Marks grandfather (a Russian Immigrant) came to Palmer in 1944 when Marks father was just 14. They purchased a farm on the Springer System where Ben Vanderweele has the first circle irrigation in the state. The Farm, was later sold in 1953, bur the young Rempel could not stay away long soon purchased the Butte property which has soils much like those in California where he was born. By 1962 he was growing tomatoes and cucumbers for local stores and in the 1970s grew carrots to put his children through college. Thus began the now famous Rempel Carrots.
In 1990 Mark and his wife, Tammy, took over the farm and by 1992 were farming organically. In 1999 they became certified through Alaska Organic Association which they helped to organize.
Farmers markets are our main outlet because we enjoy knowing our customers and growing what they need and want. At market you will find multi-generations, grandparents, their children.
The diversity of our vegetables is driven by our customers desires, their suggestions, and what are able to grow up here in Alaska.
Challenges in farming are multitude; frost, disease, weather, pests, moose, see availability, and time (not much rest for a market farmer in the summer), but the greatest challenges are good dependable labor and appropriate, stable market venues
