In 1847 Klaas Paarlberg, his wife, Antje, and their seven children set off on a voyage from the Netherlands. Klass died on the way to America. The Widow Paarlberg continued on to America with this single thought in mind, "God will provide." She bought a farm and let God do his work.
Currently at the farm in Grant Park four main things are grown: shallots, onion sets, soybeans, and corn. Paarlberg Farms also repackages potatoes for Dutch Valley, a co-op of onion farmers.
Paarlberg Farms is part of a co-op of onion farmers around the area called Dutch Valley which is located near Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Currently, two brothers: Gary and Bruce Paarlberg operate Paarlberg Farms. Gary is a Kankakee County Farm Bureau board member. Bruce is a member of the Dutch Valley Board of Directors.