The Youngquist family settled in Washington’s Skagit Valley in the late 1800s, and started their farming tradition as dairy farmers. Today, Nate Youngquist represents the fifth generation of Youngquist farmers, and he’s growing a variety of berries and a few vegetable crops, namely corn, squash, green beans, and pumpkins. In 2006, Nate started farming on a half of an acre. Today, he’s responsible for 160 acres, 10 of which are devoted solely to blackberries, and another 30 to raspberries.
At the Carnation Farmers Market, Youngquist Farms bring their strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and tayberries. On a good day, they’ll have their raspberry jam and syrup with them—you’ll want a jar or two of this divine topping. Youngquist Farms aims to provide the highest quality berries: they’re always fresh and firm. In fact, Youngquist Farms has a quality control team to ensure that their produce is only of superior condition.
As a farmer, Nate has found he enjoys running the show and being responsible for deciding what Youngquist Farms grows and how the farm operates. Part of Nate’s management system includes his dedication to involve his employees in the decision-making process and keep them in the loop. With his focus on providing quality produce to customers, the berries you’ll find at the Carnation Farmers Market do not disappoint.
Visit Youngquist Farms online at www.skyharvestproduce.com.