Larry & Eunice of Larry's Veggies

 

Larry and Eunice Park have what they call an incurable disease,  

one that causes them to get their hands dirty, plant seeds and share their yield with the community. The couple started Larry's Veggies,  

an organic farm in Marana, two years ago to supplement their income as they approach retirement.

The freedom of being able to go out into nature and work out his frustrations has kept Larry returning to the agriculture lifestyle  

even after he tried to cure his compulsion.

"I have been in it all my life," he said. "I have gotten out of it three  

or four times. I've sold everything off and said I was never going to  

go back into it, but I always do ... it's a disease."

This time around, they have found their niche selling greens at the  

St. Philip's Plaza Farmers' Market on Sundays. They also sell  

carrots, squash, cucumbers and plenty of other things. They pick  

their veggies a mere 24 to 48 hours before the market.   

Larry and Eunice take pride in the fact that they do not use  

herbicides or pesticides on their products."It is hard to find vegetables that taste like they're supposed to taste," Eunice said. "There is a definite difference between the taste of organic and  

not organic. 

Before moving to Marana in 2001, Larry and Eunice owned a  

nursery in Douglas called Zamp Country Nursery where they grew tulips and trees, and veggies on the side. So, it is not surprising that the couple hopes to sell cut flowers in the Spring."We are constantly trying to find something new, something that customers want," Eunice said. "We are asking customers what they want to see and what they want us to grow. Dream-wise, we would like to can some of our things one day."