Patterson Farm

The Patterson Family has been in the produce business since James A. Patterson began growing vegetables in 1919. By 1941, James crop consisted of about 30 acres of cotton and three acres of tomatoes. Boll weevils damaged most of his cotton crop that year so James decided to grow all 30 acres in tomatoes the following year. In 1946, the family began... growing tomatoes commercially under the name, James A. Patterson & Sons. James and his wife, Berta Catherine Cauble, had 5 children, Betty Lou, Frank, Carl, Ann and Nancy. Sons Frank and Carl decided to continue the family business after each graduated from NC State and served in the Army. On August 17, 1957, Carl married his sweetheart, Phyllis A. Graham. Her father, Harold Graham, along with his 12 siblings were involved in the dairy business. The current Patterson Farm Market & Tours location is on part of the original Harold Graham dairy farm. Carl and Frank farmed together until they decided to divide the farm in 1979. Carl and Phyllis formed Patterson Produce and Plant Farm. They raised tomatoes, strawberries, corn watermelons and cantaloupes as well as four children; Lisa, Randall, Douglas and Michael. In 1982, son Randall returned to help the family farm after graduating from NC State with a degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He helped implement on the farm the new procedures developed by NC State called Plastic Culture which involves growing crops on raised beds using drip irrigation with black plastic. Randall is primarily responsible for all field operations on the farm. In 1992, the farm incorporated and became Patterson Farm, Inc. In 1994, son Douglas and his wife, Michelle, decided to move back to the farm to help with the family business. Doug graduated in 1987 from NC State with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and had worked for 6 years in this field. Doug is responsible for overseeing the office, sales, food safety and packing house operations. Michelle is responsible for marketing, overseeing Patterson Farm Market & Tours, Inc. ...Read More