Our History
In 1928 John Piersma started the first Holland Farms door-to-door milk delivery. He was joined by his new bride, Evlyn, on a below freezing morning in December of 1933.
John and Evlyn each had their own truck and delivery routes, serving downtown Utica and surrounding areas. Evlyn gave up her route in 1940 to start a family, but milk delivery continued throughout World War ll with John’s brothers Sid taking over the milk bottling production, Pierre driving a milk route, Herman running the family’s dairy farm, and Jacob buying and running a second dairy farm.
Holland Farms Bakery is Born
1950
Holland Farms had four men delivering milk to residences, businesses and hospitals six days a week.
1955
John opened Holland Farms Dairy Bar and Bakery on the triangle in Yorkville, employing two Dutch bakers to produce fresh, quality baked goods for the community.
1966
Moved to present location at 50 Oriskany Blvd. in Yorkville onto the site of the former Sal’s Barbecue. A second Holland Farms Bakery was operated in Clinton for several years in the late 70s and early 80s, on the current site of the Clinton Post Office.
1980
Suzanne P. Harrington and Marolyn P. Wilson owned and operated Holland Farms Bakery and Deli and brought the business to the next level.
1996
Herman Piersma and Richard Piersma, Pierre’s son, retired from the milk business and closed Holland Dairy after 69 years of supplying milk to the community.
2019
Suzanne's daughter and the founder's granddaughter, Heather Potrzeba, has owned and run Holland Farms Bakery & Deli. The business currently employs about 70 people who help it continue the fresh quality and consistency that was started by John and Evlyn.
We’ve never stopped providing our loyal customers the homemade quality they deserve - and we never will.
All our donuts, cakes, pies and pastries are made from scratch, and according to the New York Bakers Association, we are a unique operation in the State of New York. We produce more baked “hand made” goods in one location than any other bakery in our state or New Jersey. “Mom and Pop” bakeries are being eaten up by big companies and there are few of us left doing quality “hand made” baking and still showing a profit.
We have had to compete with the in-house bakeries of the large grocery stores that have arrived in the Mohawk Valley, with their giant resources, convenience, and frozen product, and have fared well. Check out our seasonal commercials, too – we think our fun sense of humor really shows! (And you might just spot a local celebrity covered in powdered sugar, too.)