The Wiggins Farm down in Snook, Texas has been growing watermelons for over 45 years. Today the company works 1,600 acres across three farms located just outside of College Station, in the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas.

It's a huge task growing some of Texas' sweetest watermelons. First, Wiggins grows seedlings in a greenhouse for the first 30 days before planting in the field. Many growers simply scatter seeds in the field, but Wiggins goes the extra measure for stronger, healthier plants. The real hard work comes at harvest time.

Wiggins harvests nearly 5 million watermelons over its growing season from May- September. During that time, it's 16 hours per day; 7 days per week harvesting close to 30,000 watermelons per day, each weighing up to 20 pounds!

Long before Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson put the sleepy hamlet of Luckenbach on the proverbial map, the Jenschke family was making it famous for fresh summer squash. The 150-acre Jenschke family farm, located near Luckenbach in the Texas Hill Country, is a family-owned and operated farm. Originally purchased by Eugene and Ruby Jenschke in 1948, the farm has been tilled and planted by three generations of Jenschkes and is currently run by Craig Jenschke and his family.

Jenschke grows a wide variety of produce including yellow squash, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon. The Jenschke's strive to be environmentally conscious, using an efficient electronically-controlled drip irrigation system to water the crops.

Craig takes great pride in growing fresh fruits and vegetables and sharing them with local Texans. He has begun to teach his two young sons, Carson and Cullen, to farm as well, hoping to keep the Jenschke Farm in the family for generations to come.

Atkinson Farms is a 4th generation local small business and is truly a Houston farming legacy. The Atkinson family has been farming since the 50's and continues with Mike, wife Theresa and son Bobby.

The Atkinson's grow a wide variety of fruit and vegetables on their 100-acre farm and employ 8 fulltime workers. In fact, the breadth of crops is really unique to Atkinson Farms offering more than 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Most farmers concentrate on only a handful of items.

Atkinson Farms also operates an on-site market and you-pick operation. Fresh blackberries, okra, watermelon and collard greens are now available from Atkinson Farms.

Despite the recent no/low carb craze, potatoes remain a staple in the Barrett family. The Barrett's have been growing spuds for more than 100 years. It's that long history and expertise of growing potatoes in Texas that made them the "go-to" grower for Texas A&M's experimental farm, breeding over 1,000 different varieties of potatoes on its Springlake, Texas farm.

"We grow some pretty crazy colors in the A&M program," said Cliff Black, Farm Operations Manager. "We grow bright purples, golds and ruby colored potatoes, but nothing beats our traditional Texas Reds for taste and versatility."

As it turns out, the growing conditions in the West Texas panhandle are perfect for growing potatoes. The famous sand hills, hot days and cool nights bring out the sugars in the potatoes, giving the Texas-grown Barrett Potatoes a distinct sweet flavor.

Barrett Potato Farms are harvested and shipped out within 24-48. Virtually all of its crops are sold to be eaten fresh, not stored for months like most potatoes.

Hardie's Fruit & Vegetable Co. has a rich history in the fresh produce business and has been providing farm fresh fruit and vegetables since 1943. Hardie's is still family-owned and operated, making daily deliveries of fresh produce throughout the southwest.