greenhouses: 56,000 Sq Ft Crops: Baby Lettuces Bibb Lettuce Baby Swiss Chard Watercress Mint
“Even though we are rooted in the past, we try to keep our operation working toward the future.” - Cooper Young
29
a m o h a l Ok
30
OKLAHOMA
Peach Crest Farm Stratford, Oklahoma
Peach Crest Farm has grown into a four season farming operation, using many hoop houses to extend their seasons. They practice low input farming, fertilizing with natural products and green manures. Now over 200 of the farm’s acres are certified organic. They have an orchard of 9,000 trees that were planted in 2000. They also have apple trees, plums, and pear trees. The good people of OSU came and taught them about how to best handle these very sensitive fruits. Dr. Mannis from OSU was a valuable resource in developing their cropping program and post harvest handling of the produce. “My husband came from a farming family that settled in Oklahoma in 1896. I came from Boston. We married and he has taught me to love of the land. And now, here I am, farming away,” explains Susan Bergen. In 2010 Mr. James Cooper III, one of Oklahoma’s premier growers, joined the farming operation. He has transformed the business with exceptional farming techniques and management practices. They grow three different types of sweet potatoes, hard winter squashes and many varieties of greens. Red, golden, and candy-striped beets are available in the spring and fall. Rainbow Swiss Chard is a three-season crop for the farm. They have a seasonal growing chart which shows what is available and when. Herbs are also a year round specialty for the farm, which are branded as Cooper Organics. Crops are picked in the early morning and washed in ice water to bring the field heat out of the crop. They always plant extra to go to the Oklahoma City food bank, knowing that vegetables are an essential part of a good diet. They also take food into Food and Shelter for Friends in Norman.
Farm Stats Location: Stratford, OK Acreage: 330 acres Crops: Peaches Sweet Potatoes Winter Squash Greens Assorted Beets Cantaloupe
“We love the farm and would enjoy having you visit and see where, how, and who grows your food.” - Susan Bergen
31
OKLAHOMA
Progressive Produce Bixby, Oklahoma
Progressive’s focus and mission is to supply the highest quality ingredients to the top restaurants, country clubs, hotels and grocery stores in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Progressive Produce was established in February 1991 and is owned and operated by Joe Tierney. Joe graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in New York and worked in New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, Kansas City and finally Oklahoma. Joe, wanting the best in product, decided to create that for himself - thus the beginning of Progressive. In the beginning, Joe made runs to wholesalers in his Nissan Sentra. Eventually, of course, this was not a large enough vehicle, even with the all the passenger seats ripped out, so Joe had to buy his first box truck. The company has continued to grow and is now one of the largest suppliers of produce to the Oklahoma and Arkansas markets, now operating both 18 wheelers and bobtailed refrigerated trucks. In 1992 Progressive began growing produce for their customers, and now grows 100% organic product. Joe now does business with the best and largest wholesalers in the Midwest, FreshPoint. He considers himself very fortunate to have had good relations with such a strong producer, to help him grow business over the last 20 years.
Farm Stats Location: Bixby, OK Acreage: 150 acres Crops: Greens Tomatoes Green Onions Peppers Beets Kale Herbs
“Producing high quality, specialized vegetables for the Food Service trade is our passion. It is very satisfying to service our long term relationships we have been fortunate to build over the years.” - Joe Tierney
32
OKLAHOMA
The Tumblson Family Farm Rush Springs, Oklahoma
The Tumblson Family Farm in Rush Springs is in the heart of Oklahoma watermelon country and home to the famous annual Watermelon Festival. As the top Blue-Ribbon award winner for the last 14 years, the Tumblson family is without a doubt the best supplier of Black Diamond and Royal Sweet Watermelon in the state. The farm started in 1989 as a small father and son operation on little more than 100 acres. While both men lived in the city their whole lives, they often dreamed of owning a farm together. With little previous farming experience, the Tumblsons counted on a lot of hard work and a little luck to see their dream to work and live off the land come true. After years of trial and error, they expanded their crops to include vine-ripened squash, tomatoes, peas, cantaloupes and other melons. They sell some produce on their farm-side fruit stand in Rush Springs, but also ship produce to regional supermarkets via their packing company Washita Packing. The maker of local legend, the Tumblsons perfected the technique for growing monster melons that reach upwards of 150 pounds. While not very good to eat, they make a great conversation piece at the road side farmer’s market. Despite backbreaking work in 100-degree heat, Joel Tumblson Jr. said he goes home everyday feeling good about his accomplishments. “It gives me a great sense of pride to provide fresh, wholesome fruit and vegetables to my family and yours.”
