Stone's Throw Farm operates out of a small fleet of rolling farm stands that pop up across North Texas.
Stone's Throw's stands are always stocked with fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with canned pickles and jams, though they serve another incredible purpose.
They provide internships and work opportunities for special needs teenagers and adults.
Derek Thorn is one of Stone's Throw Farm's incredible employees, and says his job with the farm is helping him learn invaluable lessons he wouldn't have had the opportunity to learn otherwise.
"I'm always trying to learn how to be more social, and this farm stand allows me to interact with people and learn how to talk to people. I'm shy. I have autism. I'm very shy. and I have problems talking to people, but I am doing my best," he told NBC.
Owner Jack Stone says he and his wife were inspired to start the farm and the nonprofit side of their business from their middle son Jackson, who has autism.
"The root for us starting that was our middle son Jackson. He has autism himself. He's a really charismatic dude who impacts everybody he know but, he probably will be a bit short of an entry level job in terms of his ability. But in my opinion, that doesn't mean he can't do nothing, that he can still impact the world once he gets past school," he said.
As for Thorn, who's one of the first three individuals involved in the program, he hopes to one day run a farm of his own. But for now, he's enjoying learning to love the customer service part of the job.
He says, "I think the best part of it really has been interacting with customers. I think that really has been an enjoyable thing, just saying hello and having a short conversation."
