TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Working At The Family Farm

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOHN CEBALLOS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

RUSKIN - At age 96, Letha Morgan still remembers the exact date her family moved to Ruskin.

"It was July 14, 1946," Morgan said, more than 60 years later. She arrived in Ruskin from Plant City - with husband Ottis, and sons Travis, Vernon and Gerald in tow - and started Morgan Farms.

In that time, the Morgan name has become synonymous with quality produce in South Shore and across the state.

"I come out here all the time," said Dolly Struhar, a regular customer. "You can't get stuff this good at the grocery store."

During their time in Plant City - between 1931 and 1946 - the Morgans had grown strawberries. That fruit would go on to become the family's signature.

"The recipe we use to make our strawberry shortcake and a couple of other items on our menu is Granny's original recipe," said Kathy Morgan, Letha's granddaughter. "People still love it."

The Morgan family has about 100 acres in Ruskin. According to Richard Morgan, who helps manage the farm along with his siblings Kathy and Mike, 50 of those acres are dedicated to strawberries. Additional crops include squash, peppers and a variety of other vegetables.

Kathy, Mike and Richard are not the only Morgans carrying on the family business, which also includes a produce stand and the Berrylicious shortcake wagon owned by Kathy and her business partner, Julie McKendree.

Their father, Vernon, can be seen at the stand occasionally. Mike's children - Aimee, Emily, Willow and Ryan; Richard's daughter, DeAnna; and Kathy's son, Justin, all pitch in. Letha still makes her home in Ruskin.

"I lived in New York for a while, but I came back a few years ago to help out," Aimee said. "I think eventually we all find our way back here."

Though the family started Morgan Farms in Ruskin in the mid-1940s, they did not open their first produce stand until the late '60s, off of State Road 674.

The produce stand at 2050 Morgan Farm Road, off U.S. 41 South has been open since the late 1970s.

The Berrylicious shortcake wagon, which Kathy Morgan and Julie McKendree established five years ago using Letha's recipe as their signature product, joined the produce stand on the family's land two strawberry seasons ago.

"We'd been taking the wagon all across the state, but we decided it'd be a good idea to settle in for a bit," Kathy said. "It's been great so far." She added about 100 people visit the cart each day.

The Morgans operate the produce stand and Berrylicious cart from Thanksgiving to Easter, which covers the winter strawberry season. Both are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

"It's a lot of work each day, but we all pitch in and we're happy to do it," Kathy said. "Our family's been in this area a long time, and Ruskin has always been good to us."

For information, call (813) 645-5208.
MORGAN FARMS
WHERE: 2050 Morgan Farm Road, off U.S. 41 South, Ruskin
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily

INFORMATION: (813) 645-5208

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT