Suyematsu and Bentryn Family Farms

History:
Started by the Suyematsu Family in 1928, the property that is now Day Road Farms is the oldest, most continuously farmed land on Bainbridge Island, and the last of the large family farms that at once made Bainbridge Island an agricultural community and strawberry capital. This farm is a living part of Bainbridge Island history. Akio Suyematsu, now 88 years old, is a living testament to the agricultural heritage of the Island’s Japanese-American community.

In 1976, The Bentryn’s purchased part of the farm to start Bainbridge Island Vineyards. Today is it is one of a handful of working vineyards remaining in Western WA. This is the only vineyard in Western WA never to use insecticides, and the the first Salmon Safe Certified vineyard in WA State.

In 2000, about half of the farm was sold to the City of Bainbridge through an Open Space Levy to be kept as farmland in perpetuity. This working landscape is now part of our Bainbridge Island’s community commons.

In the past four years, these farms have become growing center and a source of inspiration for edible education programs serving K-12 and community based education on the Island and in the larger Puget Sound Region.