HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Imagine if the leader of the free world stopped by your business practically unannounced. A Hanover produce stand experienced just that around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
President Barack Obama took an unscheduled stop at Berry’s Produce in Hanover to do a little shopping and shake a few hands.
“They showed up about 30 minutes beforehand and told us he was on the way here to the produce stand,” said Sandra Berry, Co-Owner of Berry’s Produce. “I was in disbelief that he was going to come here of all places.”
Sandra Berry and her husband have owned their stand off Rt. 301 for six years. After giving President Obama a quick lesson in how to pick a good tomato, the Berry's made their first Presidential sale.
“He bought a whole box of tomatoes, watermelon, and some peaches,” Berry said.
President Obama told Berry that the First Lady is a huge fan of Hanover tomatoes. He bought a 25 pound box that he said he's taking back with him to Washington D.C.
Bryant Howland has worked at Berry's Produce for only two weeks. Howland just graduated from Hanover High School and is heading to college in the fall.
When he told the President he wanted to major in homeland security, President Obama’s reaction made his day.
“He just kind of laughed and said, ‘Well maybe you'll be working beside me someday,’” said Howland.
The Berry's told members of the Presidential motorcade they were still undecided voters.
Although they will not be changing their stand's name to "Presidential Produce," Sandra Berry said the surprise visit will stick with her for quite sometime.
"For us to be a small business and him to come in, it was exciting, very exciting,” she said.
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