Hucks roadside produce stand a taste of down-home nostalgia

Threats of big developments and the changing nature of business were not enough to put Hucks Produce out of business. For more than 50 years, Hucks Produce off U.S. Highway 78 in Ladson has been a family operation led by Bobby Hucks.

For years, Hucks Produce operated in a field near the intersection of Maybank Highway and Woodland Shores Road. When the lot was sold for more than $1 million, Hucks was demolished to create a desirable plot for a new owner.

"We had to rebuild from scratch," Lora Hucks, Bobby's daughter, said. "The first year was horrible, and the location was difficult to find."

Lora Hucks now owns and operates a Hucks Produce off Folly Road on James Island.

She worked for years in human resources before deciding to join the family business. Lora is glad she did.

"I just really felt free," she said. "I like having the freedom that it provides me. I wanted to be my own boss."

The Hucks Produce stand in Ladson is a rustic one-room building, seemingly a throwback to a different era complete with hand-painted signs. Old metal fans keep the warm air cool in the summertime.

Over the years, Hucks Produce has become a mainstay for individuals in search of fresh fruits and vegetables purchased mainly from farmers throughout South Carolina. One can also purchase jars of locally harvested honey, which Lora says has medicinal benefits. Or one can stock up on homemade jellies and ciders from the Upstate.

But Hucks Produce is renowned for its boiled peanuts. People have left their home states and driven hundreds of miles to purchase the peanuts, Lora said.

She says produce stands are a "dying breed" because many people have gotten used to the convenience of a grocery store. The taste and quality of locally selected fruits and veggies at a produce stand often are better than at grocery stores, she says.

The Hucks family remains committed to supporting local farmers.

"You have to believe in your product," Lora said. "We get the best farmers and we have known these farmers for 50 years."

Not only is a quality product important but so is quality customer service, she said.

"I would love to see more roadside stands where people sold local things," she added. "Those were the best of times. It was a totally different thing than going to grocery stores. You treat customers like family members, not customers."

Reach Jasiri Whipper at jwhipper@postandcourier.com.