While the Harbes have been farming for 13 generations dating back to their origins in western Europe, they have only been farming the fertile soils of Long Island since the 1920s. The Harbes originally farmed in the Hempstead area until the Long Island Expressway was built through their farm in the 1960s. At that time the family chose to move to Long Island’s rural North Fork and began farming in Mattituck.
It was here on the North Fork in 1978 that a fruitful journey began as two high school sweethearts, Ed & Monica Harbes, married young and started a new life on the family farm in Mattituck. Ed worked with his father, becoming a 12th generation farmer as he strove to provide for his ever-growing family with the potato and cabbage farming business. Having eight children, Monica devoted her time to homemaking and motherhood, helping on the farm when time permitted.
In 1989, Ed planted a new type of Super Sweet Corn, built a 14′ by 14′ gazebo, and started retailing corn and tomatoes with the salesmanship of his ten-year-old son, Jason. They were humble beginnings to be sure, but the public was kind to them, and over the years their business grew.