Parker Farms: History

History

1974	Beginning with two acres of vegetables and berries in Clinton, MD, Admiral Edelen Parker and his sons, Rhoderick and Christopher launched their "Pick Your Own" operation.
1976	Expanded to 150 acres of Pick Your Own vegetables and berries. Started roadside marketing and Farmers Market.
1978	Business expanded to include local chain store and wholesale business.
1979	Expanded to 300 acres Pick Your Own farm, one of the largest on the East Coast.
1980-1988	Gradual expansion of wholesale business as Pick Your Own decreased and retail sales increased.
1988	Expansion to 500 acres of produce. Facility for packaging and cooling built in Clinton, MD.
1988	Purchased farm in South Carolina - beginning of operations in the south.

1998- 2008	New headquarters in Oak Grove, VA. Facility processes, inspects and ships to major retail outlets. Processing, packaging and sales of locally grown produce accommodates thirty (30) Virginia growers. Parker Farms now handles over 3200 acres of production in Maine, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.