By Tanner Hood

Long lanes of green trees heavy with golden and red-blushed peaches were ripe for picking at Reeves’ Peach Farm in Hartselle as harvest continued into the heat of summer. 

That’s when Mike Reeves reached up, grabbed a peach and split it in half — an almost-subconscious action ingrained since childhood.

“I’ve always heard farmers say this: ‘It gets in your blood,’” said Mike, the Morgan County Farmers Federation president. “Watching things grow and planting and figuring things out — working on the same land your family has worked for generations — I think it’s worth it.” 

Mike’s introduction to peach farming started early. His father, Donnie, and grandfather, Jack, began growing peaches the year Mike was born, said his mother, Shelby. 

“Somebody around here had to have a vision,” Shelby said. “No one close by grew peaches, and to do it in a way where you’re hauling truckloads off is a vision Donnie had.” 

As that vision grew, so did the farm. There were times when local kids would fall asleep at the Reeves’ house after rising early to pick peaches, Shelby said.

“We were a small operation,” Shelby remembered. “But I felt like a lot of people appreciated coming to that little fruit stand because they liked the farm atmosphere. Everything today developed from that.” 

Harsh growing seasons forged a resilient spirit in his family, Mike said. Frost hammered three crops in a row — almost ending the farm in the ‘80s. 

“We were in trouble,” Mike said. “It was touch-and-go financially, and we spent many days asking, ‘How are we going to keep this going?’” 

From the outside looking in, most customers don’t understand the struggles farmers face, Mike said. Those experiences refined his appreciation for moving forward, he added. 

“When we lost those crops, we were primarily growing peaches — nearly 100 acres,” Mike said. “Today, we have 45 acres of peaches. I really believe experiencing those losses helped me better understand that we’re only three failed crops away from being in trouble again.”

In growing the farm, Reeves said diversification has been important. So was updating their roadside stand off Highway 36 in Hartselle. Reeves’ Peach Farm now includes a U-pick strawberry operation, corn, melons, pumpkins and many value-added items — all sold through a state-of-the-art market which houses a restaurant.

“Diversifying has been part of the big picture of getting people out here,” Mike said. “We’ve got two main crops: peaches and strawberries. In our new building, we’re able to sell more items like ice cream and peach-wood-smoked barbecue, along with other fruits and vegetables.”

Increasing the farm store size was a long-term dream, Mike said. 

“We sold out of our original building beginning in 1960,” Mike said. “I can find sketches I made in the ‘80s of the bigger facility I wanted. People were shoulder-to-shoulder in our old space, but in this store, they can move, shop and mingle with each other.” 

While growing the farm was important, raising a family took priority for Mike and his wife, Lynn. That’s why Mike stepped away from the farm full time in the late ‘90s and took a career at a local steel plant for three years.

“It was a decision where we had some bad crops and felt like, both personally and financially, we needed to have a little bit more of a safety net,” Mike said.

With three young children — David, Jackson and Mary Virginia — Mike continued to work on the farm part time. In 1999, Mike became an Alabama Extension agent.

“Working in Extension felt like a natural job,” Mike said. “It was one of God’s blessings that I was able to do it, and it allowed me to find new things to apply to our farm.”

After 20 years of service, Mike retired from Extension. He now works alongside his sons on the farm and in the store while Lynn handles the books. A host of grandchildren live close by.

“My goal has always been to get our operation in the best place where it could be an option for my kids to come back to,” Mike said. “I’m around my kids and grandkids all the time and have realized I’m actually living the dream.” 

While the Reeveses look forward to what is to come, they always keep an eye on their roots.

“The peach industry hasn’t changed a ton since we got started,” Mike said. “We let them ripen longer on the trees so we can sell fresh in store, but we’re still using some of the same varieties and most of the practices my dad and grandfather used. We want to be a place where people can get good, fresh produce. I’m proud of what we’ve done over the years and eagerly await what’s to come.”

Visit ReevesPeaches.com to learn more.