In the early 1900s, the Calvin Philips family began experimenting to see what the land on Whidbey Island would grow. In the 1930s, the Philips switched from dairy farming to berry farming; by 1972 the Greenbank Berry Farm was known as the largest loganberry farm in the United States. Chateau Ste. Michelle purchased the property and opened a retail shop at the historic farm but shocked the local community in 1995 with sale and development plans for a 700-home self-contained community. Greenbank residents rallied to save the farm!

The goal was to preserve this landmark as a living-history farm, scenic recreation site, and cultural community center. The national non-profit Trust for Public Land negotiated with Chateau Ste. Michelle to sell all 522 acres of the Greenbank Farm to Island County, the Port of Coupeville and The Nature Conservancy for $2.8 million. On September 15, 1997, the community turned out to celebrate.

The Greenbank Farm Management Group formed as a nonprofit Board of Directors comprised of Whidbey Island residents who meet regularly to ensure that the farm serves its owners - the residents of Island County. Today, the farm operates a Wine Shop specializing in local and regional foods and wines, featuring the Whidbey Island Greenbank Farm private label Loganberry Wine and specialty products. In addition, the farm hosts community events, receptions, meetings, classes, workshops, the annual Loganberry Festival in July and the year round markets featuring local produce, crafts, art, plants and food. Organic farming methods are bringing the fields back to production and the outlook is favorable for this island treasure.

In 2008, the Greenbank Farm Training Center was established to train new farmers in sustainable agricluture. Paricipants in the eight-month program study organic crop production, business planning, and sustainable land stewardship as well as grow vegetables for sale through a local CSA program which offers community members a weekly share of fresh organic produce.