Meet the local farm familieswho supply Sysco Eastern Maryland

with delicious seasonal produce

Vincent Farm, located in the Laurel/Delmar area of Southern Sussex county, Delaware grows and ships produce that includes sweet corn, watermelons, bell peppers, tomatoes and cantaloupes in the summer as well as pumpkins and gourds in the fall. Vincent Farms started in 1978 with two acres of watermelons. The crop was grown and harvested by family members and sold at the local farmers’ auction market. In the nearly 30 years since, the farm has grown in both size and scope to the point that it ships nearly 1000 truck loads of produce annually to markets that include the entire eastern region of the United States and Canada.

Location: Laurel, DE

Acreage: 2,000 acres Crops: Sweet Corn Watermelons Bell Peppers Tomatoes Cantaloupes Pumpkins Gourds

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Laurel, DE

Vincent Farms

The Vincent Family is proud of it’s agricultural heritage and is committed to maintain this legacy for generations to come. Some of the land that comprises the 2000 acres currently in production has been farmed continuously by members of the Vincent family for five generations. In order to sustain production, Vincent Farms uses environmentally responsible practices in the growing, harvesting, packing and shipping of its produce. Nutrients and pesticides are only applied to the crops as needed based on tissue samples and constant field monitoring. Additionally, all the vegetable crops are irrigated using the latest practices that reduce runoff, water usage, and energy consumption. The practices used today by Vincent Farms will help insure the viability of the operation while maintaining the resources entrusted to them. Many in the non-farm community have, fairly recently, been made aware of the concepts “environmentally responsible” and “Sustainable”. These concepts are but a subset of a Vincent family value of “being a good steward” that has been and will continue to be passed on from one generation to the next. Ray Vincent

Fifer Orchards is a 2500 acre family fruit and vegetable farm located in the town of Wyoming in the center of Kent County, Delaware. The farm was established in 1919 and is currently run by the fourth generation. Fifer Orchards grows Strawberries, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Peaches, Sweet Corn, Apples, Pumpkins, Kale and Brussel Sprouts during the three growing seasons each year and focuses on quality and freshness with each crop. Fifer Orchards is also proud of its use of sustainable farming practices that preserve our environment, reduce waste and promote healthy growing systems. Fifer Orchards strives to practice safe food handling practices and is a Global GAP IFA grower.

urt Fifer

Location: Wyoming, DE

Acreage: 2,500 acres Crops: Asparagus Strawberries Tomatoes Yellow Peaches White Corn Apples Kale Brussel Sprouts !

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Wyoming, DE

Fifer Orchards

Our farm was started 57 years ago by my grandparents, William and Georgiana Burch in Faison, NC. They started with 20 acres and one tractor and were able to put 5 sons through college by supplying various grocery stores in the area with greens and also selling produce at the farmer's market. Once my father and uncles got out of school, they returned home and continued to help grow the business. There are three brothers currently partnered in the farm-my father, Jimmy, Sr., and my two uncles, Ted and Bill. They have grown the farm to 6000 acres of mixed veg, mainly focusing on sweet potatoes, greens and cabbage. We have ventured into organics and currently have 400 acres in organic production, mainly for baby food processors. We supply various retail, foodservice, wholesale, export, and process customers. I am the oldest of the third generation and I have one brother, Jared, who is currently enrolled at NC State University majoring in agronomy and plans to return to the farm after graduation. Ted has two sons, Field and Warren, and Bill has one son, William who are all involved in the farming operation. We are dedicated to expanding our business while keeping quality and service at a high level to continue the tradition my grandparents started. !

Jimmy Burch Jr.

