Turning the corner into Harman Family Farms, a row of greenhouses stand to the right with the family's main house to the left. Straight ahead, customers face a shed with a sign that reads, "Welcome! Tomatoes inside, come on in."
Chris Harman, along with his wife, Rita, founded the farm eight years ago as a side business to earn extra money for their daughter, Megan, 23, senior in communication disorders at Auburn University.
Megan was born with arthrogryposis, a birth defect affecting the joints and muscles, causing her to be confined to a wheelchair.
At 16 years old, Megan wanted the same thing every other 16-year-old wants, and that particular request would inspire her father to look for a unique option.
"It all started trying to raise enough money for her to get a car," Chris said. "She was being trained to drive a joystick-controlled vehicle. The state was training her and to get her a vehicle that was equipped for her to drive was going to cost $100,000."
The Harmans first started growing and selling strawberries on their property, but soon realized they were not going to make enough profit to reach their goal. The family then turned to the idea of growing tomatoes and selling them on an honor system.
Through this honor system, customers have the freedom to pick their own tomatoes and drop their payment off through the slot of a locked mailbox.
"I had been tinkering around with some hydroponic systems out in the yard a couple of summers before," Chris said. "I heard of a guy that was growing tomatoes on a large scale with a hydroponic system, and I went to visit them."
Now, Megan owns that equipped vehicle.
Harman Family Farms harvests 13,000 - 16,000 pounds of tomatoes per year and intends to expand.
"I have a full-time job working with the health department as a health inspector with the state and Lee County," Chris said. "I guess, in a way, you always would like to work for yourself, to have your own business, to not have to answer to a boss, but I would to love to do this. It is full-time, but I would really like to do it full-full-time."
Although they believe their popularity comes from their tomatoes throughout the year, the family also offers lettuce, free-range eggs and rabbits. However, Rita said she believes Harman's tomatoes taste fresh all year.
As of December 2013, Chris said he wants to begin selling rabbits to restaurants as a lean and healthy meat choice.
Harman Family Farms also provides for local restaurants such as Acre, Amsterdam, Johnny Brusco's and recently, Plains to Plate on campus.
"We couldn't do it without them," Rita said. "They're wonderful. Their chefs are amazing. Plus, they support us."
From vine to table, customers know they are in for something organic.
People from across the United States come to purchase their produce from the tomato-shed daily, according to the pinpoint map showing buyers across the nation.
Ben Harman, junior in laboratory sciences, helps his father by delivering the freshest tomatoes to the selected restaurants.
"We're family-oriented," Ben said. "We take pride in it. It's something we value a lot. We stay hard at work and try to maintain the level we're at, if not better."
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