In the heart of Georgia peach country, Lawton Pearson is redefining what it means to carry on a family legacy.
A fifth-generation farmer at Pearson Farm in Fort Valley, Pearson left behind a career in law to return to the land he grew up on — bringing fresh perspective, technical insight and a deep respect for the rhythms of farming. Nicknamed the “peach whisperer” by colleagues, he’s not only stewarding one of Georgia’s oldest peach and pecan operations, he is also positioning it for long-term sustainability through smarter practices, innovation and a forward-thinking mindset.
A return to the land
After growing up on the family farm, Lawton says he attended law school as a backup plan but returned to the family farm in 2004 to join his father in continuing the family’s peach and pecan legacy.
“I grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, not necessarily a great time for peaches,” he said. “So I came into this with a lot of caution, knowing it could go sideways. Luckily, I had the time and opportunity to do something else first.”
With their son’s return, the family made the decision to divide operations so father and son could explore new directions while honoring the farm’s history.
“I like to think of the process as walking forward with your head to the side, looking back,” Pearson said. “We’re still growing some of the same peaches from 100 years ago — and they knew how to grow them back then. The fundamentals haven’t changed much.”
While peaches and pecans might be familiar, Pearson is always looking for smart, strategic updates to help the farm remain efficient, resilient and competitive.
“We’ve adopted a lot of technology, particularly in packaging. We used to hydro-cool with ice; now we use ammonia refrigeration and cold rooms,” he said. “Sorters have been a change — we grade peaches with machines now instead of by hand and eye. That’s huge.”
Digital food safety tracking, iPads for employees and infrastructure upgrades are just a few examples of how Pearson Farm is embracing progress without compromising its identity, Pearson says.
“My grandfather wouldn’t recognize a lot of what we do, but if he walked into one of our orchards, he’d know exactly what we were doing because by and large we’re doing the exact same thing we did 100 years ago,” he said.
Challenges and opportunities for next-generation farmers
When it comes to opportunities and challenges for the next generation of farmers, particularly those in specialty crops like peaches and pecans, Pearson sees both promise and complexity for the future of specialty crop farming.
One opportunity he says is through connectivity with customers through social media.
“We now know who eats our peaches — and we know when they don’t like them,” he said. “That connection brings opportunities for more specialization and vertical integration. We can pack in 2-pound bags, clamshells, new formats, but that’s also a huge challenge.”
What used to be packaged in large boxes now gets divided into consumer-friendly packaging, a shift that requires more labor, time and precision.
“Peaches don’t wait,” Pearson said. “They’re not industrialized. They’re delicate, seasonal and labor intensive. If you can make that model work, great. But it’s hard, and it keeps a lot of people out of this business.”
Labor remains one of the biggest concerns for specialty crop growers, he said.
“Securing seasonal labor for such an intense job is one of the hardest parts,” Pearson said. “It’s high skill, high speed work. That alone is a barrier to entry for many.”
Honoring the past doesn’t mean standing still, he said. At Pearson Farm, tradition and innovation grow side by side.
