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By Lisa Tindell

In the six months that Steve and Cheryl Ross have owned and operated the Green Thumb Farm Stand, the couple has formed relationships with growers and customers and is continuing to expand.
Steve Ross has a vision for the local market that includes having the customer in mind as he expands
“When we bought this, I wanted to have more than fruits and vegetables,” Ross said. “I wanted to add a garden center. When we started I had six lemon trees and six satsumas. We have certainly grown since then.”
Ross said his current path of expansion has been to take down a wall and add rows and rows of new plants, trees, shrubs and flowers for his customers.
“We have cleared off some space behind the building for the expansion and are always adding new things,” Ross said. “That has allowed us to have more space to have more of a selection for our customers. I take care of trees and shrubs and Cheryl takes care of flowers and plants.”
With the current expansion, Ross said many of the plants and trees now available have been at the suggestion of the customers who frequent the stand.
“We have learned so much from our customers,” Ross said. “We have done some special orders for our customers and when I pick up those orders from the growers, I always see something interesting to add to the mix.”
Ross said the plans for expansion haven’t stopped with items typically seen in the spring and summer. His vision has him excited about holidays and the coming seasons.
“We had a hard time keeping up with Mother’s Day sales,” Ross said. “We know we still need to grow to meet the needs of our customers. I’m really excited about the Christmas season this year. I have already established a relationship with some growers and we plan to have a big selection of Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands this coming season. Because of our contacts, we can get bushes, shrubs, flowers or just about anything you want. We will certainly do our best to get what the customers want.”
In addition to the expanded selection of growing plants and trees, Ross said attention will continue to be given to the produce provided at the stand.
“We really want to be able to have what our customers want in vegetables this summer,” Ross said. “We have a few local growers that we have already established a relationship with and are always looking to grow our list of sellers that we buy from. Any farmer in this area that has produce they can offer to us for a price that our customers will pay, we want to make contact with them and be a part of the chance to offer locally grown fruits and vegetables to the public.”
The Green Thumb Farm Stand is located at 209 Mildred Street in Brewton and they are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday’s from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For customers inquiring about available items or for farmers interested in selling their produce, call Ross at 809-6060.