Farm Stats Location: Rush Springs, OK Acreage: 150 acres Crops: Watermelon Cantaloupe Tomatoes Peas Squash
“It gives me a great sense of pride to provide fresh, wholesome fruit and vegetables to my family and yours.” - Joel Tumblson Jr.
33
SouthWest U.S.A.
Availability Guide
A Fre
shPo
int L ocal I niti TM
ative
S
O
N
D
VEGETABLE Asparagus Beans, Green Broccoli Cabbage, Green Cabbage, Red Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard, Swiss Corn, Sweet Cucumbers Cucumbers, English Eggplant Greens, Collard Greens, Kale Greens, Micro Greens Greens, Mustard Greens, Spinach
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
r be
r
A
D
J
N
J
Darker Shades Denote PEAK Season Availability
em
be ec
em
er
ct
Se
M
O
Au
A
Products are based on availability and are subject to weather conditions in their regions.
34
ov
ob
be em pt
gu
Ju
ly
ne
M
M
F
M
J
Fe
FRUIT Apples Berry, Blackberry Berry, Blueberry Berry, Strawberry Flowers, Edible Grapefruit Grapes, Muscadine Melon, Cantaloupe Melon, Honeydew Melon, Watermelon Oranges Peaches Pears Persimmons Plums
Ja
Ju
ay
ril Ap
ar
ch
st
ry ua br
nu
ar
y
r
.
J
A
S
O
N
D
Dairy Mozzarella Cheese Local Cheeses Drinkable Yogurt
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
NUTS Pecans Peanuts
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
r be
em
D
J
N
Se
M
O
Au
ct
ov
ec
em
be
r
r er
ob
be em pt
gu
Ju
ly
ne
A
M
M
M
F
Fe
Ju
ay
ril Ap
ar
ch
st
ry ua
y
br
ar nu J
Ja VEGETABLE (continued) Greens, Turnip Greens, Watercress Greens, Wheat Grass Herbs, Fresh Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Baby Lettuce, Bibb (Hydro) Lettuce, Green Leaf Lettuce, Red Leaf Mushrooms Mushrooms, Organic Mushrooms, Specialty Okra Onions Pea Tendrils Peas Pepper, Bell Pepper, Jalapeno Pepper, Specialty (Hot) Peppers, Anaheim Potatoes, Red Potatoes, Sweet Sprouts Squash, Fall Squash, Pumpkins Squash, Yellow Squash, Zucchini Tomatoes, Greenhouse Tomatoes, Heirloom Tomatoes, Local Round Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Small Turnips, Poly
Products are based on availability and are subject to weather conditions in their regions.
Darker Shades Denote PEAK Season Availability
35
FreshPoint Proudly Supports There’s no denying Lone Star pride! GO TEXAN, with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known for throughout the world. Whether it’s grown, sewn or served up on a plate, more than 25 million Texans shop, travel and dine out in support of Texas business and agriculture, looking for the GO TEXAN mark to light the way. Show your Texas pride: enroll your business in GO TEXAN. Visit www.gotexan.org for more information.
Dallas, TX Dallas.FreshPoint.com | 972.385.5800 4721 Simonton Road, Dallas, Texas 75244
Austin, TX SouthTexas.FreshPoint.com | 512.928.9030 10300 Springdale Road, Austin, TX 78754
Houston, TX SouthTexas.FreshPoint.com | 281.899.4242 1390 Enclave Parkway, Houston, TX 77077
San Antonio, TX SouthTexas.FreshPoint.com | 210.699.9391 4651 Greatland Drive, San Antonio, TX 78218
Oklahoma City, OK SouthTexas.FreshPoint.com | 405.879.0400 3100 N. I-35 Service Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Tulsa, OK SouthTexas.FreshPoint.com | 918.252.5882 13689 E. 61 st Street, Tulsa, OK 74012
A FreshPoint Local Initiative. TM