Long Island Grown Produce at King Kullen

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One of the best parts of summer is enjoying farm fresh produce. Buying local fresh produce doesn’t just put healthy food on the table for families; it’s also supporting the local economy. King Kullen has been committed to buying locally grown Long Island produce from Long Island farmers for over 15 years.

Every summer and autumn, King Kullen purchases thousands of cases of produce grown on Long Island farms. The season begins in May and ends sometime around Thanksgiving. “Our objective is to provide fresh locally grown produce while reducing our carbon footprint, as well as preserving local farmland for future generations,” said Vice President of Perishables, Joe Forte. King Kullen also has signage in-store to promote individual farmers and the crops that they grow.

The images below feature a few of our local farmers who supply produce to King Kullen:

  Philip Schmitt & Son grow more than 30 types of produce, including red and green leaf lettuces, cabbage, and a variety of root vegetables. Ground-hugging leafy greens fare especially well here; Long Island’s naturally sandy soil allows water to drain easily, keeping their roots moist but their fronds dry. All produce is grown with reduced pesticide and fertilizer usage, never treated with shelf life extenders, and hand cut and picked at the peak of ripeness for the most healthful and flavorful results – the farmers have to plant every day during peak season just to keep up with demand.The history of their farm mirrors the history of Long Island. Their original farmstead was established in the late 1800’s in Rosedale, Queens – at the time a rural farming community. In the 1920’s their farm relocated to the then-aptly named Farmingdale, but once again as Long Island’s population grew farms moved further east. Finally, in the 1970’s they moved to their present location in Riverhead, the base of the split between the North and South Forks – the heart of Long Island farm and wine country.

The Schmitt farm has been a family run business for four generations, with three of those generations still involved in the farm’s operation – Philip Schmitt III, wife Debbie, mother Ann and father Philip Jr., and grandsons Philip IV and Matt.

  Wells Farm in Aquebogue is by far the oldest continually run farm in the USA. The Wells family began farming on the North Fork in 1651 and the farmhouse in a National Historic Landmark. They grow fine quality green and yellow zucchini as well as a big variety of fall squash such as Acorn, Butternut and Spaghetti. The Wells family also is famous for their Asparagus. The farm is currently run by Lyle Wells and his son Mathew.
  Ed Densieski and his family have been farming in East Quogue for over 90 years. Densieski Farms grows a number of crops, starting with zucchini in late June and ending with cauliflower and potatoes at the end of autumn. Other crops grown by Densieski Farms include super sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, and broccoli.