Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Tucked away atop the rolling hills of the rural community of Pinetta in Madison County is a 218-acre organic farm that is more than meets the eye. Allison Acres Organic Blueberry Farm began operations in 2012 with 17 acres, before expanding to 218 acres. Then, in 2015, the farm met all the requirements to earn its organic certification by USDA standards and takes pride in continuing to operate within those guidelines. Across the 218 acres, 51 acres are dedicated to organic blueberries, which will always be the heart of their farm, having initially started by growing blueberries.
However, in addition to blueberries, five acres of the farm are dedicated to growing strawberries, blackberries, Mayhaw trees and PawPaw trees, of which community members are welcome to participate in the farm's U-pick. Another three acres are dedicated to the farm's luscious Christmas trees and, recently, the farm has acquired 37 Boer goats for the public to feed and pet.
The Allison family is grateful to the people of Pinetta and Madison County for all of their support and assistance. In addition, the Allison family acknowledges none of their dreams could have ever come to life without the help of everyone surrounding them. They recently joined a group set up for Agro-tourism tours and have been named to the Tallahassee Fall Farm Tour of 2022. It is an absolute honor and treat for the Allison family to help people learn about different ventures and degrees of farming. Farm manager Jessica Billy especially takes pride in this opportunity. “What we are hoping the outcome will be is education through experience throughout the community,” Billy said. The farm is proud to call itself an organic farm and looks forward to discussing the benefits of organic fruit with anyone interested. Most notably, organic fruits and vegetables are known for their:
Health benefits: Organic fruits help protect the body from foreign unnatural chemicals and enchanters non-organic fruits use.
Taste: Organic fruits provide a more naturally rich flavor.
Aesthetics: Think of organic fruit like a diamond; a synthetic diamond may look better and cheaper, but does that special someone want something pretty and artificial or do they want the natural diamond with a minor blemish because it is from the earth?
Environment-friendly: Organic fruits by design are more sustainable with capabilities, due to conserving water and soil quality throughout the farm.
Nutrients within organic fruit: Organic fruit produces 21 percent more iron, 27 percent more vitamin C, 29 percent more magnesium and 13 percent more phosphorus than non-organic fruits
Yes, organic fruits are more expensive than non-organic fruit. However, in the long-term, organic fruit is considerably less expensive. If provided with natural nutrients, the human body is created to heal itself (within reason). Do you ever wonder how your body could fight a stomach bug or a virus if it were adequately equipped with a strong immune system? The amount of money a household spends on vitamins and preventatives is egregiously more than the price of organic fruits and vegetables.
Next time you are enjoying the rolling hills of Pinetta in Madison County, feel free to stop by the Allison Acres Organic Blueberry Farm, located at 4076 CR 150. It may change your perspective on what you put into your body.