Peppers in the field Jack Porter founded Porter Farms in 1956; today, it's more than 500 acres, 100 of which are in vegetables, and the whole extended family is involved. You can still find Jack running some of the farm's heavy equipment. Jack pioneered the organic side of the operation, too; the farm's first organic field was certified in 1990.
The transition to organic methods was largely a matter of philosophy — a commitment to grow and distribute "wholesome, fresh, and safe food in a socially and environmentally responsible fashion." Porter Farms is a highly-diversified farm; they grow grain crops for an organic livestock feedmill in Penn Yan, as well as vegetables that are sold at local stores such as Lori's Natural Foods and The Abundance Co-op, in Rochester; The Lexington Coop, and the Feel-Rite stores on Maple Rd and Transit Rd. in Buffalo.
Their Community Supported Agriculture program started with 100 members in 1996 and grew to over 500 members yearly. 2023 was the final year that Porter Farms offered their CSA, citing cost increases making the program unsustainable.