North Carolina Farm Provides Jobs For The Unemployed

Phillips Farms is a family-owned business based in Cary, North Carolina. For years, the farm has provided crops, produce, and a “Farm Fresh Fun” experience to families in the community. This farm is not only special to the community I’m from, but it is special to me because it is owned and operated by my family. The land has been in my family for over 100 years, and for over two decades, it has been the place for people in my hometown to get freshly picked strawberries during the spring season. In the fall months, the land is used for a corn-maize, pumpkin patch, and fun park, including haunted attractions for Halloween. During Christmas, families can come and pick out Christmas trees from the NC mountains and handmade wreaths. This farm is a staple to the community I’m from, and is held dear to me as I have worked all three seasons since I was 8 years old. Everything from washing buckets, picking berries, making wreaths, and even dressing up as a killer clown to scare people on October Friday nights.

As I made my college journey to New York last fall, I was unable to work the fall season which was a bummer for me—I thoroughly enjoy the fresh air and working with customers. Going into spring semester, I was sure I was going to miss out on the strawberry season, too. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, everything I expected changed. Not only was I back home for the remainder of the spring semester, but many people in my hometown and all over the world lost their jobs.

While it is devastating I am no longer in New York and many jobs have been lost, I and many others have had another opportunity to work at Phillips Farms. The department of agriculture allows for local farms to remain essential as they provide produce to the community. In light of that, the owner of the farm and my uncle, Michael Phillips decided to close the fields off from the public for “you-pick,” but instead hire people affected by the virus to pick the strawberries for the public.

This was exciting news to me and my community. Customers could still have delicious farm-fresh berries for the spring season, and I could work at the farm again. Michael decided it was best to serve the public needs with a drive-thru. We set up a clean and sufficient assembly line to make sure the berries stay clean and everyone—from workers to customers—stays safe. That means lots of hand-sanitizer, Clorox wipes, and plastic gloves. Over the past three weeks since opening, we have tried different methods for picking and selling.

As the demand for berries is high and sometimes the hands-on-deck are low, it can be tough for the workday to run smoothly. One day, we even picked for 3 hours in the rain to make sure all the ripe berries would be picked and the public could have full baskets ready for eating, making jams, smoothies, or whatever they choose to use the berries for.

Now, we have a team of about 20 people who are down in the dirt or rain, picking berries for the public. This workforce includes college students out of school, hairdressers unable to open their salons, personal trainers barred from the gym, and many others from different lines of work. This unique group of people was brought together by word-of-mouth and various ads for hiring people out of work.

Take Meghan Meler for example, “I work in Cary, NC, as a hairstylist with 3 other women; I love what I do!” Meghan is actually my hairstylist; weird times like this call for picking strawberries 6 feet away from your hairstylist.

“It’s given me something to look forward too during the week. Also, keeps me on some sort of schedule.” I can attest to that—having a schedule has helped me to stay productive and active.

Meghan, like everyone else, has struggled through the outbreak. She claims, ”Well, just like everyone else, life changed overnight. All the get-togethers with friends and family just stopped. Work stopped. Life has become more simple in the weeks. Going to the grocery store seems like a hard task just because you fear getting close to someone. When walking my dog I feel like I need to cross the street because someone is walking towards me. I think coronavirus will continue to impact us all for a while, so I spend time thinking how will I navigate the salon after this because I’m sure there will be new guidelines and restrictions and what the new normal will be like.”

We’re all in limbo waiting for everything to return to normal, and the best we can do is try to remain on a schedule and stay positive.

While it’s no “9 to 5” in an office or styling hair—it’s something. The farm is a way for people to get out of their houses, get some sunshine, learn a little bit about agriculture, and make some money. In times like these, the community needs to physically—but also metaphorically—come together. And that can be shown in so many ways, whether it be local farms like Phillips Farms providing the unemployed with jobs and the needy with leftover berries or customers showing up every day in the drive-thru to buy berries. We all must try and support each other.

Every day, I see people delivering groceries to the elderly or ordering food from local restaurants. It's a beautiful sight, so let’s keep it up! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to work with my family and friends on something bigger than just the family business or springtime traditions—it’s about being a part of a community that has stood together and helped each other.