For generations, Spooner Farms has set the standard for exceptional produce in Western Washington—strawberries that taste like dessert, creamy blueberries that burst with sweet indigo juice, and raspberries that make your eyes go wide with delight.
Step onto their Puyallup farm, and you’re greeted by Mount Rainier looming above neat rows of strawberries, its snowcapped peak shimmering in the morning light. Acres upon acres of sun-soaked fields stretch in every direction, bursting with vibrant berries ripe for the picking.
Leading it all is fifth-generation farmer Sam Spooner, whose towering stature is balanced by an easy, grounded presence. His warm handshake immediately puts you at ease.
Ask Sam what he loves about farming, and he doesn’t hesitate.
“It’s primal. As a society, we’re so disconnected from our food. Being out in the field, wind blowing, snacking on berries plucked fresh from the source. It’s inspiring and makes you feel alive.”
The Berry Best Produce
Spooner Farms specializes in “regionally specific berries,” meaning they cultivate varieties uniquely suited to our local climate.
Puget Crimson strawberries are perhaps their most prized crop—a June mainstay that has earned a devoted community following.
“Eating a local strawberry is by far the most different flavor profile than one that’s been shipped,” says Sam. “It’s so distinct and intense. I love seeing people experience it for the first time.”
Tulameen raspberries, introduced in the 1980s, are another farm favorite thanks to their one-of-a-kind flavor and incredibly delicate texture.
While the farm mostly grows strawberries and raspberries, you’ll also find blueberries, blackberries, tayberries, and boysenberries in their fields. Legacy blueberries, Sam’s favorite crop, have an exceptionally sweet, pear-like flavor that you can enjoy throughout July and August. During their annual fall festival, Spooner Farms offers an abundance of fresh corn and pumpkins that can reach up to 400 pounds.
“Freshness has been our key to longevity. Most fruit goes straight from the field to the vans to the stores within hours,” Sam shares. “All the Spooner fruit, corn, and pumpkins that customers purchase are grown and harvested within 35 miles or less of every Metropolitan Market.”
Spooner Values and Legacy
Family has always been at the heart of Spooner Farms. In 1882, Antone Spooner and Joseph Wallace started the business by growing hops, a crop used for brewing beer. Antone later married Joseph's sister, Mary. Their farmstand emphasized "hospitality above all else."
Since then, they have expanded to nine individual properties, each with its own soil composition and microclimate, allowing the family to grow a wide variety of crops.
Sam says, “Visitors will tell me that they make an annual trip to our fields to pick raspberries with their grandkids, or they used to come visit the farm with their own grandparents and make jam with their harvest. These stories are a unique reflection of the farm’s heritage.”
Beyond their generational legacy, Spooner Farms has built a devoted customer base by prioritizing quality of flavor over shelf life. Their number one mission has always been getting the best-tasting fruit into customers' hands.
Sam shares, “I don’t want to grow something that I’m not excited to eat. It needs to taste amazing!”
Growing Up on the Farm
Sam developed a connection to the land as a child, waking up at the crack of dawn to pluck fruit from the fields and learning what it takes to grow high-quality food from his parents and grandparents.
Sam reminisces about riding in the bed of his grandpa’s truck and running through the strawberry irrigation sprinklers to cool off on a hot day.
He briefly left farming in his late teens to work in construction but was eventually drawn back to the family business. Sam’s sister, Becky Heslep, oversees the operational side of the farm.
“Every day is different and that keeps it fresh and exciting, and I’m really lucky to be able to work alongside my family,” says Sam.
He gets to pass on the tradition to his two children, Owen and Elaina. Elaina runs the farmstand at the Puyallup farmers market, and Owen often asks if he can go out into the field. It warms Sam’s heart to see his kids share his passion for farming.
“Any day you come to the farm, there are two to three generations of Spooners here.”
The Tight-Knit Farming Community
Farming is no walk in the park. Every season brings new challenges, requiring constant adaptation. Much of that resilience comes from generations of knowledge shared among local growers.
“Farmers are really passionate people. They want to keep the practice alive. Everyone’s down to help each other,” says Sam.
Berry farmers share resources when they’re struggling, even giving each other a portion of their crops when a field fails. Generosity is the standard, not the exception.
Reaping Life Lessons
Farming has taught Sam about accepting the highs and lows of life.
“You can work hard and things don’t always work out. But if you put the right effort into certain areas, you can get a big reward.”
Sam hopes that visitors to the property take away an appreciation for the rhythms of the seasons.
“You prune in winter, plan your crops a year in advance, and then wait months or even years to see it all come to fruition.”
It’s a continuous dance with Mother Nature, and the Spooners have perfected the steps over more than a century. The next time you buy a pack of local berries, give a nod of thanks to the hard-working family who brought them from the fields to your table.
Taste the Spooner Difference
Seeing the Spooner Farms name on Metropolitan Market shelves has introduced countless shoppers to the family behind the fruit and helped establish the farm as a trusted local brand. You can visit Spooner Farms’ website to learn more and plan a visit, or shop online for seasonal specialties delivered right to your door.