OUR PARTNERS

From the plains of Ohio to the fields across the U.S., our farm partners help us bring "America's Farm Fresh" to tables everywhere. These farmers raise their crops with pride and a whole lot of heart. Join us in celebrating the stories of a few of our farmers and partners.

Hudson River Fruit

The story of Hudson River Fruit is one of family and perseverance. Founded in 1963 by Izzy Albinder, who began selling apples from a pushcart in Brooklyn, Hudson River Fruit is a family-owned and operated business. Located in New York's Hudson Valley, the fruit farm is now onto the fourth generation of the Albinder family, who continues to uphold their commitment to quality and service.

Hudson River Fruit is not just growing apples; it is growing a legacy for future farming generations. The company believes in giving back to the community and has partnered with local and statewide food banks across New York and fundraisers with the USApples program and Apples4Education.

Looking to the future, Hudson River Fruit is committed to sustainability and innovation in farming with a goal of eventually powering the facility through 100% renewable energy. Today, this can be seen through their new state-of-the-art 27,000 sq. ft. solar storage facility.

From its humble beginnings selling fruit out of a pushcart to its current status as a respected apple grower, Hudson River Fruit exemplifies how hard work, vision and a commitment to quality can bear fruit for generations.

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CRITCHLEY FAMILY FARMS

In Central California's fertile San Joaquin Valley, Critchley Family Farms sits with three generations of agricultural dedication. Established in 2007 by Scott and Mandy, whose roots trace back to a farming legacy of growing a variety of produce. Today, their daughters – Madison and Hailey – are eager to keep the farm alive as the fourth generation.

Critchley Family Farms embodies sustainability and innovation. Their commitment to environmentally conscious practices includes hand-picking 90% of the blueberry crop and using solar installations to power irrigation pumps. Critchley Family Farms also employs cutting-edge techniques like incorporating prunings into the soil to prevent erosion. To protect their crops, they've adopted inventive bird machines emitting predatory sounds, deterring potential damage.

As a supplier for Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen, Critchley Family Farms ensures freshness from harvest to delivery with blueberries reaching their peak in mid-May to mid-June. This dedication to quick packing and delivery ensures a swift 3–5-day journey from the fields to restaurant tables, ensuring a fresh experience for our guests.

Beyond their commitment to helping us serve the freshest berries in our dishes, Critchley Family Farms extends their support to the Central California Make-a-Wish organization, the Immanuel Schools FFA Program, and FFA fundraisers with financial and produce donations for events. Additionally, Mandy served two terms as president of the California Blueberry Commission and continues her involvement today as a board member.

Learn more about their journey and farming practices.

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MATTHEWS RIDGEVIEW FARMS

Matthews Ridgeview Farms is a family-owned farm based in Wynne, Arkansas that’s been growing sweet potatoes for over 100 years. Founder, Terris Matthews, started farming as a fourth-generation sweet potato farmer with Matthews Brothers. Over the years, Matthews Brothers continued to acquire acreage to keep up with demand and in 2006, Terris, along with his wife, Kim, began what is now Matthews Ridgeview Farms.

Matthews Ridgeview farmers are hands-on during every stage of production and their dedication and attention to details sets their vitamin-rich sweet potatoes apart in both quality and flavor. They grow Beauregard sweet potatoes because they have great flavor, color, and texture compared to other varieties. The farm produces over one million bushels of sweet potatoes every year and their total acreage makes them the largest grower in the state of Arkansas.

Today, Matthews Ridgeview Farms is a provider of U.S. grown sweet potatoes for Bob Evans Restaurants.

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MORTENSON BROS. FARMS, INC.

