Papen Farms Inc. in Dover, DE, has numerous family members working in the company, and they all have their own unique ability and individual position.

Cole Papen, grandson of Richard Papen, sales manager for the company, joined the company following his high school graduation this spring. He joins the ranks of several fourth-generation family members now working for the company.

“Cole will be working in the fields,” Richard Papen told The Produce News. “We look forward to having another Papen family member on board.”Third-generation Papen Farms’ family members Tony Kaczka and Ken Papen, second-generation Jack Papen, his son and also a third-generatio family member Jeff Papen and Jeff’s son, Joel Papen, one of several fourth-generation family members.

Papen Farms added a little acreage to its operation this season. It now farms over 2,000 acres of vegetables. It produces sweet corn, cabbage and green beans. Some crops, such as cabbage and green beans, are double crops, producing in both spring and fall.

In late May, Papen said that its crops will run about a week late due to the wet and cold spring. But warm weather has all crops catching up fast.

“Cabbage looks very good,” he said. “It will start on June 10, and green beans will start on June 20. We’re looking at a start date on sweet corn about July 10, or a little earlier. You never know how the weather will change, and we’ve had to irrigate some recently. But overall we’re looking at good movement and high quality.”

Papen Farms wraps up its Eastern Shore operation in early November.

Despite ever-increasing costs of production, Papen said when farming is a strong part of their heritage, farmers stick to it with strong determination.

The company sells its produce under the “Papen Farms” label. Its customers are wholesalers, brokers and retailers, including major chainstores.

“We ship a lot of product to Florida, especially in August when it’s very hot and nothing is being produced there,” explained Papen. “And we ship a lot to the Northeast earlier in the year when growers there are not in production. We also ship as far west as the Mississippi River. Wherever there is demand, we’ll ship to that area, but most of the demand on our product is based on seasonal growing conditions up and down the East Coast.”

Papen Farms continues to focus on its food-safety program.

“We are third-party audited, and in full compliance with all the required certifications, including traceability,” said Papen. “We continually update our facility. Currently we are putting in new units in our cooling rooms. We are always making improvements and updates.”