Governor helps kick off peach season

Published 5:48 pm Friday, June 14, 2013

Gov. Robert Bentley and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey were among those kicking off the peach season on Friday at Durbin Farms Market.

Gov. Robert Bentley and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey were among those kicking off the peach season on Friday at Durbin Farms Market.

“We grow the best peaches in the world right here in Chilton County,” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said Friday at a peach season kick-off at event Durbin Farms Market.

Bentley was joined by Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey and dozens of other guests at the event, which was sponsored by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce.

Greg, Susan and Benjamin Williams were among those who stopped at Durbin’s for fresh produce while traveling Interstate 65 and were surprised to find such a big to-do.

Greg and Benjamin, 6, took the opportunity to meet Bentley.

“We didn’t know he was going to be here, but we sure recognized him,” said Greg, the father of the family from Huntsville.

Colby Jones, son of Durbin’s owner Danny Jones, welcomed visitors before introducing Bentley.

Both Jones and Bentley touted the importance of agriculture to the state’s and nation’s economies.

Ivey told those in attendance that she lived in Clanton as a toddler.

“This is what America is all about: young people finding an education and an opportunity to become leaders,” Ivey said after taking the microphone from Jones.

Jones said Durbin’s brought in an extra 1,000 or so peaches for the event.

“Anytime you have customers here, it’s a good time,” he said.