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Produce Stand Operates On Honor System
August 23, 2010
There’s a little produce stand tucked away on a dirt lane near Walnut Hill with no cash register, no cashier. All summer, customers would stop by, pick out the perfect tomato or a great watermelon, leaving their money behind in a simple drop box.
The produce stand, located just over the railroad tracks between Walnut Hill and Enon, has operated for years purely on the honor system.
“My dad liked to trust people; a man’s word meant something,” said Sherry Black. She has operated the simple wooden stand since her father, J.B. Kent, passed away several years ago.
The Ten Commandments played a lot into Kent’s business model. To this day, an oversize copy of the Commandments occupies one corner of the stand, just behind the money box and weight scales, perhaps as a reminder to anyone that might be tempted when there’s no one watching.
“But if they need it worse that I do, Lord bless them,” Black said.
Regular customers don’t need cash at Black’s produce stand. There’s a spiral bound notebook and pencil for them to jot down what produce they took and how much they owe. They will “settle up” later in the box, or see Black around the neighborhood and pay.
For several years, Black grew most of the produce in the stand herself. Now she picks, buys or barters with area farmers and backyard gardeners for the freshest items. She said she’s been known to be on the phone late at night, cutting a deal with local farmers for the best price.
And sometimes there’s a special treat for visitors to the produce stand, which is located on Deer Run Road off South Highway 99, about seven miles south of Highway 97. Peacocks from a nearby flock of peacocks will visit with produce stand customers.
The produce season for this year has mostly ended — Sunday afternoon the stand was sold out and empty.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
15 Responses to “Produce Stand Operates On Honor System”
There’s a fellow out at Pensacola Beach that does the same thing with Tomatoes – God Bless them both! (And the Tomatoes were great!)
wow, good information to know about the book. Sherry if you read this, I have been writing down my purchases in the book everytime for several years now. I did not know it was for an IOU tab. I always pay each time but I guess now that I know what it was really there for I look like some kind of re-peat dead beat that continues to take your produce! sorry for the confusion over thelast 5 years….. I feel bad about it, so if you have kept the totals I recorded in the book I will pay them to clear my name. I would hate to go over one day and see a sign that says “do not sell to these people” and see a picture of just me! yikes! Next Stop, Walnut Hills Most Wanted…..
Sweet lady and good story! Thanks for an uplifting message of trust!
I’ve been coming to her stand off and on for years, thought the spiral note book was to log what you bought , not for what you owed. Good lady and family.
this is WONDERFUL! =-)
I knew her dad and I know her. Great people!!!!! If only all the people in the world were like these………Everyone go buy all her stuff and leave some extra. It will come back to you!
thank you Mrs Black, my wife makes it a point when we can to stop and “get the good stuf” . It is also nice to show my kids that there is some good left in this crazy world . thanks NE for shining a lite on something that most wouldn’t take a second look at.
We live near this stand and have used it sometimes. It is good to know that we still have people who believe that good people still live. Hope Sherry receives an extra blessing from the Lord for this good deed.
A Cajun that’s funny david lol.
It is a sad commentary tho about our times.
I remember we always did business with the corner drug store and everyone
knew our name and we had a charge account.
It was the same way at the corner gas station.
We never locked our doors or took the keys out of the ignition.
The only thing we were ever told was to never get in a car with a stranger.
We never heard of drugs till the Vietnam war but I was married by then
and wasn’t exactly in the scene for that kind of thing. My friends were
so straight they didn’t even smoke cigs.
We also did business with a little grocery store where we called the woman
who ran it grandma and she gave us penny candy while our mom was
shopping.
One of my sisters was even named after her which was the name of
the store too. (Ina’s)
LOL could you see naming your child winn-dixie or publics or calling
the manager grandpa…..
I long for those days.
Where did they go…..
What happened to all the good people….?????????
I was traveling down in south Louisiana and noticed citrus fruit stands in front of people’s houses where they were selling the fruit off their own trees. There was a can and a price beside the fruit and no people in sight.
I mentioned to the foreman beside me how nice it was they figured they could trust people. He explained that was mostly true but sometimes there was a Cajun inside the window ready to perforate the cars of any who stole from them.
That was impressive too.
David for honorable dealings
Nice
The other day my wife and I were traveling south on Blue Angel parkway and noticed a tomato stand with no one around. I made the comment about they must be on the honor system. She laughed and said they don”t do that nowdays.
Reckon I get the last laugh now.
Sherry is my next door neighbor, she is as good as they come!! Thank you William for doing a story on her!!
Gosh, I really wish that we could live back in those days where most everyone is trusted.
Oh to be able to go to bed with the windows open for a cool breeze.
I have been there about 4 times.
Unfortunately there were no veggies at the times I checked.
I’m always a day late and a dollar short.
lol
It was nice to see someone run on trust like that.
I didn’t know about the ledger to owe them,,,, that’s sweet.