Mortenson Bros. Farm, Inc. is a third-generation family-owned vegetable farm in Plainfield, Wisconsin. Founders and brothers Gary (“Jack”) and James (“Frog”) Mortenson originally owned a trucking and tire business, but in the 1960s they were given the farm as a form of payment for their auto work because their customer was unable to pay them in cash. They educated themselves on growing crops, got their hands dirty and ultimately fell in love with farming. In 1973, Mortenson Bros. Farm, Inc. was officially established. The farm is currently owned and operated today by Jack’s son, Jim, his wife Tracy, and their three children. Mortenson Bros. partners with Nortera Foods to provide corn to all of our Bob Evans restaurants.

The Mortenson Bros. farm grows “super sweet” corn on over 4,000 acres of land. This variety is chosen due to its good yields and great taste. Peak harvest season is typically early August to mid-October.

In addition to farming for over 25 years, Jim and his family also give back to their local community by supporting local schools and libraries, the Boys and Girls Club, Special Olympics and the YMCA. Jim is also active with the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.

Mortenson Bros. and Nortera Foods have been valued partners of Bob Evans for over a decade.

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PRAIRIE FARMS

Prairie Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned farm in Central Minnesota that grows Russet Burbank potatoes. The farm started in 1906 with a small land purchase by Frank and Anna Wojtanowicz and has grown into a multi-family operation today. In 1969, the Wojtanowicz family introduced irrigation to their farm and started growing potatoes in 1970. At that time, third-generation farmer, John Wojtanowicz and his brother-in-law, Gerald Schlichting, bought some land and they started working collaboratively to grow their farms. Today, these two families operate their farms together and partner with Michael Foods to distribute potatoes to our restaurants.

Russet potatoes are smooth, white potatoes with skins that crisp up and are perfect for making our signature Bob Evans mashed potatoes and hashbrowns. The peak growing season for these potatoes is from April 15-September 15 with harvest taking place around October 1st.

Prairie Farms prioritizes sustainable, regenerative agriculture and conservation of natural resources to grow highest quality potatoes. They are certified Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Producers who use best management practices and receive frequent industry recognition. In fact, the Schlichting family was named the Benton County Farm Family of the Year in 2017 by the University of Minnesota. Third generation farmer, Anna Bregier, was awarded the 2022 Minnesota Irrigator of the Year Service Award.

Prairie Farms has been partnering with Michael Foods for over 20 years. We are proud to work with these trusted partners to serve the freshest potatoes to our guests.

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Rocha Jr. Berry Farms & Satsuma Farms

Nothing tastes better than a strawberry picked at the peak of ripeness. When you bite into a plump and juicy strawberry that’s fresh and in season, you get a burst of delicious sweetness in your mouth. For generations, family farms, like Rocha Jr. Berry Farms and Satsuma Farms, have been growing these delectable berries and are responsible for supplying hand-picked, vine-ripened strawberries to tables across America, including Bob Evans Restaurants. Both of these farms are part of California Giant Berry Farms’ small group of independent growers.

Rocha Jr. Berry Farms is a family-owned and operated farm with acreage located in Watsonville and Santa Maria, California. Fourth generation farmers Jose Luis Rocha Jr. and his wife, Guadalupe (Lupe), have been growing strawberries for over 30 years. Also, family-owned Satsuma Farms, located in Watsonville, California, recently became the first strawberry grower in the world to receive a Sustainably Grown certification from SCS Global Services.

At Bob Evans, we care about the quality of the farm fresh food we serve to our guests, so we select farm partners who hold themselves to the highest standards. Our strawberry family farms take pride in their work and are in the fields every day to ensure the berries are hand-picked at peak-ripeness and then shipped to our Bob Evans Restaurants for our Fresh Berry menu items.

Monterey is one of the most popular varieties of strawberry that our farm partners grow because they’re known for their big, sweet and succulent berries. Full of bright color and sweetness, these farm-fresh strawberries top off our signature Fresh Berry dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the spring and summer months.

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Lakeside Foods

Lakeside Foods is a family-owned produce partner located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, that has been serving its customers high-quality produce with delicious taste for over 130 years. The company was established in 1887 by seed grower, Albert Landreth, when he expanded his one-kitchen operation to Wisconsin’s first pea production plant.

