Jake Carter is the owner and operator of Southern Belle Farm in Henry County, Georgia, where the Carter family has been farming for eight generations. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in Business Management, Jake became interested in developing the farm into a agri-tourism operation, making Southern Belle one of the pioneers of Georgia's now booming agri-tourism industry. Today, Southern Belle welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. They offer everything from you-pick peaches, strawberries, blackberries, and more to a Farm Market and Bakery as well as providing hands on learning experiences for thousands of Georgia students every year.
Learn more about Jake and the Carter family's operation at Southern Belle: https://www.southernbellefarm.com/
1. Tell us about your operation.
Southern Belle Farm is a former dairy, now agri-tourism farm located in McDonough, GA. We grow a variety of fruits including strawberries, peaches, blackberries and blueberries selling a Pick Your Own experience geared towards the Atlanta market.
2. How has this year's crop been?
Because we didn't have a late winter freeze event, the peach crop this year is the best we've ever had in the fifteen years producing. The hot and dry weather has presented some challenges, but the fruit is extra sweet and continues to move in the right direction.
3. What does Georgia Grown mean to you?
With competition of goods coming in from surrounding states and countries, Georgia Grown is a point of pride. Georgia farmers continue to prove that we can and are producing the finest peaches in the world.
4. How do you ensure the quality of your peach production?
Growing peaches is a hands on crop. Dozens of trips are made through the orchard from pruning, thinning, nutrient management, as well as pest management. By the time we get to harvest, our goal is to make sure a quality product is ready to go home with the consumer.
5. How important is community support for your business, and how do you engage with local consumers?
We are in business to serve our community. Without their dedication and support we would not be in business, period. We use a variety of social media platforms to inform and engage what's going on at the farm at any given time.
6. What advice would you give to new peach producers starting in the industry?
For someone that's starting out in production with less than fifty acres like myself I would suggest starting out small like I did. I think that its important to learn the crop on a small scale first. In other words don't bite off more than you can chew.