Using land to become productive and self-reliant

By Ashahed M. Muhammad -Asst. Editor- | Last updated: May 21, 2012 - 10:17:49 AM

(L) Abraham Carpenter Jr., Min. Farrakhan, Katie and Abraham Carpenter Sr. (center) Abraham Jr. shows Min. Farrakhan and Leonard F. Muhammad equipment. (R) Minister Farrakhan greets Abraham Carpenter Sr., the family patriarch. Photos: Ashahed M. Muhammad

The success story of Carpenter’s Produce

GRADY, Ark. (FinalCall.com) - The humble beginnings of Carpenter’s Produce reads like a perfect story. In fact, it almost seems too good to be true.

Over 40 years ago, Abraham Carpenter Sr., would go to work every day working at the local lumber mill as the traditional provider and breadwinner for his family. One day, his loving wife Katie had the idea to begin growing vegetables on one-acre of land they owned.

Abraham Sr. came home one day to discover his wife had made more money in one-day selling vegetables at the local farmer’s market than he made on his job in an entire week. Immediately, Abraham Sr. bought 30 more acres of land, left his job at the lumber mill and Carpenter’s Produce was born.

According to Abraham Carpenter, Jr., who now runs day to day operations, the Carpenter’s have an operation covering over 1,200 acres with plans to expand. Carpenter’s Produce generates money by selling their goods retail, to individuals and storeowners in the Little Rock and Pine Bluff area, then whatever they have in excess is made available for wholesale purchasers. National grocery store chains such as Kroger and Wal-Mart are among their customers.

Abraham Sr. and Mother Katie’s five sons and three daughters are all involved in the family business and continue the tradition of working on the farm and living on the land. Abraham Sr. would incentivize them by buying them cars, and building houses for those working on the land to live in, and now, they are the largest vegetable providers in the state of Arkansas.

'We’re honored to be here, honored to see the great work that you and your wife started and that your son and members of the family are continuing to grow. We’ve come to learn from you so we can go back and duplicate what we have found so all of us can be more prosperous.'
—Minister Farrakhan

“I desired to come here and go into the vegetable operation full time because not only did I want to make myself successful, I wanted to make the whole family successful and with God’s help, we’ve been able to do that,” said Abraham Carpenter Jr. “A man is not free until he is financially free,” he added.

As a young boy at the age of five, he recalls working hard on the farm. Even after he began school, while many children were playing during their summer vacations, Abraham Jr. was working hard, and he has done so for 35 years. This is the third generation to run the family’s produce business, which has survived even during a time when many Black farmers have left the land during these hard times.

During his recent tour of several land grant historically Black colleges and universities throughout the cotton belt South, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan spoke of the importance of land, and its cultivation. Unfortunately, he has found that many Black college students reject majors in the agricultural sciences, even though they attend schools that receive federal funding to do so.

In a tour arranged by long-time aide Leonard F. Muhammad, who has deep family roots in Arkansas, including the Carpenters who are his cousins, the Minister walked the grounds of Carpenter’s Produce asking questions about equipment and factors considered during the decision-making process to determine what crops Carpenter’s Produce will grow. He then stepped inside their home taking the time to view hundreds of historic family photos as well as some of the 150 plus awards and trophies given to the family.

“We’re honored to be here, honored to see the great work that you and your wife started and that your son and members of the family are continuing to grow. We’ve come to learn from you so we can go back and duplicate what we have found so all of us can be more prosperous,” said Min. Farrakhan.

When asked what has kept them working throughout the decades, Mother Katie Carpenter answered simply, “Strong family values, and belief in God.”

Things have not always been easy. Nearly a decade ago, the Carpenter’s faced legal problems being accused of fraud and business irregularities. Government investigators were sent from Washington D.C. however, after examining the Carpenter’s records and operation, they were exonerated.

“They came at us from every angle that they possibly could when they saw us really blooming, and really being productive,” said Mr. Carpenter Jr. “It was fine for us to be on the smaller level—small scale basis—but when you rise to the level and the capacity of the things they are doing, they have a problem with that,” he added.

“They had to enter into an agreement with us in writing that they would never discriminate against the Carpenters ever again,” he said. “We had to struggle first. It’s challenging, but it’s worth it in the long haul to create something for your own on your own.”

Carpenter’s Produce donates thousands of dollars a month worth of food to feed homeless and supply other food pantries that do so. During Hurricane Katrina, they donated five full trailers of food to those suffering after the storm. He also tries to hire people from the community, however, there have been problems.

“I try to hire all of the locals that I can,” said Abraham Carpenter Jr. “But they’re not consistent. Some of them think this work is too difficult for them. But the migrant workers—they’ll get here and ask for more work! They will work all day and all night,” he said.

Even though he has managed the operation since he was 12 years old, he always confers with Mother Katie and his father, Abraham Carpenter Sr. before making any major decisions regarding the farm, and for good reason. The 82-year-old family patriarch was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2011 as well as the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, which is sponsored by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Arkansas Farm Bureau.

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