About Thies Farm

Mission Statement:

Having been given a love of the land,
it is our mission to share with our customers
a harvest of the healthiest flowers
and most nutritious crop fresh from our fields.

For five generations, our family has cultivated and crafted stong roots in agriculture. With this understanding of the land and respect for the natural process, our farm has come to encompass this passion. Our philosophy of growth stems from three key relationships: community, land, and crop.

Communication and respect are key elements in any relationship. Through a proper understanding of what happens beneath the soil, we are able to afford our crops the best environment to develop a strong and healthy root structure. We respect the relationship between the crops and soil in which they grow, and respect the land for what it will provide for many generations to come.

We want our customers trust in regards to quality and integrity. Growing doesn't end when our crops are harvested or plants sold. This is merely the beginning of a new relationship between us and our customer- one that will continue to grow and flourish for many years to come.

Come walk and experience the natural beauty of our land and greenhouses through the changing seasons. There is always something new and exciting happening on the farm and we are more than happy to show you around.

Past - Present: Thies Farm Through the Years

Thies Farm dates back to 1885 when a 25-acre parcel of land was purchased here in St. Louis at what is now known as North Hanley Road. Today, the 5th generation of the Thies Family continue to own and operate on ten of the original 25 acres located at 4215 N. Hanley Rd.

Like so many in 1885, Thies Farm began as a truck farm. Fruits and vegetables were raised and trucked daily to the produce market in downtown St. Louis. The business and production grew, eventually opening their first retail operation in the form of a roadside stand on North Hanley.

Darrell and Dave Thies grew up learning the ins and outs of the farm operation under the watchful eye of their father, Edgar. Though encouraged by their parents to explore different career opportunities, both Dave and Darrell returned to the farm following their respective graduations from the University of Missouri- Columbia and now share ownership of the 125-year old family business.

Today, the fifth generation Thies's carry on this tradition with a second location at 3120 Maryland Heights Expressway, and a third location in St. Charles that will be opening mid-2010.

The Maryland Heights farm consists of approximately 120 acres of fruit and vegetable production in addition to 40,000 square feet of greenhouse space. A retail market at each farm brings the homegrown harvest from the field directly to the consumer.

Though modern technology has certainly done a lot in terms of making farming easier than say, 100 years ago, it still holds true that in farming one always seems to be working against the clock. Just as their great-great-grandfather did in 1885, the Thies's often find themselves working long hours. A 60-70 hour workweek during the peak of homegrown season is nothing unusual. Farming truly is a labor of love!