History of the Farm

Brightwaters Farm has been in existence since the late 1600's. The land was purchased from the King of England by the Phelp's family, the farms original founders. The farm at that time consisted of thousands of beautiful undeveloped acres, some wooded, some cultivated, as well as grazing fields for the animals that were raised on the farm.

In 1907, the Phelps sold portions of the land to T.B. Ackerson who then developed the Brightwaters Farm section of Bay Shore. The remaining 750 acres of farmland was then sold in small pieces. In 1938 Paul DeFere purchased 30 plus acres from the Phelps family and worked the land until his death in 1984. Just prior to his death however, he sold the building and development right to the Suffolk County Farmland Preservation Committee leaving the farmlands protected from future building and development.

After Paul's death, his wife Edith took over the farm but cultivated less than 15 acres of the land leaving much of it unused. The farm was revived and brought to new life in 1995 when Anthony and Robin Quintal started to cultivate and grow crops working side by side with Edith DeFere. In 1997 the Quintal's purchased the farm where Edith stayed on for a four year transition until leaving in 2001. In fall of 2007 The Quintal Family acquired an operational farm in Masonville N.Y. and continues to operate the North operations. A tree plantation has been added alongside the hay & pumpkin fields in Masonville to ensure the farms self sufficincy for many years to come. In spring of 2009 a tree plantation will be added along side the hay & pumpkin fields in Masonville to ensure Brightwaterfarms will be self sufficient in future for all of our needs.

Today, the Quintal family continues to operate the daily activities of the farm and carry on the proud legacy that it has. The Quintal family intends to continue the tradition of farming for many years to come.