Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Black White.
Hi Beth, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a fourth generation peach farmer. My family has farmed this land since the 1700’s and we have been growing peaches since 1923. My father, Arthur Black, is still the soul of our business. He opened our roadside market in 1975. That was during the recession when farming took a terrible hit and we had to pivot from wholesale to retail if we wanted to continue. We have since expanded our crops, we are on our 50th year of strawberries, tomatoes, veggies, pumpkins and hay. I always loved working with and helping people. Our community was / is our family, they support us and we support them. When I was little (7-12) my twin brother and I would stay in the strawberry fields after school and pick strawberries for whoever would stop by. I always worked in the store and when I turned 13 my mom paid me $2 / hour and I thought I was the richest kid alive. I even made enough money to buy me some nike shoes! Our business was always seasonal when I was growing up, but when the weather continued to bet us down my dad had to figure out ways to increase business. We started agritourism with fall field trips 30 years ago, and also started selling Christmas trees, making bows and handmade wreaths. We also started selling ice cream. I went to college at Winthrop University and graduated with a BA in Political Science. I had part time jobs as well as managed our market during this time. I worked a few jobs after college and finally my Dad and I sat down and decided to really grow the family business in 2006. We opened the grill, selling local grass feed burgers and using homegrown products. We started opening year round, grew our agritourism side with strawberry field trips in the spring and pushed field trips in fall and opened up a farm playground. We have been heavily promoting our pick your own peaches and strawberries. We love being able to grow food for our community. Our motto is “fruit is fast food” and “you gotta grow it to get it fresher”. Its hard work but we love that we are conserving the land that we were honored to get handed down and hopefully pass on to the next generation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing is ever easy. We would not enjoy and appreciate this life so much if it were handed to us. The weather is our biggest obstacle these days. As I am filling this out, we are in full peach bloom and they are calling for severe freeze the next two days. So we are praying for at least the wind to blow at night. The mis education / lies about pesticides and fertilizers have recently been a struggle. The negative social media sometimes takes away all the common sense about farming. We only hope that people want to know where there food comes from and will support local farms way more than they want to support food from other countries. We have such strict regulations on us and they do not overseas.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love the land, I am passionate about our natural resources. I have been a board member for the York County Farm Bureau for 14 years and have won a grassroots award advocating for lower property taxes for chicken houses and barns. I am part of the legislative team for SC Farm Bureau and constantly advocate for agriculture. I am also on my 4th term as an elected York Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner. We promote and educate the wise use of natural recourses. I am always contacting local, state and federal officials encouraging them to take care of our natural resources. I am most proud to carry on my family’s legacy and to see our community thrive and support us. I guess I am not scared to promote farmers and how we have everlasting impact on our children’s future. I want to be involved in the policies that affect us, and I am willing to fight for our land and water.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I try to listen to anyone that wants to help and encourage community involvement.
Contact Info:
- Website: blackspeaches@aol.com
- Instagram: blackspeaches
- Facebook: Black’s Peaches
