By Marlee Jackson

Squash, peppers, eggplant and other just-picked veggies are purposefully piled at the Oak Hill Produce farmstand — ready for customers who crave summer’s bounty.

“We only sell what we grow,” said Brian Keller. “If you get something from us, with rare exception, it was picked today. I want to sell what I would want to buy.”

Brian and his wife, Christie, operate the farm in Grand Bay. It’s the produce arm of their family’s diversified farm, which includes an ornamental tree nursery. The economic turmoil of 2008 turned the Mobile County farmers toward another income stream — and way to serve their community.

“We figured no matter how bad the economy is, people always have to eat,” Brian said.

The Kellers started with a U-pick garden, small stand and honor system. Nearly two decades later, they’re on the third iteration of their farmstand, now manned by family members and farmworkers. That number includes Tammy Christian-Smith, who manages the farm’s social media accounts and helps customers feel at home in the small market.

Today, the farm’s U-pick goods are restrained to row after row of blueberries, plus flowers like zinnias and sunflowers. Brian said they still welcome families to mosey through the garden, where children can learn about real-life food production.

Christie said she encourages them to beat the heat of summer by visiting the farm even in the rain — where it’s (sometimes) cooler and pesky bugs are less of an issue.

Visitors leave the farm having seen an all-star lineup of produce, including okra (Christie’s favorite), melons, tomatoes, beans, cabbage, collards and corn (Brian’s No. 1 pick). Other popular purchases are honey and bee pollen harvested from hives on the farm.

The farm is seasonal, with produce ripening from mid-May to mid-July. Christie said customers visit the farmstand in droves on Saturdays; it’s open on weekdays, too.

“Families can trust that what they buy from our farm is fresh,” Christie said. “They realize when they get it home and cook it that, yes, it is fresh. They want it as fresh as they can get it.”

Find local produce at SweetGrownAlabama.org.