Smits Farms was started in 1990 by Carl Smits and his fiance Debbie.  Carl went to school to be a minister, but in his junior year, he did not feel called to the ministry, but did feel a strong call to farming.  Carl and Debbie were married in 1991 after she finished nursing school.  In 1992 the first greenhouse was built, and another was added in 1993.  In the summer of that same year, Carl wanted to get on the Chicago Farmers Markets and was given approval if he brought fresh herbs, so he began growing a variety of herbs.  1994 saw the addition of another greenhouse, and also another type of "addition": the birth of our first child.  Well, five children later and many greenhouses too, Smits Farms is where it is today.  We are thankful for where God has called us to be and know that this is what He wants us to do.  Thank you for visiting our website and feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.  We would love to hear from you!

As of August 2009 we at Smits Farms have become Food Alliance Certified!  Food Alliance is a nonprofit organization that certifies that farms, ranches and food handlers are producing and processing food in a sustainable and safe way. 

By choosing Food Alliance Certified products, consumers and commercial food buyers can be assured they are supporting safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of animals, and good environmental stewardship. 

For farmers and food handlers, Food Alliance certification provides independent verification of marketing claims for social and environmental responsibility, differentiating and adding value to products, and protecting and enhancing brands. 

Food Alliance offers certification for farm and ranch operations, and for food packers, processors and distributors.  In summary, Food Alliance assures that a quality product can be produced in an environmentally friendly way for generations to come.