National 'Small Business Revolution' Documentary Project Features Lane Southern Orchards Of Georgia

Fort Valley, Ga. – In the sunny groves of Lane Southern Orchards, sweet Georgia peaches have been growing for more than 100 years. Although the iconic taste of the peaches remains the same, the business behind them has evolved significantly.

The family-owned and -operated farm is run by CEO Mark Sanchez, who is leading the transition from a traditional farm into a multi-faceted business that now includes a restaurant and bakery, roadside market and event venue – and is beginning to branch out into commercial sales. Recently helping fuel Lane Southern Orchards’ growth: they received the opportunity to sell fresh peach cobbler at local Sysco and Whole Foods locations.

Now, Lane Southern Orchards is getting national attention from Deluxe Corporation’s Small Business Revolution documentary project. The Small Business Revolution, which also features "Shark Tank" star Robert Herjavec, is a yearlong campaign that celebrates the vibrancy, variety and community impact of small businesses across the country. Its latest story is a photo essay profiling Lane Southern Orchards, is one of 100 profiles of inspiring small businesses that will debut throughout 2015 at SmallBusinessRevolution.org.

Since 1908, Lane Southern Orchards has been producing some of the best peaches and pecans in the state of Georgia. Today, they are one of the largest employers in their small county with 65 full-time employees. Despite the growth, Lane Southern Orchards is staying close to its roots by playing an active role in the community, working with local hospitals and hosting an annual golf tournament, which raises almost $50,000 per year to be invested back into the community. Their commitment to their employees and the community is what the Small Business Revolution is all about.

Deluxe developed the Small Business Revolution to focus on the importance of personal touch and local involvement in an era when business is becoming increasingly impersonal. The campaign is capturing the stories of small businesses and their customers, families and friends – all of whom are a crucial part of what makes our communities whole.

“The hands-on customer service, the entrepreneurial spirit and the deep community involvement people find in the small businesses they frequent make all the difference,” said Amanda Brinkman, chief brand and communications officer for Deluxe Corp. “Telling these moving, inspirational stories and putting a spotlight on these owners is our way of celebrating the best parts of American business.”

The Small Business Revolution will unfold throughout 2015, as a part of Deluxe’s 100th anniversary celebration. Since 1915, Deluxe has helped small businesses and financial institutions grow and thrive by providing a range of business services, from websites and logos to social media and email marketing to checks and other financial services.

The Small Business Revolution is also awarding several $25,000 prizes to select small businesses this year. Anyone can nominate their favorite small business at SmallBusinessRevolution.org, and Shark Tank's Herjavec will help Deluxe choose the winners who best exemplify the Small Business Revolution spirit. The people who nominate the winning businesses can see how it feels to be a "shark" by personally delivering the $25,000 prize.

A longer-form documentary about the Small Business Revolution – featuring many of the profiled businesses, as well as Herjavec and other small-business experts – was also recently released, and can be viewed at SmallBusinessRevolution.org.

About Deluxe Corporation

Deluxe Corp. is a growth engine for small businesses and financial institutions. Nearly 4.6 million small business customers access Deluxe's wide range of products and services, including customized checks and forms, as well as website development and hosting, email marketing, search engine optimization and logo design. For our approximately 5,600 financial institution customers, Deluxe offers industry-leading programs in checks, customer acquisition, fraud prevention and profitability. Deluxe is also a leading provider of checks and accessories sold directly to consumers. For more information, visit us at www.deluxe.com, https://www.facebook.com/deluxecorp or www.twitter.com/deluxecorp.

Source: Deluxe Corporation