About Us

Van Solkema Produce, Inc. got it’s start when Gerrit Van Solkema came to the United States in 1896 from the Netherlands. Gerrit started farming in Vriesland Michigan after he found some muckland to rent. After farming there for 7 years he purchased 200 acres of muckland in the Byron Center area. He raised celery on this land and sold it to Chicago merchants. He would load the celery on a horse drawn wagon and then go by boat to Chicago to sell the celery. In 1929 he purchased a building in Byron Center and started the Golden Celery Co. He sold the building and the business after a couple of years to an employee. Gerritt’s son Al continued farming after his father retired. Al grew onions and celery on muckland that he purchased and cleared himself. When Al’s son Gerald came home from the Navy in 1946 Al retired and Gerald took over. Gerald started growing radishes, parsnips, onions and carrots. In the early 60’s Gerald built a packing plant and started packing radishes, parsnips and carrots. The company outgrew that packing facility so he bought the packing plant in Byron Center that was originally owned by his grandfather Gerrit. The company needed more product so he bought more muckland. Some of the land that he bought was originally owned by grandfather Gerrit. Gerald retired in 1990 and his son Gerald (Jerry) took over the packaging and sales end of the business. Son in law Carl Bossenbroek took over the farming end of the business which is called Everfresh Farms. Today the company packages radishes, parsnips and turnips and sells vegetables grown by other farmers. The company also has sales offices in Moultrie, Georgia and Statesboro, Georgia.