The company’s fresh green beans are grown and harvested across Wisconsin and Minnesota during the peak months of July through September. Landreth originally chose this region a century ago due its superior soil for growing peas and other vegetables. Lakeside Foods partners with various family-owned farms to provide their customers the highest quality green beans.

Lakeside Foods shares in our support of the National FFA Organization and the larger farming community through volunteer opportunities and financial contributions to Farm Wisconsin and the Midwest Food Processors Association. These donations fund youth educational programs and university research projects.

Lakeside is the sole supplier of green beans, providing over 51,000 cases of green beans for our restaurants in 2022.

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Taylor Farms

Taylor Farms is a leading U.S. producer of salads and fresh cut vegetables that was founded in 1995. The Taylor Farms story began in Salinas Valley, California, affectionately known as “America’s Salad Bowl.” Taylor Farms follows the vegetable growing seasons to harvest and process the highest quality product possible. This means their core growing focus transitions between California’s Central Coast in Salinas, California to the Desert Region of Yuma, Arizona each winter and spring.

Founder, Bruce Taylor, followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and is a third generation produce grower who is keeping their entrepreneurial spirit alive within the company today with a deep drive for delivering the freshest produce.

Bruce and the Taylor Farms family grow a variety of hearty greens throughout the year including iceberg lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli. The fresh produce is processed within just a few hours of harvesting to maintain peak freshness. It is then freshly cut to be perfectly bite-sized before heading to our restaurant locations.

Taylor Farms has been a trusted partner for years and is the sole supplier of lettuce, cabbage and broccoli for Bob Evans Restaurants. Also united in our shared values, Taylor Farms is a good steward of its community and the environment. They give back with monetary and food donations throughout the year and use a variety of sustainable energy practices at their farms.

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HMC Farms

HMC Farms is a family-owned and operated farm located in California’s Central Valley. The McClarty family’s first piece of land was purchased back in 1887 and is still in the family today. Over 130 years later, the McClarty and Ketelsen families continue to produce grapes on this multi-generational farm that believes in “doing what tastes right.” HMC Farms has passed down vineyards for five generations and they currently grow fruit on over 6,000 acres, including that original 40-acre ranch.

The farm may have old roots, but the grapes grown by HMC Farms are from the newest and best varieties–those that are consistently crunchy, sweet and full of flavor. HMC Farms puts special care into harvesting their fresh produce and their California packaging facilities are just minutes away from their vineyards.

HMC Farms utilizes sustainable and responsible farming practices—incorporating drip irrigation systems, solar panels, innovative new Ag technologies, and maintaining the health of the soil on their farms. They also give back to their community by donating fresh produce to local food banks, supporting school gardens and funding other education initiatives.

Bob Evans takes pride in bringing you fresh from the farm produce you’d expect. Our friends at HMC Farms help do this by harvesting their grapes at peak freshness year-round. HMC Farms has been our trusted partner for over 15 years and thanks to them we serve over 150,000 pounds of fresh red seedless grapes in our restaurants each year.

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Velvet Ice Cream

Velvet Ice Cream is a family-owned and operated premium ice cream company located in Utica, Ohio – just a few hours north of Bob Evans original location in Rio Grande, Ohio. Since 1914, the Dager family has crafted delicious ice cream known for its signature velvety texture, which has grown to be a staple for families throughout the Midwest. Today, Velvet Ice Cream is led by sisters Luconda and Joanne Dager, who are fourth-generation ice cream-making experts.

Since the first gallon of hand-cranked vanilla ice cream was created in 1914 by Joseph Dager, Velvet Ice Cream has never once compromised on its recipes, traditions and values. This commitment is what makes Velvet a true original in the ice cream market, and an ideal partner for Bob Evans Restaurants. Currently, the brand distributes more than 5 million gallons of ice cream and welcomes over 150,000 visitors to their ice cream parlor restaurant at Ye Olde Mill. Visitors can stop in to learn more about the brand and its history, as well as try over 40 delicious ice cream flavors and novelties.

