Spooner Farms is a family berry farm that has been operating for decades. It has been a private enterprise before 1986 when it finally became incorporated, mostly due to the farm’s expansion.
It started as nothing more than a small farm, but it has now become an important company for Pierce County since it provides employment, food, tax revenue, and even family fun for people living in the region.
The company was owned by Ken M. Spooner, but he died in 1999, leaving his two children to run the company though ownership changed after that. At the moment, it is owned by one of Timothy Spooner’s brothers.
Out of all the food the farm grows, raspberries provide the bulk of business that Spooner Farms receives. It should be pointed out that the company uses some type of fumigation to ensure no viruses or bacteria affect the crop that many residents depend on. Some people may say this precaution is a little unnecessary, but the reality is the State of Washington sends officials to inspect the farm to make sure the food is safe.
Washington worries about Spooner Farms not only because it represents a significant tax revenue source but also because many counties in the state rely on their food, including farmer’s markets. It is no secret that farmer’s markets have grown in popularity with more people wanting to support local businesses and farms. The people of Yelm, Puyallup, and Olympia depend on this company for berries, corn, pumpkin and other vegetables.
Spooner Farms knows how important it is to the community, and it actively finds ways to give back to a community that does a lot to keep the farm afloat. For one, it hosts an annual harvest celebration that brings the community, those who work there, and families together. The celebration is open to all, so those who visit Washington during Autumn also get to join in the fun. Some things people do during this celebration and other times of the year are corn mazes, hayrides, food vendor booths, and the pumpkin patch.
The company is attempting to use some of the profits from these activities to fund some of the farm’s more grand ambitions, like the expansion of their farms. In essence, the company is simply trying to invest in Washington and the people of this state.
Timothy Spooner has been the owner of this company since 2018. Tim still works the land and oversees some of the production along with his trustworthy employees that live in the area. It is easy to see that Tim, like his father, loves farming and loves the state of Washington.
The owner might have been Tim’s father for some time, but this farm has been owned by six generations of the Spooner family since 1882. There is no doubt that Timothy feels the weight of those generations before him. Tim just wants to make them proud by moving the company forward and continuing to provide great tasting foods to those that trust his farm.