Written history of a U-Pick operation run by George Wilburn of Towanda, Illinois

              George Wilburn

107 Quincy

Box 16

George Wilburn of Towanda runs a U*Pick operation in Towanda, IL. George growns Indian and Asian vegetables such as tindora luffa gourd, Curry leaf, lemon grass and taro - among others. garden. Most of his business is by "word of mouth" he says, and. operates his business out of his Garden Market. People come here from all over, George says. He gets a lot of Chinese He runs a 5 acre plot of

and Indian customers, because what he grows isn't on the list of many growers and so his demand for produce is usually pretty good. George tries to supply what his customers want. He gets much of his seeds

from a company called Evergreen Y.H. Enterprisds in Annaheim, Cal. Some seeds, such as bitter melon sell for as much as $160. a pound. With the help of his wife Helen, and some of his grandchildren, they save an labor costs and employment insurance. August, September and October are his busiest months. He has two small

greenhouses, and one of them doubles as their syore during the sellong season. Some crops are grown on trellises, they may grow to be 30 to 40 feet long. George says it's a sociological experience, and he enjoys meeting new friends along the way.