Albemarle Neighbor: Jackson has busy summer at Jackson Farms 158 Produce

Nineteen-year-old Ellie Jackson may be on her summer break from N.C. State University, but that doesn’t mean she’s taking a break.

Jackson, a 2023 Perquimans County High School graduate, is spending her first college summer managing her new produce stand, complete an internship and travel the world.

Jackson and her father, Chuck, opened Jackson Farms 158 Produce on Memorial Day weekend at 510 U.S. Highway 158 in the Newland community of Pasquotank County.

“I grew up being a farmer’s daughter and a farmer’s granddaughter,” said Jackson, who lives in Perquimans.

Jackson fondly recalls growing watermelons when she was younger. She says when determining if a watermelon is ready to harvest, you have to look at its size and color. A ripe watermelon also should have a yellow belly, she said.

Growing up, Jackson said she “always dreamed” of owning a farmer’s market. Her dream came true with the opening of Jackson Farms 158 Produce. The farmer’s market is open Wednesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jackson said she sells three types of watermelons — royal sweet, sugar babies, and yellow watermelons — as well as a wide variety of produce, including yellow squash, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, okra and butter beans. All of the produce is grown by local farmers.

Jackson also offers R & S Farms Angus beef and Nadeau Farms honey. Jackson Farms 158 Produce also sells Simply Natural Creamery Ice Cream. Made in Ayden, the ice cream comes in a variety of flavors.

So far the best part of owning her own business has been getting to meet customers, Jackson said.

“I love the farming community,” she said.

When she is not working at her produce stand or maintaining her watermelon crop, Jackson is completing a sales internship at Coastal AgroBusiness in Edenton.

Jackson, who is majoring in agriculture science, earned college credit while taking college-level courses in high school so she will return to N.C. State in the fall as a junior. The recipient of both the NC Farm Bureau R. Flake Shaw Scholarship and the Rufus Harrell Scholarship, Jackson excelled in her first year at N.C. State, making the dean’s list.

Jackson said she has arranged her course schedule in the fall so that she can return home to work on weekends at her produce stand. She’s already planning to grow pumpkins to sell and offer hayrides and host a fall festival.

Jackson somehow also found time during her summer break to travel with her mother and brother to Europe. Their 10-day trip included stops in France, England, Germany and Switzerland.

For more information about Jackson Farms 158 Produce, visit the business’s Facebook page.