The History of Holmquest Farms and Greenhouse

2023 begins our 80th year in business.

As fourth generation family farmers, we are proud to continue the tradition that our great grandfather began in 1944. Today the farm is owned and operated by Tom Holmes, and it is comprised of over 500 acres. The farm keeps up with technology to help with the challenging task of running a private family farm. The greenhouses alone have a combined growing and sales area of over 30,000 square feet.

Here’s the story…

1944

In 1944, Tom’s grandfather Richard Holmes Jr. bought the property that had been Evan’s Brewery since the early 1900s. During that time New York State began to require that all cow herds have a registered name, so the name Holmquest was born. On the property Richard Jr. created a cow farm which he ran with his wife, Tom’s grandmother, Ellenbelle.

1959

Tom’s dad Richard Holmes III took over the farm. Tom’s dad ran the farm with his mom Elaine and together, they turned Holmquest Farms into a crop farm and opened the first greenhouses.

1997

Tom took over the farm and in 1999 took over the greenhouse operations as well.

Planting, fertilization and harvest machinery are continuously upgraded and in 2012 solar panels were installed, providing power for the entire farm.

2013

Work was completed on a new 15,000 square foot greenhouse that includes automated temperature control and zoned irrigation.

2022

We added our third 15,000 square foot automated greenhouse which brings our greenhouse space to over 60,000 square feet. An extensive water recovery system catches the rainwater and the flow from the flood tables in the greenhouse, returning it for greenhouse for watering. Not only green – but GREEN!