The Farm’s History

Stanley King was given the opportunity to work on a local farm with one cow and some pigs, and was paid $10 a week to do so. Working with his four boys and his wife, they saved up enough to rent the farm for $60 a month where they grew lima beans, cucumbers, and other assorted vegetables. Along with a few cows, some chickens, and some eggs, there was no equipment, and everything was done by hand.

Only eleven days after graduating high school, his son Richard “Tate” King, was drafted into World War II and served in the Pacific, and was in one of the first troops to enter Tokyo. While winding up his 21 months of active service, Tate received a letter from his father asking if they should buy the 27 acres of farmland, he replied with a letter saying to go for it. This letter shaped their lives and started what we know and love today.

The King family purchased the farm in 1945 and have ran it themselves ever since. The family lived in the house still standing on the farm which is now over 150 years old. Upon returning home from war, Tate used the money he saved up from being in the army to build a barn. In 1948, the Kings purchased some dairy cows and got into the dairy business which Tate called a “roller coaster ride.” Stanley, Tate, and Tate’s brother Stanley Jr. worked alongside one another to run the farm. In 1952, Tate met his wife Millicent, “Millie,” who was a private duty registered nurse. Tate referred to his wife as, “The greatest thing to ever happen to me,” and stressed that her income as a nurse was vital to the farm and his family’s success. At the time of their wedding, Stanley divided the farm into three shares, one for Tate, one for Stanley Jr., and one for himself. Together, Tate and Millie had four children, Richard, Kathleen, Karin, and Kevin.

When Stanley died in 1957 at only the age of 57, Tate bought out his brother’s and his father’s share and owned the farm himself. He delivered fresh eggs to residential and commercial customers for many years. It was around this time that his friend Ray Halsey, of Halsey Farms, encouraged Tate to open an official “farmstand” and get into growing vegetables. Tate claimed that listening to this advice, “was the best business thing I ever did.” The family eventually sold their cows and ended their dairy business in 1975 and they mainly just had eggs and produce. They started with radishes, lettuce, herbs, and tomatoes all planted by hand. Before machinery and tractors, everything was picked and bunched by hand, employing many local young men. Tate was a mentor and friend to many young people who worked for him.

“I’m working hard to keep the farm going. I’ve been through plenty, but I’m still here. It’s been a great ride.” -Richard “Tate” King

In the early 90s, they became more serious about growing vegetables and built their own greenhouse. The greenhouse also allowed them to start growing their own flowers which they sold as plants and bouquets. Anything they did not grow themselves would be sourced by other local farms. Also around this time, they started raising chickens to sell for chicken meat. The family began to raise turkeys in the early 2000s in small numbers for Thanksgiving time.

Tate’s daughter Kathleen began selling cookies out of the stand beginning at the age of eleven. Her chocolate chip cookies are now known across the world as “Tate’s Cookies” and has expanded to produce many other types of cookies, pastries, and baked goods. His son Richard “Richie” King, went to Cornell and learned more about running the farm to help his father. He ran the business along side his father up until his passing in 2016, and has since owned and run the farm along side his wife Robin ever since.

Today, “A small farm with a little bit of everything,” as Tate once said, is still running strong by Richie. There are 550 egg laying chickens and 1,500 chickens of different ages for meat. The primary focus produce wise consists of lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, melons, and assorted vegetables. Turkeys are also raised for Thanksgiving, where around 1,000 are raised every year. Richie’s wife Robin runs the greenhouse seeding all of the vegetables by hand, as well as growing beautiful plants and flowers which are sold at the stand. The farm continues to bring in local produce from all over the east end, as well as other products from local businesses. The stand has expanded based on demand to provide produce grown in more tropical climates, milk and cheeses, and other popular items. The farm currently consists of 12 acres across three different fields in Southampton. North Sea Farms is an important piece of local history that will be around for many years to come.

“Most of my life all I had was the change in my pockets. It was Millie and her Southampton Hospital check that held us over, but now they tell me the land is worth millions of dollars but I can never sell, because its true worth is much more to me as my home.”

-Richard “Tate” King