Our Story

Jim Darnell started Darnell's Produce in 1978 selling fresh produce at a popular parking lot in the town of Orange. He earned a degree in biology from Virginia Tech and considered many paths after graduation. His father Bob, had been raising vegetables for many years and suggested giving produce sales a try. Jim soon found his passion. 

His vast knowledge of science and business led to success and growth from selling corn and tomatoes out of his father's pick-up truck to expanding to flowers and plants, opening a garden center, and purchasing farmland. 

His fascination and love for agriculture hasn't faded one bit over the years. He still gets excited over every aspect of growing. From browsing and shopping seed catalogs to planting and harvesting. He loves coming to work and seeing friends, family, and customers daily. 

Some of which have been shopping with him since 1978! 

Zach Darnell has been working at Darnell's Garden Patch full time since 2010. Zach grew up helping out his dad sporadically in his youth, but never had a vision for taking over the family business until a fateful visit in 2008. 

He was home from college helping his dad at the farm and something changed inside him. He felt God's call to leave behind his dream of working in the golf industry and almost overnight decided to pursue the family business in his hometown. He finished his business degree at Methodist University in 2010 and has been working diligently to grow and transform Darnell's Garden Patch into what it is today. 

Zach's passion for the business can be seen in the challenging projects he undertakes and the amount of time he devotes to pursuing his goals. He loves working in agriculture and enjoys seeing the fruit of hard work and planning come together. He also enjoys interacting with the community and providing healthy products that benefit his friends and neighbors.