by Alicia Wolfram
For many Nantucketers, summer doesn’t officially start until that first bite of Bartlett’s sweet corn, so fresh you can eat it raw—and if you ask the Bartlett family, that’s exactly how they prefer it.
Corn season is just around the corner, with Bartlett’s signature sweet corn expected to be ready for harvest by mid- July: one of the busiest times of year on Nantucket’s oldest and largest farm.
“The freshness, the sweetness, it’s unmatchable,” said Keegan Bartlett, Sales and Promotions Manager at the farm.
Head grower and sixth generation farmer Dave Bartlett, who has worked on the farm since he was six, credits the corn’s especially sweet flavor to Nantucket’s unique geographic position and coastal climate. “All of our produce has a distinct flavor, as opposed to anything that you’re going to buy at a supermarket or from off island,” he explained, “We’re sitting 30 miles out to sea and with the fog and the salt air … it just picks up that sweeter taste.”
Sweet corn isn’t the only thing growing at Bartlett’s. Tomatoes begin ripening in late May and last through September, alongside cut flowers, peppers, melons, and other summer staples that round out the season and stock the shelves inside the farm’s market.
Bartlett’s Farm has been a proud, family-run operation for seven generations, dating back to the early 1800s, when William Bartlett first settled on Nantucket. What began as a modest subsistence farm has blossomed into Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm, an island institution since its incorporation in 1843. Today, it remains a pillar of the Nantucket community, providing fresh, locally-grown produce and using sustainable farming practices that honor its rich heritage.
Bartlett’s is also leading the way in organic and sustainable agriculture. It’s currently the only farm on Nantucket with certified organic and GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certified fields and is in the process of transitioning the rest of its acreage—a project Dave has helped lead.
Although not yet 100% certified organic due to the complexity and cost of the process, Bartlett’s prioritizes organic and regenerative methods across its entire operation.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re producing it conventionally or organically. We have 60, 70 years of institutional knowledge and have been growing on our land for the last 180 years,” said Dave. “So we take care of our soils, we take care of our environment, and, for us, that’s sustainable.”
Bartlett’s environmental values extend beyond the soil. The farm’s commitment to renewable energy began in the early 1980s when it first partnered with a wind energy company to explore turbine development on the farm. Although federal tax cuts halted the project, the idea stuck. Today, the seven acres of solar panels on the farm’s property offset 100% of the farm’s energy needs while avoiding the emission of 2,100 tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to the farm’s website. Excess power gets sent back to the grid.
The farm’s approach blends generations of passed-down knowledge with modern science and up-to-date agricultural research, said Keegan.
Beyond farming, Bartlett’s is woven into island life. From churches and schools to the farm truck on Main Street, the farm has long been part of the island’s social and economic fabric. “To have local suppliers, local vendors, local people that you get to see at the football game on Friday—I think that’s really important,” said Keegan.
Callaghan Bartlett, Marketing and Promotions Assistant and a seventh generation Bartlett, emphasized the importance of keeping the farm in the family. “It ensures that we keep the land doing what it’s always been doing: farming using sustainable practices and feeding the community,” he said.
Bartlett’s also works to reduce food waste by donating excess produce to the Nantucket Food Pantry, giving away fruits, vegetables, and unsold goods that are still fresh and safe to eat.
For Dave, farming is a lifestyle. “I love what I do. You have to love farming,” he said. “It’s incredibly hard. It’s incredibly unpredictable, the weather, the wildlife, disease, everything.”
Throughout the summer, Bartlett’s invites visitors out into the fields to take part in pick-your-own tours, where they can gather their own bouquets of seasonal flowers and harvest fresh vegetables straight from the soil—a hands-on glimpse into the daily rhythm of island farming.
As the farm evolves with new organic certifications and renewable energy, its core values remain the same: growing food with care, stewarding the land, and feeding the island it’s called home for generations.
“Simply said, we want to do things that are good for the island and each other.”
Bartlett’s Farm Flower Tours begin on July 16, and their Veggie Tours start on July 17. Tickets are available at BartlettsFarm.com. Private tours for up to 30 guests can also be arranged. Bartlett’s Farm Market is open daily from 8 am to 7 pm in-season. Their Garden Center is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
