It’s no secret that Georgia is one of the most diverse states regarding agriculture, and that is well represented here at Berry Good Farms in Tifton, where everything from asparagus to persimmons to strawberries is grown throughout the year. It all began thanks to a passion for farming and a downturn in the economy more than fifteen years ago.
The farm really took off following the economic hardships of 2008.
“At that time, I had a mortgage company, which really set this thing on fire when the mortgage industry was in a financial crisis in 2008, which really hurt the home sales. We do mortgages, home mortgages, and so it sort of just pushed me to the farm more often and I was always planting something,” says Bob Welker, Owner of Berry Good Farms.
If he has anything to say about it, Welker will be at it for many more years to come, as the enjoyment he gets serving the community and tending to his crop helps get him out of bed each and every morning.
“I enjoy it a lot, particularly when everything is running smoothly. It’s getting a little harder now that I’m getting a little bit older, but it’s still very rewarding in that there’s always something. I don’t have to worry about what I’m doing the next day. I just walk out the door and it will slap you in the face,” says Welker.
In addition to the blueberries, blackberries, and peaches that Berry Good Farms is known for, they are adding satsumas to the mix this fall.
Reporting by Damon Jones, The Farm Monitor
