JONES FAMILY FARMS LLC
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

Jones Family Farms, nestled in the White Hills of Shelton, with its 19th century dairy barn and homestead farmhouse, impresses the visitor as a peaceful and relaxed living environment. The beautiful countryside with its orderly rows of Christmas trees, neat stonewalls, and well-maintained fields are the result of efforts by seven generations of Jones family farmers. The farmers of the 400-acre working farm invite families to visit and harvest seasonal crops. Presently under cultivation are 200 acres of Christmas trees, 15 acres of strawberries, 15 acres of blueberries, and 25 acres of pumpkins, gourds and squash. The Jones farmers harvest these crops from three different farm locations known as the Homestead Farm, the Valley Farm, and Pumpkinseed Hill. The farm also manages 50 acres of hay land and 50 acres of woodlots. Over ten acres of grapes are in production for the farm's winery. Our Mission We help all to understand the nature of sustainable agriculture and the importance of caring for the earth, its plants and animals. “We believe we grow the best agricultural products in an environmentally sustainable way. We’re a family that cares passionately for the land and we hope we can share that passion with you.” William's son, Philip Hubbell Jones continued to develop the dairy operation, then called Broad Acres Farm, and was known as a wise and progressive farmer. His son, Philip Hubbell Jones, Jr., didn't like milking cows, but ran the dairy farm with his father while growing trees in the back pastures as a hobby. In 1944, Philip sold a dozen Christmas trees to friends. Philip, Jr. and his wife, Elisabeth, became pioneers in developing and promoting cut-your-own Christmas trees at the farm. The dairy herd was sold in the mid-1960's. In 1994, Philip and Elisabeth celebrated 50 years of operating the Christmas Tree Farm. In his semi-retirement, Grandpa Jones ran a part-time custom sawmill business. In 1995, the farm's name was updated to Jones Family Farms to reflect the diversity of crops being sold. Philip Jamison (Jamie) Jones, of the sixth generation, graduated from Cornell University in 1998. Jamie started the Jones Winery and continues to oversee many of the farm’s other operations. Gwyn Jones, also of the sixth generation, graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2002 with a degree in graphic design. She is responsible for creating the farm and winery logos, all the wine labels, as well as farm publications and packaging for special farm products. All who work and live on the Jones Family Farms are guided by the words of the farm’s founder: “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you.” We believe we grow the best agricultural crops in an environmentally sustainable way. We have worked over the years to keep our soils healthy and productive. The Jones farmers are committed to growing high-quality and wholesome food and farm products. Project-oriented, on-the-job instruction on agricultural techniques, farm products, and direct marketing Retail clothing (t-shirts, caps) provided Housing/Transportation is not provided Thank you for your interest in working at Jones Family Farms. The primary learning objective of our apprenticeship is to offer hands-on experiences in modern sustainable agriculture, direct marketing, and following food from field to plate in our farm kitchen. Apprentices participate on a team that includes farm managers and a variety of seasonal staff. Our goal is to provide hands-on harvest, farm guest interactions, and farm kitchen experience useful to an aspiring market farmer, community dietitian, chef embracing farm cuisine, and/or farm and food educator. Apprentice position will incorporate both our Harvest-Your-Own operations and production kitchen: : gain an understanding of production kitchen management and record keeping while also learning about commercial food sanitation practices as a key member of our farm kitchen team. Projects include cooking with and preserving seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as baking goods for our Winery and Harvest-Your-Own guests. Apprentices also have the opportunity to share their experiences and learn alongside our guests while assisting with our cooking classes. We are looking for individuals with a sincere and strong interest in food and where it comes from. A college degree is preferred. Being a team player and having a positive attitude and sense of humor is critical. We are looking for someone who works well independently as well as with teams, and able to learn quickly while supporting Jones farming methods. We are committed to teaching and learning through doing and we want our apprentices to be equally on board. The work schedule varies depending on the season, with apprentices working 40 to 50 hours per week, including many weekend and holiday hours. Compensation includes a room in an on-farm house with modern amenities, a biweekly stipend, and produce when available. Jones Family Farms provides health insurance through Worker’s Compensation for on farm incidents, but personal health insurance must be provided by the applicant. Apprentices must provide their own transportation. Jones Family Farms Our working farm provides the perfect setting for learning about fresh food and farmhouse cooking. Our classes are kept small and personal to reflect our love of family-style meals. This year we have expanded our schedule to include more of what you asked for - classes on healthy eating, seafood, international cuisine, and more! Enjoy! Jones Family Farms is a working farm without a full-time office staff to answer the many phone calls and/or electronic messages we receive. Jones Family Farms