COVER FEATURE
GROWING & PRESERVING
Hooks Family Farm has built their reputation on signature jellies and preserves
STORY & PHOTOS BY MICHELLE WULFSON
With thoughtful attention and care , Ashlyn Hooks moves quickly throughout her home ’ s kitchen , as she spends the day making strawberry and peach jellies for the Downtown Huntsville Farmers Market the next morning .
“ It ’ s a lot of work , but it ’ s fun and rewarding ,” Ashlyn said , sharing bowls of strawberry and peach jellies fresh off of her kitchen stove . Warm and indulgently sweet like candy , it ’ s a simple pleasure that ’ s instantly reminiscent of childhood comforts , making it easy to see why the Hooks family takes such pride and joy in making it .
“ It ’ s good to have jellies at the store , but they just don ’ t taste the same ,” Brian Hooks said .
Through their 67-acre farm and the welcomed opportunity to support local growers since losing most of their fruit and vegetable gardens in the freeze , they take comfort in knowing that their products are made with the utmost quality and care from the initial planting to the final canning .
Known for their signature jellies and preserves , the Hooks family makes an extensive selection that continues to grow with customer requests . Strawberry , apple butter and jalapeño , which captures all of the flavor without the heat , are their best selling jellies , though they also carry unique flavors to the area that won ’ t be found in grocery stores , like muscadine grape and mayhaw , which is Brian ’ s favorite .
PICTURED : Ashlyn Hooks , owner of Hooks Family Farms , goes to various farmers markets and fairs around the Huntsville area selling our homemade jellies , preserves , spreads , pickles , and farm fresh eggs . Opposite , clockwise from top left , canned pickled spears are a top seller for the local farmers ; Hooks Family Farms offers unique preserves , including a strawberry and jalapeño mixture ; quality homemade soap features all organic ingredients ; Hooks helps a customer during a recent farmers market in Huntsville .
8 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER , 2021