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From strawberries to squash, the Reeves family strives on selling the largest and best selection of local produce the East End has to offer.
Katie Reeves, co-owner of Bayview Market and Farms in Aquebogue, said that her family has owned and operated the 150-acre farm for more than 200 years.
“The farm has been in my husband, Paul’s, family for seven generations,” she said adding that her two children, her 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, help out, too. “They’ll be the eighth generation.”
Originally Bayview Market and Farms had a humble beginning with founder Orry Reeve floating horse and wagons across the Peconic Bay to peddle produce to Southampton hotels. After selling fruits and veggies off the back of a truck for years, C. Reeve Sr. and sons George Jr. and Bradford built their first roadside stand. It was named Little Chief after his favorite variety of sweet corn.
In the years since, it has passed down from generation to generation and eventually grew to open the iconic farmstand they have today and now with two locations; one in Aquebogue and the other in Jamesport.
Reeves said that in 2000, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lorraine and Bradford, opened up the 891 Main Road location that stops dozens of cars daily with their giant corn décor or Popeye the sailor statue. In 2014, the family expanded to just over a mile east at 5629 Sound Avenue with Sound Shore Market and Farms
“We focus on providing customers the largest selection of produce,” she said. Customers who stop in to either market can easily find whatever fruit or vegetable they’re looking for during every season — strawberries, spinach, beefsteak tomatoes, cauliflower, squash and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. “You’ll always find something you like here.”
Reeves said that they also didn’t want the markets to be solely produce. They expanded the stores to also sell jams, honey, freshly baked pies and bread, local duck from their neighbors at Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, pot pies from Baiting Hollow’s Cooperage Inn and ice cream from Magic Fountain in Mattituck.
“It’s a one stop shop,” she said.
Open every day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., the markets also have picnic areas available for customers to eat their purchases on site.
In early summer, the farm offers strawberry picking for families to enjoy. Other goods that one can find seasonally include jumbo broccoli, giant cauliflower, eggplants, zucchini, onions, peppers, potatoes, herbs, lettuce, Brussels sprouts and freshly roasted sweet corn — a perfect fall treat making Bayview and its sister location definite stops during a North Fork day trip.