At Bob Evans Restaurants, guests can enjoy Velvet Ice Cream with the Holy Cow Chocolate Cake, Ice Cream Sundae and Kid’s Sundae, all available for takeout, delivery or dine-in.

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CHURCH BROTHERS FARMS

Church Brothers Farms is a family-owned farm that’s been growing spinach and other fresh vegetables for over 20 years. Founders Steve and Tom Church got their start in Salinas Valley, California in the early 70’s and made the Church name an agricultural institution in the region. Today, Tom’s sons, Brian and Jeff Church, are continuing the family legacy by running the business together as brothers with main offices located in the Salinas Valley and Imperial Valley in California and Yuma, Arizona.

Church Brothers Farm delivers produce with a passion with its in-house farming and harvest programs. Each year, the farm grows eight to 10 varieties of spinach. To prevent spinach leaves from wilting in the sun, their farmers harvest at night. Once harvested, the spinach is cooled, sorted and moved to one of the Church Brothers Farm facilities where it’s triple-washed and dried before it’s packed and delivered to Bob Evans Restaurant locations as a key ingredient in our farm-fresh salads and more.

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DEER CREEK HONEY FARMS

In London, Ohio – just a short drive from the birthplace of Bob Evans in Rio Grande, Ohio – you'll find Deer Creek Honey Farms. Started in 1938 by Winston Dunham and his wife Cora, the small honey farm began as a way to supplement the family's income during the Depression. Winston had taken to beekeeping at a young age and, over the years, his interest and beehives had continued to grow. Opening the company was somewhat of a natural progression.

Today, third- and fourth-generation Dunhams keep the operation buzzing along, tending to thriving bee hives – and supplying all of Bob Evans' 100% Grade A Clover Honey. The honey has a mildly sweet and floral taste that is the perfect complement to savory flavors.

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GRIMMWAY FARMS

More than 50 years ago, brothers Rod and Bob Grimm set up a simple roadside farm stand in southern California. The brothers officially went into business as Grimmway Farms a few years later, and then in the early 80s, decided to head north and plant their roots in Bakersfield, California. There, they could take advantage of the area's optimal growing conditions to expand their operations.

The first of many smart moves and expansions over the decades, Grimmway Farms has since grown to become the world's largest producer of carrots. Today, the farm grows 100% of its produce in the U.S. and is the sole provider of carrots for Bob Evans Restaurants.

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OREGON POTATO CO.

The Oregon Potato Company (OPC), a first-generation, family-owned farm, was started by Frank Tieg in 1975. Frank learned the farming trade from his father growing up. After high school, he moved and became a full-time farmer, starting his business from the ground up. Frank’s passion for farming is strong and he still runs the company today as the General Manager—and despite being wheelchair bound due to an accident, he still gets into the fields on a regular basis. He is supported by his wife Janet, and their children who are in the agriculture industry, as well.

The Oregon Potato Company supplies two crops used in our new Fall seasonal menu items: the crispy, baby potatoes used in our Rancher BBQ Beef dinner and appetizer and the sliced, roasted apples in our Caramel Apple Griddle dishes. OPC uses Bintje potatoes, which are grown in the Pacific Northwest and like the light, sandy soil. Also OPC’s Fuji apples are grown in Washington state—the region of the U.S. famous for its delicious apples. Fuji apples were selected specifically for these seasonal menu items because of their flavor. OPC’s apples are hand-picked from the orchard before being shipped to our restaurants.

OPC utilizes a variety of sustainable farming practices and is involved with the development of innovative regenerative agriculture practices. In addition to responsibly farming for over 40 years, Frank also shares Bob Evans’ interest in being a good steward of his community. He actively gives back to his community through a variety of public and private initiatives and is a proud supporter of the National FFA Organization and the Wounded Warriors Project.

Bob Evans Restaurants is proud to partner with the Oregon Potato Company to bring this farm-fresh produce to our restaurants.