Small Biz Spotlight: Harvey's Farm and Garden Center

Operated by father-daughter duo Jim and Emily Harvey, Harvey’s Farm & Garden Center is a sixth generation business.

It’s located at 7 Maple Ave. in Westborough and covers approximately 50 acres.

“It is our mission to preserve our land and legacy for future generations, said Emily. “We grow our crops naturally in deep sandy loam. We grow everything from asparagus to our own ‘Harrowsmith Select’ gourds. We participate in The Westborough Farmer’s Market, offer CSA Shares to customers and our produce often finds a new home in the hands of the area’s top chefs.”

Harvey’s is a proven Winners Certified garden center and offers its own line of homegrown and healthy veggies as well as herb transplants.

Emily’s Gift Barn, once housing more than dairy cattle, now features an extensive selection of unique gift, garden and home decor items.

When did you open/launch? 1980 - Although it has been operating as a farm in our family for six generations.

What made you decide to open this type of business? And why this location?
The location has been operating as a family farm for generations, so it made sense to continue in the existing location. Jim had planted his first vegetable garden with his great Grandmother Harvey as a child where the magic of growing his own began. When Emory Larkin Harvey (Emily’s great grandfather who she is named after) left the barn and farm dormant to pursue the recycling business (E. L. Harvey & Sons), my father Jim saw an opportunity. Through years of having a roadside vegetable stand at the top of the barn driveway to landscaping, it made sense for the business to continue evolving over the years.

What do you like best about it? We love our customers - they are the reason we do what we do! Many of our customers are our extended family and have become close friends. We also love being able to share our passions with the community. From being able to inspire a customer to add color to her garden, to growing fresh fruits and veggies that feed hundreds of families and being a part of many family’s traditions, it’s a role we take a lot of pride in.

Biggest struggle?
Visibility is a challenge as we are located in a residential area that has built up around the farm. It’s difficult to showcase our almost fifty-acre farm from a small sign on South Street. We find new visitors arrive on a daily basis never realizing “all of this was back here.” It takes that one turn and then they know.

What do you see for the future?
Continuing to offer top-quality products and produce to the community. We plan on evolving as customers’ needs and trends change. We have expanded and continue to increase our produce production as we have been offering a CSA program and have been involved in the Westborough Farmer’s Market. We will continue to be involved in our community through fundraising efforts with local organizations such as the Westborough Food Pantry and local humane shelter.

Politics and small business: how does government affect your business?
We need more support of small, locally and family-operated businesses. Sometimes decisions are made and laws are passed that have a huge impact on small businesses. It’s important that lawmakers on the federal, state and local levels listen to business owners before making some decisions that can hurt local businesses.

Name another local business you’d send customers to: South Street Diner here in Westborough - Our friends Mark & Phyllis do a great job! Best omelet in town!

Know a local business that deserves the spotlight? Tell us about it at charlene.arsenault@patch.com.