Burch Farms Faison, NC

Location: Faison, NC

Acreage: 6000 acres Crops: Sweet Potatoes Greens Cabbage Pepper Asparagus Winter Squash

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Baywater Greens is a hydroponic farm that specializes in Bibb, Spring Mix and Romaine varieties of lettuce. Grown by 6th generation farmers we offer the highest quality lettuce for our customers with great service to match. Our strictly controlled environment allows us to grow naturally without pesticides and herbicides all year long! When harvested we leave the tap root attached to increase the freshness and life of our products. Baywater Heirlooms is a division of Baywater Greens dedicated to growing the tastiest and best heirloom crops . We are focusing our 2015 year on growing many varieties of tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, yellow and green squash, sweet peppers and eggplant. Every type has multiple colors, shapes and flavors and will be packed and shipped with the same care and attention to detail that Baywater Greens customers have grown accustom to.

Location: Salisbury, MD

Acreage: 5 acres Crops: Spring Mix Bibb Lettuce Romaine Micro Greens Basil Heirloom Tomatoes (Seasonal) Heirloom Vegetables (Seasonal)

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Salisbury, MD

Baywater Greens

James Sharp is a 5th generation farmer from Wilson County, NC. James grew up and worked on a traditional row crop farm until he went to North Carolina State University. When he was twelve years old, he decided he wanted to be in charge of the family garden. He added a row of cantaloupe, watermelon and tomatoes. He had an exceptional yield and harvested more than his family could eat or even give away! He ended up selling most of his produce to the locally owned grocery stores in the area and has been in the produce business ever since. James continued growing produce throughout his college career and built up his customer base. In 2000, he built his own packing facility with forced air cooling. He has since expanded his facility to keep up with the demand for his product. Fresh-Pik Produce grows and harvests 300 acres that include Romaine Lettuce, Personal Watermelon, Seedless and Seeded Watermelon, Sprite Melon, Strawberries, Cabbage, Collards, Mustard Greens and Strawberry Plants. “We believe that produce must be picked fresh, packed fresh and shipped fresh to ensure customers get delicious and nutritious food on their plate.” –James Sharp

Location: Wilson, NC

Acreage: 300 Acres Crops: Romaine Lettuce Green Leaf Lettuce Collards Cabbage Mustard Greens Strawberries

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Wilson, NC

Fresh-Pik Produce

Lewis!Farm!is!a!3rd!genera/on!family!farm!located!in!Rocky!Point,!NC,!approximately!18!miles!north!of!Wilmington,!NC.!Over!the!past!56!years,!Lewis!Farms!has!diversified!from!only!growing!strawberries!and!strawberry!plants,!to!blueberries,!blackberries!and!bell!pepper.!!

Lewis!Farms!also!has!retail!seasonal!loca/ons.!The!signature!loca/on!is!on!Gordon!Road!in!Wilmington!which!has!“pick!your!own”!strawberries,!blueberries!and!blackberries!as!well!as!bedding!plants,!hanging!baskets!and!much!more.!This!loca/on!also!has!the!famous!Lewis!Farms!ice!cream!made!on!site!using!their!own!fruit.!

Lewis!Farms!is!proud!of!it’s!heritage,!diversity,!family!farming!tradi/on,!and!with!con/nued!growth!will!maintain!the!personal!connec/on!with!customers!that!comes!with!a!family!owned!business.!Progressive!and!innova/ve!thinking!has!allowed!EverePe!and!Cal!Lewis!to!find!exci/ng!produc/on!methods!over!the!years.!Today,!Lewis!Farms!is!the!first!to!produce!commercial!strawberries!and!blackberries!under!protected!tunnels!in!North!Carolina.!

“We!produce!the!finest!quality!berries!that!our!North!Carolina!loca/on!and!climate!allow,!in!order!to!please!our!customers!and!provide!for!our!families!and!employees.”!–EverePe!&!Cal!Lewis!!

Location: Rocky Point, NC

Acreage: 600 + Acres Crops: Strawberries Blueberries Blackberries Bell Peppers

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Rocky Point, NC

Lewis Farm

Sysco Eastern Maryland33239 Costen Road, Pocomoke, MD. 21851

www.syscoeasternmd.com

Supporting Local Farms and Farmersfor over 50 Years