Family-Owned Garner's Produce Provides 100 Acres Worth of Food

Looking for locally grown produce and nice service; stop by Garner's Produce at the Oak Marr Farmers Market.

Since 1985, the Garner family has grown fruits and vegetables on their family, Virginia century farm in Westmoreland County for their roadside stand and for farmers markets.

Now, the farm is still family owned and is operated by Edward Meade Garner with the help of his daughters, and son-in-law, Bernard Boyle.

Dana Boyle, Bernard's wife and Garner's daughter, said she and her sister sell the produce while her father and husband grow them along with seven full-time farm hands.

The farm uses sustainable production practices, Dana said. These practices include integrated pest management, plastic mulch, crop rotations, cover crops, organic foliar sprays, drip irrigation and other plant varieties, according to their website.

Dana said Garner's Produce has been selling at farmers markets since 1995 and the farm's biggest source of income comes from these retail sales.

"The local food movement has become more popular and more people are interested in getting fresh, locally-grown vegetables," Dana said.

Besides the farmers markets, the farm also works with wholesales in the area, she said.

"They have been really good to work with because they understand the farm and agriculture and the seasons of the different produce and things like that," Dana said.

Corn will now be sold next week at the vendor's tent.

To learn more about Garner's Produce visit http://www.garnersproduce.com or visit their Facebook page.

Read Oakton Patch each Wednesday morning for our weekly feature on an Oak Marr Farmers Market vendor.