Our Story

Rooted in tradition. Growing with purpose.

Schwartz Farms began in 1956, when Tom Schwartz Sr. established a dairy and 200-acre grain farm in Cortland, Ohio. With a passion for agriculture and a deep respect for the land, Tom Sr. laid the groundwork for what would become a multi-generational family farm. What started as a modest operation focused on traditional row crops gradually took root as a lasting legacy.

In 1979, Tom’s two sons, Tom Jr. and Dan, joined the farm full-time, bringing with them new energy and a forward-thinking approach to the business. That same year, the family sold their dairy cows and expanded their grain operation. They also began selling hay and straw. Around this time, Dan and his wife Pam purchased 10 sows for a farrow-to-finish hog operation. Over the next 15 years, their hog farm grew to include approximately 120 sows and 1,500 head in total.

By 1989, a general partnership was formed between Tom Sr., Tom Jr., and Dan. At that time, Schwartz Farms was cultivating around 1,500 acres of grain.

In late 1994, Dan and Pam exited the hog business and sold their pigs, transitioning the farm into an all-grain operation.

Just a year later, in September 1995, Tom Sr. passed away. That fall, a new grain bin and elevator system were installed—representing both a tribute to his legacy and a step forward for the future of the farm.

In late 1997, construction began on the farm’s first seed plant. By 1998, the project was completed, and Schwartz Farms officially launched its seed business. That same year, we entered the food-grade soybean market and became an international player by contracting 400 bushels of Non-GMO food-grade soybeans with Saitama Ryoukoku Company, a Japanese business. Dan had identified a growing demand for identity-preserved soybeans—particularly from export markets like Japan—and led the charge into this new direction. In late 1998, Schwartz Farms made its first international soybean shipment to Japan, marking the beginning of a long-standing partnership with Saitama Ryoukoku that continues to this day.

In 1999, we signed our first domestic food-grade contract, partnering with House Foods, a food manufacturer on the U.S. East Coast. To meet growing demand, Schwartz Farms began contracting local growers to produce Non-GMO food-grade soybeans. That same year, Dan traveled to Tokyo, Japan to meet with our international business partners in person.

In Fall 2012, we expanded our facility again by constructing a new warehouse as an extension to the seed plant. This space allowed for improved storage of seed, pallets, proboxes, and equipment.

A major milestone came in 2014, when Schwartz Farms installed state-of-the-art equipment at our seed plant, including a robotic stacker and bagging line, grain cleaner, and color sorter. These additions helped us meet the exacting standards of food manufacturers and global buyers. In 2015, we began construction on a dedicated corn facility at a separate location, further expanding on-farm storage and processing capacity to support our food-grade soybean operations.

Today, Schwartz Farms is proud to be a three-generation, family-owned and operated farm and seed company. We grow and sell soybeans, corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa, rye, malting barley, and cover crops for seed and food production, depending on the commodity. Led by Dan, Tom, and the next generation of the Schwartz family—alongside a hardworking and trusted team—we farm approximately 3,500 acres for seed and grain production, and manage over 14,000 acres of contracted food-grade soybeans.

Our specialty remains Non-GMO, food-grade soybeans, which we proudly supply to customers across the United States and internationally. We continue to emphasize quality, traceability, and long-standing relationships with our partners.

From Tom Sr.’s first planting in 1956 to today’s global exports, our story is one of steady growth, innovation, and deep family commitment. As we look ahead, we remain devoted to excellence—rooted in tradition and growing with purpose.