TRIPLE J Tinian Farms is producing and selling farm-fresh fruits and vegetables to Tinian, Saipan and Guam.
On Feb. 14, 2025, Triple J shipped about 1,400 pounds of various kinds of fruits and vegetables to the Payless Supermarkets on Guam.
Triple J Tinian Farms manager Jonah Jones said it was the largest amount of farm produce since they started exporting to Guam in September. The Tinian farm will continue to export year-round as long as the weather and the production processes cooperate, he said.
In an email interview, Jones said Triple J’s farm on Tinian was cultivated in the fall of 2023 with the goal of producing fresh fruits and vegetables. Over the past year, he said, the farm has grown exponentially and is now producing year-round fruits and vegetables for wholesale and retail on Tinian, Saipan, and Guam.
In the last few months, he said, the farm has focused on the Saipan and Guam markets, producing and exporting homegrown produce, including green beans, bell pepper, eggplant, tomato, zucchini, sweet potato, cucumber, cantaloupe, watermelon, lettuce, okra, bitter melon, hot chili, jalapeño chili, and various herbs.
“Lowering food cost and increasing food security are priorities for the farm and the community we serve,” Jones said.
He said the idea came from Triple J Enterprise Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert H. Jones and his wife, Pilar, who wanted to address the growing need of Bar-K Diner on Tinian for fresh produce. They also wanted to create a new industry on the island, which has great soil and great weather, Jonah Jones said.
They tilled the land behind the restaurant and transformed it into a small garden, maintaining it regularly, he added.
“Eventually the need for more vegetables grew. So a larger property was found and slowly cleared. Me and my wife Caroline Jones were invited to Tinian to help start a larger scale commercial farm for produce,” Jonah Jones said.
Robert and Pilar Jones also invited Darin Jones and his wife, Jessica, to show them how to properly farm.
Darin and Jessica stayed on Tinian to assist with the farming efforts while their farm was in the off season.
“Darin is a commercial grower from North Carolina and is primarily focused on produce, pumpkins and strawberries. The Jones family and their extended family in North Carolina are filled with generations of farmers,” Jonah Jones said.
Currently, the farm has five workers, including Jonah Jones.
Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, for his part, said, “We are thrilled to witness Triple J’s Commercial Farm significantly expanding its reach beyond Tinian.”
He said Triple J’s initiative “marks a transformative era for local agriculture as we begin exporting quality products to Saipan, Guam, and potentially other regions.”
The mayor added, “It bolsters our economy by fostering job creation and investment and enhancing our community’s reputation for producing high-grade agricultural goods. We commend Mr. Robert Jones and Triple J for their vision and commitment to sustainable growth, setting a precedent for future farm ventures in our islands.”
Triple J Enterprise Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert H. Jones, second right, wife Pilar, left, Triple J Tinian Farms manager Jonah Jones and wife Caroline pose with the boxes of fresh produce from Tinian en route to Guam on Feb. 14, 2025.
Contributed photo
These vegetables from Triple J Tinian Farm were on their way to Guam.
The Triple J Tinian farm.