Tradition

In 1850 as a teenager, William Laird Adam immigrated to America from Scotland. Settling in California's Santa Maria Valley, William was a pioneering farmer and merchant.

At the time of his arrival, Santa Maria had a population of around 100. William's son, James Adam, was the second generation to cultivate crops in the Santa Maria Valley. James' son John F. Adam Sr., born in 1898, was the third generation. John and his two brothers, William P. and Kenneth, formed the original Adam Bros. Farming.

John integrated the tractor, at the time a new tool for agriculture, into the operation and proved its effectiveness to his brothers who preferred to use the older technology of horses and mules. Together, the brothers raised sugar beets, seed beans, and feed for the draft animals used in the farming operations.In addition, they started to dabble in iceberg lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower on a small scale.

Richard E. Adam, the fourth generation of Adam farmers, has grown vegetables in the Santa Maria Valley for over 50 years. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, served in the United States Air Force, and then returned home to continue the family business.

Today, fifth generation sons, Peter, Dominic, and Kieran continue to farm on some of the same land that William Laird Adam settled and farmed in the 1800's.