Meet Our Friends at Turek Farms!
Turek Farms has been a family tradition for over 85 years in King Ferry, NY in the Finger Lakes region. And today they are a home.grown. producer of corn and broccoli in our stores. With a long-standing history and a commitment to food safety, Turek Farms has become a local success that we are proud to work with!
It all started when great-grandfather Turek lost his job in the automobile factories in Detroit during the Great Depression. He packed his family up, and headed south, unsure of where he was going or what was to come. While stopped in King Ferry, NY he saw a house and 20 acres of land for sale and decided to buy it. He began to raise grain, corn, and red kidney beans. Later on, he began raising green beans and eventually the area became the largest green bean producing region in the country.
A co-op was formed in King Ferry to help sell all of the crop, but it ended up going bankrupt and a fire destroyed the facility. However, grandpa Turek later bought the property at an auction and rebuilt the packing house. It became known as Cayuga Produce, the sales company for Turek Farms.
Today, the farm is a longtime family tradition of over 85 years, with a group of core employees whom, mostly, have worked for the farm for over 25 years. Preparing the farm for the future as it continues to be passed down through the generations.
Commitment to Food Safety
The team at Turek is dedicated to food safety and sustainability with a variety of meticulous routines they accomplish. For example, planting cover crops and buffer strips to prevent soil erosion, and rotating crops so the fields are not stripped of nutrients and kept safe from disease and pest infestations. Plus, they’ve implemented Integrated Pest Management technologies so crop protectants are only used as needed.
Thanks to our hard-working friends at Turek Farms we can put high quality, home.grown. local produce on our shelves and bring it to your table!
home.grown. Farm Feature: Gade Farm
Jack Gelok
Marketing Intern
Gade Farm: A Family Tradition Rooted in the Heart of New York
This beloved farm is in Guilderland, New York. Gade Farm stands on pillars of tradition, community, and sustainable agriculture. This family-owned farm has been cultivating the land and nourishing its community for over a century, offering a rich blend of history, innovation, and down-to-earth charm.
A Century of Heritage
This story beginning date all the way to 1876, when Danish immigrants Hans and Sophie Gade purchased a simple piece of land. Over the decades, their dedication and hard work transformed this small farmstead into a thriving enterprise, passing down a legacy of agricultural excellence through the generations. Today, Gade Farm remains family-operated, with each generation adding their own chapter to its storied history.
Looking Out for the Capital Region
What sets Gade Farm apart is its unwavering commitment to sustainable farming practices. The Gade family has long understood the importance of nurturing the land, implementing techniques such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and integrated pest management to maintain soil health and reduce environmental impact. Their organic gardening center offers a wide range of eco-friendly products.
Strawberries to Pumpkins
Gade Farm is known for having a wide variety and diverse array of fresh produce, available throughout the growing season. From the first strawberries of spring to the hearty pumpkins and squash of autumn, the farm’s bounty reflects the rhythms of nature. Visitors can enjoy picking their own fruits and vegetables, a delightful experience that connects people with the source of their food.
More Than Just a Farm
Beyond its phenomenal produce Gade Farm looks out for the community. The farm market is stocked with a variety of locally sourced goods, including artisanal cheeses, fresh-baked breads, and homemade preserves. They also offer whatever your seasonal need are looking for thus can be anywhere in between hayrides or holiday markets.
home.grown. Farm Feature: Reeves Farms
Jack Gelok
Marketing Intern
A Berry Sweet Legacy: The Story of Reeves Farms
It all started with a young 18-year-old coming from Draycott, England to Jacksonville, New York. His name was Arthur Thomas Reeves the founder of Reeves Farm. Arthur started out working on his aunt and uncle’s farm, but by 1898, he and his wife Mary had saved enough to buy their own patch of paradise on what is now known as Reeves Road. With eight kids running around, the Reeves family was starting a farming legacy.
The Fast-Paced World of Farming
In the mid-1920s, Arthur’s son Edward, along with his wife Flossie, took the reins and moved the farm a bit further down Reeves Road. They focused on crops and milking cows. Their son Cecil, after a stint in the Navy during WWII, decided he’d had enough of cows and set his sights on crop farming. Cecil and his wife Dorothy juggled raising nine kids and growing vegetables and grain, proving that farming really is a family affair.
60’s Expansion
By the 1960s, the farm was expanding faster than you can say “strawberry shortcake.” Cecil and Dorothy bought more land, growing fresh market vegetables and berries. Their hard work laid the groundwork for the farm’s next big leap.
The Reeves Farm Today
In 1990, Cecil and Dorothy handed the keys over to their sons Bruce, Mark, and Brian. After Bruce left the partnership in 1992, their brother Andy joined the team. Today, two of Mark’s children, Nolan and Karin, are also part of the farm’s management, making Reeves Farms a true multi-generational operation.
The Reeves Family Looking into the Future
What makes Reeves Farms extra special is their commitment to sustainability. They use Integrated Pest Management, reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, and organic production to keep the soil and water healthy. It’s all about farming smart to ensure this land can keep producing mouthwatering berries and veggies for generations to come.