Cowboy Joe's supplies customers seven days a week

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

What began as a summer project of selling watermelons, Joe White's entrepreneur venture has grown into a mega-merchandise facility where buyers can find anything from farm-fresh eggs to chow-chow to unique metal artwork. -- Staff photo by Taylor

January 15, 2004 -- When Joe White was growing up on a farm in Henderson, he didn't think much about what he would do in his retirement-age years. Then, when retirement came, it was about the farthest thing from his mind that he would embark on a new career ... unless it had to do with race horses.

In 2000, White retired from Texaco Chemical after a 37-year career. He liked the idea he'd have plenty of free time to spend on the farm he purchased in 1964 between Conroe and Cut 'n Shoot where he keeps a herd of crossbred cattle and some hogs. Plus, he would have more time to spend with the Thoroughbred horses he's always raised and trained ... some for himself, and some for others.

White's time with his livestock was affected about three years ago when he helped his teenage grandson earn some money that summer. White went over to Hempstead and filled his pickup bed with watermelons and he and his grandson set up a roadside sale on his property on State Highway 105. Much to his surprise, he said they sold about $1,745 worth of watermelons between a Wednesday and Sunday, during a Fourth of July weekend. (He claims the largest watermelon he ever sold weighed 97 pounds and caused quite a stir.)

Although the grandson soon found another job with a concrete company, that summer, White decided to continue with his roadside market out of the back of his pickup truck. He said he took quite a bit of "ribbing" from family and friends who would stop by, but all the time, he was making sales, sitting under his umbrella in the hot sun.

Eventually, his son, David, who is a cabinet maker and carpenter, offered to construct him a little building that would provide shelter from the weather, and make room for new products.

Once the building was completed, White broadened his merchandise, even when it meant leaving by 3 in the morning to travel to Hempstead and Houston to pick up fresh produce he would sell at his building that day.

Today, at White's "Cowboy Joe's" building, you will find fresh eggs, sweet potatoes from East Texas, Washington state apples, and Texas grapefruit and oranges among various products.

During the last couple of years, he has expanded the business to include local honey, barbecue sauces, mayhaw jelly ... along with many others, dressings, chow-chows, syrups and preserves, to name a few. He, also, sells milk, bread, fresh beans/peas, and sausage and claims that his Sweeney eggs all have double yokes!

In the second year of sales, White started selling in-season Gulf shrimp and crawfish from his walk-in-cooler, and that has been a big draw for customers.

As he has increased his product line, he added David's unique metal work, as well as some wood art. White said he is open seven days a week, and he mans the "store" most of the time, with some outside help and some from his family.

Several other vendors have joined him on the property, at various times, but White said he is the only one who is always around, since that's the way "you make sales."

Recently, he was selling a miniature horse for a friend, and the horse was in a small pen on the grounds, right in front of his shop. He has hay for sale and other equipment needed by producers, too. It wasn't the first time he had a miniature for sale, but said prices vary and haven't been as high, since miniature horses are more common.

White said he and his wife enjoy getting away on trips, but it doesn't happen too often. He, laughingly, said they had taken their new Recreational Vehicle (RV) over to Lake Conroe, but that is about as far as it's gotten, so far.

They have friends in Kansas, and manage to get up that far as often as possible with their horses, which they race while there. He said he seems to always be pulling a horse trailer, but on a recent trip to Ruidoso, he promised not to include animals on the trip, just for his wife.

As far as how long "Cowboy Joe's Fresh Produce and More" will be operating, White said he plans to keep on selling from his roadside business for as long as he feels it's important to help his family.

White's daughter and her family, as well as his son's family, all live on White property, but since he "still lives on the corner, he's still in charge," White said. One granddaughter is scheduled to graduate from Texas A&M University in the spring, and there are two younger grandchildren, along with the grown grandson who may still become a part of the family business.

The best part of running the produce stand, he said, is visiting with all the different people who stop by to view his merchandise, and the down side is that it is very time intensive; since he wants to be open for his customers seven days a week.

During peak growing seasons, he said customers have to compete for parking places, and after seeing all he has to offer, there's no doubt others will continue to stop by Cowboy Joe's to check out his latest product line.

Come rain or shine, Joe White started something he plans to continue with ... as long as he can ... and as long as there is a need for his products in the area.