Donnell King a mechanic by trade made a living traveling all over the United States working on large diesel engines visiting every state in the union. When he finally came home three years ago to rural eastern North Carolina where his uncle reintroduced him to the land that he once tried to escape from. After two years of farming Donnell wants to find out how he can farm full time and still make a living. When more communities begin to know their farmer Donnell will be able to expand his production land as well as his livelihood and employ others and teach them the importance of the small farmer.
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| Donnell King prepaing land |
Donnell has joined with Prize of the Harvest to provide produce for market stands in North Carolina and other parts of the eastern coast. some of the crops that Donnell and his uncle are growing on the farm are watermelon, green beans, peas, squash, peaches, apples and strawberries.
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| James Shackelford stand in the mist of one of his collard fields. |
James shackelford has been farming for over forty years and is well established in the communities and markets that he is servicing. James produces greens of all kinds collards, kale, turnips and mustard are his specialty crops and he does it all with as little impact to the environment as possible while providing jobs to willing workers. James is providing Prize of the Harvest to extend his market and offer a living wage to those he employee.
Stanley Hughes and his wife Linda have made a wonderful place for themselves on Pine Knott Farms in central North Carolina where they have their farm. Stanley grows a wide variety of sweet potatoes from the ordinary red sweet potato to a deep purple. On market days he usually has some freshly baked and ready for a tasting. When they are at the markets its usually the youth that Stanley and Linda have groomed to run the market from the packing of the truck at the farm to reloading after the market day is over.
Linda was 2010's small farmer of the year recipient at Operations Spring Plant Inc. annual conference for the innovation and work with the Youth in Agriculture Today. Pine Knott Farms boost organic and gap certification and also raise free range and all natural pork and poultry. The Hughes family have been supporters of the work that Operation Spring plant and Prize of the Harvest is engaged in for many years. Prize of the Harvest is always looking to market organic meats and produce from this small family farm. Pine Knott Farms produce can be found in the Weaver Street Market in Carrboro, North Carolina.
John Dockery another small North Carolina farmer that does not have enough production to rival the large blue berry producer. Then on there other hand to much to support just a small market in the neighboring towns and because of the time needed on the farm he is unable to be at the market marketing his produce like a lot of the larger farms or have resources to pay some one to do that part for him. John grows a wide range of items blue berries, grapes, asparagus, peaches pears, eggplant and some herbs and he does this all natural.
