OUR STORY

Our Story

Over a Century of Farming Tradition

The Bultema family has been farming in the area for over 120 years. Peter Bultema, Sr. farmed mainly onion sets and cabbage in the early years, which was typical of Dutch immigrant farmers. His sons, Peter, Jr. and Herman joined him in the farming business from the time they could lift a hoe! They expanded the business into a “truck farm”, which included canning tomatoes, sugar beets, cabbage and onion sets.

In the late 1960’s, Pete and Herman, along with the help of Pete’s wife Wilma, opened a u-pick business. The farm expanded their crops to include many peppers and vegetables.

Barn — Lynwood, IL — Bultema’s Farmstand & Greenhouse

Pete’s sons, Bill and Dan chose to join the family business. Over the last 40 years the business has grown exponentially.  Many wholesalers who sell fresh vegetables in the Chicagoland area purchase their produce from Bultema’s. The retail farmstand and u-pick is unlike any other farm in the Chicagoland area. There are very few family-run vegetable farms remaining. Bill and Dan’s sons, Joel and Dan, Jr. continue the farming tradition. With their knowledge of farming and technology, the farm will remain in step with the latest conservative farming techniques.

We Continue to Grow

Bultema’s Greenhouses were a later part of the business. Started approximately 25 years ago, it continues to be a unique place to purchase annual baskets, topiaries, perennials, accent plants, and flats. The knowledge of plants from farming has spilled over to the greenhouses, where the health of our plants is second to none.

Throughout the years, many of Peter Bultema’s grandchildren, great grandchildren, and now great great grandchildren have worked on the farm. Peter Bultema, Sr.’s legacy lives on. We give all praise to God for these blessings!

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