The Adamas Farms journey began a generation ago. As a young child, Nathan Moss (our company President) began working in the fields and learning from his father how to care for the land. Throughout adolescence and adulthood, Nathan developed strong skills in soil management, nutrient architecture, irrigation, pest and disease prevention, and cold chain operations. Year after year, his production quality and plant sales reached new heights. But, as any seasoned farmer will tell you, “there are no guarantees in farming”. In a single season, everything they had built in the strawberry segment was soon under siege.

A virulent fungus took hold in 2018 and nearly eradicated the family business in North Carolina. A combination of warm temperatures, persistent rain, and high humidity were the perfect storm for a regional strawberry farming crisis. The Anthracnose Fruit Rot pathogen hitchhiked on water droplets from leaf to leaf and plant to plant, attacking not just the fruit but also the crowns and petioles. This wasn’t a typical fungus and standard treatments weren’t effective. Plants were literally wilting and dying overnight. That’s when Nathan discovered the most important ingredient in his success… relationships.

While Nathan had been perfecting growing systems and building optimal labor pools, he had also been cultivating a reputation as a dedicated, fair, trustworthy, and relational supplier. The connections he had formed over the years became the lifeblood of Adamas Farms and the catalyst for a move to Idaho.

When Nathan informed his long-term customers that he was contemplating a change, they offered both encouragement and new terms that would reduce the loss risk. Fueled by their support, Nathan investigated potential solutions and discovered that Idaho’s desert climate, farmer-friendly politics, and rich soil just might be the ideal environment for innovation and plant vigor.

It was a theory that needed tested. So, Nathan moved himself to Idaho for the growing season, leased some land, and ran the experiment. In the true sense of the word, he was a western “pioneer”. The west coast was known for providing a large supply all at once, which decreased profitability. To make this venture viable, Nathan needed to figure out how to enable first-to-market and a longer growing season. He also had to overcome hydration, field heat, and shipping time challenges.

As a “gut famer” who is in the field every day, Nathan was able to see what the ground needed and make quick pivots. He engaged strategic partners in the area who recognized his experience and appreciated his character (and maybe even that Appalachian accent). Together, they integrated east coast systems with west coast climate to prove the saying “if you can’t grow it in Idaho, it can’t be grown.” Leveraging the “volcanic gold” of the region, Adamas Farms emerged victorious in delivering high-vigor, field ready starts to customers across the country.

Today, Nathan and his son continue the Adamas Farms legacy. Keeping a close watch on quality, efficiency, and (most importantly) relationships, they are advancing the culture, capabilities, and reach of Adamas Farms.