“My dad used to say, ‘The farmer’s shadow is the best fertilizer.’ When you stay on your farm, know your farm, know the soil, you get the best quality.” Jim Deakin
Jim has cast a lot of shadows on his farm over the course of 57 years. That’s how long he and Penny have been farming together. Still, there’s always more to learn. Jim is on his computer at 6:00 each morning reading weather forecasts and agriculture bulletins. “You never know what’s going to happen,” he says. “That’s farming. That is the definition of farming.”
“The only place you can grow grapes is from the lakes to the foothills of the big ridge behind us. The lake plain has good soil and a unique climate.” Jim Deakin
There aren’t a lot of places where Concord grapes can be grown successfully. Jim and Penny’s farm is one of them. It takes plenty of sunshine, some chilly nights, and moderate spring and fall temperatures for Concord grapes to develop their sweet, tangy, bold taste. Like wine, Welch’s 100% Grape Juice gets its flavor from the place the grapes are grown.
“There’s no added sugar in our 100% grape juice. The sweetness in the juice comes from the sunshine. That’s all there is.” Penny Deakin
Penny makes it plain and simple: When you take a sip of Welch’s 100% Grape Juice, what you’re tasting is the grapes that she and Jim grow. And when you look at the glass, that deep purple color came from the grape skins. “We use the whole grape,” she says. “And it’s delicious.”
