Spotlight On: Kalawi Farm

Will and Maria Williams work at Kalawi Farm in North Carolina, a family farm that is owned by Will’s parents. They are also one of several vendors who will be participating in the WakeMed Farmers Market this season. Take a look below as Will shares a little more about their business and their participation in this year’s Farmers Market.

History of Kalawi Farm

When it comes to farming, I was blessed to be born into this lifestyle. My parents, Jan and Art Williams, owned Kalawi Farm. They first started with peaches and farming in 1985, and the business grew from there.

The name of our farm is the result of my parents’ creativity. They came up with the name Kalawi by combining their kids’ names: Katie (ka), Laura (la), and Will (Wi). We also own an ice cream shop, so when my little brother came along, they named the ice cream shop, Ben’s Ice Cream, after him!

When I graduated from North Carolina State University with my Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Business Management, I came back home to work on the farm. This is currently where my wife, Maria, and I are raising our three kids: Amy (13 years old), Andrew (9 years old), and Alice (3 months).

Life on Kalawi Farm

We grow a variety of produce on the farm. We have 45 acres of peaches with over 40 varieties. We also grow watermelon, cantaloupes, okra, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, spring onions, sweet corn, and tomatoes.

We also have a produce stand just off of the highway, and we also have an ice cream shop, where we make homemade ice cream.

On a typical day, the first thing I do is head out to the barn. This is where I’ll find out where I’m needed that day. It could be anything from irrigation to planting, to fertilizing, spraying pesticides, or harvesting crops.

The biggest challenge with owning and operating a farm are the things that are out of my control, such as: the weather, how much it rains, or early frost killing the peaches.

Making an Impact

Local farming is still a leading industry in this state, and it always has been. With local farms, you know exactly where your food comes from when you buy. At Kalawi Farm, we also practice sustainable farming, which helps the environment.

Over the years, we’ve seen a significant shift in farming. Around our area (in the Sandhills), its gone from a bunch of farmers to about ten. Part of this shift is due to the fact that a lot of people are moving to more urban areas.

In terms of the future of our farm and the type of impact we want to have – We hope to please as many customers as we can while being able to support our family.