Painter Produce​

How it all began...

Growing up in North & South Dakota, we always had a garden to enjoy all summer long and to preserve for the cold winter months.  When we moved to western Nebraska in 2011, we had a dream to share our freshly grown produce with others in our community.  Painter Produce started with a very small, simple backyard garden.  Since then it has developed into approximately 1.5 acres under produce production with four high tunnel structures.  Our first high tunnel was erected in 2012 mainly for the production of early tomatoes and peppers for our market shoppers.  In 2013,  a second tunnel was constructed to expand our early market vegetables to include carrots, beets, cucumbers, sweet onions, cabbage, and zucchini.  After a devastating hail storm in 2015, we constructed a third high tunnel.  This tunnel allowed us to protect more of our best selling produce from the severe weather that we get in the Panhandle of Nebraska.  In 2018, we needed to expand our tomato crop in order to process more picante and pasta sauce, therefore, our fourth high tunnel was erected. 

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​What we grow and sell...

We are believers in growing what you like to eat.  Having grown up in the Midwest, we have always enjoyed a hearty dinner of beef and potatoes after a hard days work!   We don't sell beef, but we do sell most everything else that you can put on the table to enjoy along side it.  Our farm-to-table produce is wonderful to eat fresh.  It is also perfect to use in baking and preserving.  We make it available almost all year long at our Farm Stand and by delivery. 

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How we've expanded...

In 2013 we began construction of a new root cellar, modeled after vintage designs.  The 2014 root crops were the first to hunker down for the winter with stable temperatures in the upper 30's and humidity close to 95%...  perfect for storing potatoes, beets, carrots, cabbage, and turnips.  During peak tomato harvest in 2015, Painter Produce Picante was officially added to our market stand!  With a recipe that was 20 years in development and approved by the FDA, we rented a licensed, commercial kitchen and finally jarred the fruits (and veggies) of our labor.  Bonzelli's Best Pasta Sauce followed the next year and has been a great addition to our market line-up.

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Who we are...

Dan is the master of the garden.  He spends countless hours planting seedlings, pulling weeds, dragging hoses, moving sand, putting up the hay, and dreaming up new ideas of what to do next.  He is also the carpenter on the farm and is always coming up with new things to build from chicken tractors, root cellars, and produce washing stations.

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Tracy is the creative one behind the scenes.  She brings life to the seeds in early February and grows them until they are big enough to plant outside in the main garden and inside the high tunnels.  She also picks the produce, sells it at market, makes deliveries, and preserves what she can.  When there is any extra time, she tries her best to keep customers informed through social media outlets.

A farm intern (nephew Harrison shown) is tasked with running the tiller, controlling weeds, operating the skid steer, watering the gardens, helping pick & prepare for market, late-season harvesting & root cellaring, and just about any other chore that needs to be done.

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SharlaMae and Jillianne have the hardest tasks of keeping pocket gophers, prairie dogs, and mice at bay.  They also enjoy irrigating on hot days and chasing dragonflies all summer long. 

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Duke (or his successor) & the Girls make up the flock.  They are in charge of waking the farm up at daybreak and providing a healthy breakfast for the crew.  They are compensated well with the best organic produce trimmings available.