About Us

The goal of Ben's Produce is to respect the primacy of a healthy planet and people by providing the most nutritious, healthy and local food that is picked fresh at peak ripeness.

Ben's Produce of Raleigh, North Carolina, was started in September 2009 by Benjamin Shields and Patricia Parker in partnership with Tom Kumpf of Double-T Farm in Garner. Ben has been working as Apprentice to Tom Kumpf and Field Manager of Double-T Farm since March 2009. Because of our direct and face-to-face relationship with customers, who we invite to visit the farm anytime, Double-T Farm is un-certified organic. Also, Double-T Farm follow the National Organic Program guidelines.

Ben hails from two regions of Massachusetts, the forested hills west of the Connecticut River and cranberry country near Cape Cod. In the hills, he grew up running around the woods when not attending the garden and sheep on his mother's homestead. Down in cranberry country, Ben worked with his father and step-mother on their third generation dairy farm. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a self-designed bachelor's in Sustainable International Development and spent 8 months in Italy during 2004 working on organic farms. Ben then moved to New York City in 2006 where he worked in consumer marketing for the Smithsonian Magazine. Dissatisfied with city life, Ben moved to Raleigh with his partner Patricia to support her dreams and follow his.

Patricia hails from middle Tennessee, daughter of an Army Sargent and German mother. She is currently working towards her doctorate in Sociology at NC State.