Produce stands offer choices
Charlotte Orrick looks through the fruit at Dorothy’s Produce in Phil Campbell. | Scot Beard/FCT
Driving through Phil Campbell motorists notice several businesses lining the main street, but one stands out with vibrant colors.
Bright red tomatoes, green watermelons and yellow squash greet vehicles passing by Dorothy’s Produce.
Owned by Terry Orrick and named after his wife, Dorothy, the produce stand offers area citizens some of the freshest fruits and vegetables in the area.
“We get most of the produce from Birmingham, but that company buys locally to keep things fresh,” said Terry’s daughter, Charlotte Orrick. “We also purchase some things from area farmers.”
Despite being located across the street from a grocery store, business is booming for the Orricks.
Charlotte helps run the Phil Campbell business and said the area stores and the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Russellville has not hurt sales at all.
“I thought (Wal-Mart) would kill us,” Charlotte said. “But it has been great. We do better every year.”
The business had humble beginnings in Texas when Charlotte’s brother, Conway, purchased a watermelon and sold it on the roadside. He took the profit and purchased two watermelons.
Terry realized the potential and decided to open a produce stand. When the family moved to Alabama 25 years ago, the business came with them and eventually expanded to three locations.
Now Dorothy’s Produce is only available in two locations – Phil Campbell and Littleville.
“It’s in my blood,” Charlotte said. “I get to talk to people and the customers feel like family.”
Part of cultivating that atmosphere is through outstanding customer service. Employees still help carry purchases to the customers’ cars and the store offers curbside service to elderly customers — all they need to do is pull up and honk their car horn.
Charlotte said she has left the business to pursue other career opportunities, but the lure of Dorothy’s Produce calls her back every time.
Charlotte said there are the usual fruits and vegetables customers would expect to find and that tomatoes, watermelons, corn, peaches and strawberries are among the most popular sellers. What is surprising is the availability of tropical fruits such as coconuts, mangos, papayas and bananas.
Dorothy’s not only offers just about any produce people need for some good home cooking, but it also branches out for special occasions. Mother’s Day is one of the busiest holiday seasons for the business as it offers a wide selection of flowers.
Dorothy’s is open most of the year — it closes down for a few weeks during the winter — including many holidays and accepts most forms of payment.
