Every Friday on social media, we post a Farm Feature Friday showcasing one of our dedicated North Carolina farmers. Courtney and James Sharp, of Deans Farm Market, are two of those farmers. The #FarmFeatureFriday campaign will run for an entire year on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Be sure to tune in each Friday afternoon on social and help show your support for our local farmers!

Meet James and Courtney Sharp of Deans Farm Market in Wilson. In 1965, the farm was started by Bruce and Brenda Deans, but when they retired in 2001, James Sharp and his family took it over. Now on the fifth generation of farmers, the Sharp family works hard every day to keep the legacy of fresh, local produce going.

When Courtney married James in 2006, she not only fell in love with him, but with farming and agritourism as well. On the farm, James is the farmer, whereas Courtney is the educator. “James is a fifth-generation farmer and has a passion for growing produce,” Courtney said, “I, however, obtained my masters in education and have a passion for teaching children where their food comes from and correlating the farm to their curriculum in school.”

Although the Sharps are most famous for their delicious watermelons, the very first commodity they grew was strawberries. They now specialize in growing seedless mini watermelons, which are Courtney’s favorite, in addition to other produce items such as collards, lettuce, squash, peas and butter beans.

A typical day on the farm starts early and ends late. “There is no rest,” Courtney says, “the days are full of harvesting, packing, loading and shipping, but the most rewarding part of our job is seeing others enjoy our watermelon on a hot summer day.” Although watermelon farming can be hard due to the nature of the market and the variability of North Carolina weather, James says the most important thing to remember is to always keep moving and improving. “The most important lesson I have learned about farming in North Carolina is to never be complacent,” James said, “there is always a need to grow and continue to learn about my trade.” According to the Sharps, growing watermelons, and other produce, is a pleasure because it is healthy and nutritious for consumers.

Watermelons from Dean’s Farm Market can be found on site at the market or at grocery stores across the state. In addition to fresh produce, you can also find ready to heat and eat meals and specialty products available, prepared by local chefs. “We have added a commercial kitchen to our farm to expand what we have to offer to our customers,” Courtney said, “we work with local chefs to create many delicious dishes, including my all-time favorite, watermelon cheesecake.”

In the future, the Sharps will continue to provide fresh fruits and vegetables not only to Wilson residents, but to individuals across the state of North Carolina. No matter what they are growing, whether watermelons, butter beans or pumpkins, the Sharp family represents the hard work and dedication of farmers across our state.