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ORAL HISTORY

Mike Atkinson

Atkinson Farms

One of Urban Harvest’s longest-selling vendors, at age 72 Mike Atkinson will proudly tell you “I’ve been a vegetable farmer all my life.” The third-generation owner of Atkinson Farms in the fast-growing Houston suburb of Spring, he’s borne witness to many changes. “I tell everybody today that we’re a mile and a half off of 45. When we came to Spring, we were the third house on the left and now we’re the third-millionth house on the left. There used to be 150 to 200 small vegetable farmers in the area and I think there’s about three or four left.” In the face of this development, maintaining his family’s roughly 125 acres of farmland remains near and dear to his heart. “I could sell everything I got and probably never have to worry about working again- but what is that? As long as I’m healthy and I wanna work, I’m gonna work.” Following challenges with the wholesale side of their business in the 90s, they began directly selling produce on their property and to area restaurants and stores. Urban Harvest, he says has been crucial to their growth and success. A vendor since 2006, he makes a point to be present at the market each Saturday despite the long hours and commute working there requires because he feels it’s important to establish a human connection with his customers and continues to find great joy and fulfillment through his work. “If we go out to pick a patch of squash and the bushes are loaded up, and everything looks real good, it just makes you feel good.” He says. “It makes you feel like you were successful in what you did.”