QUINCY - Employees of Akins Harvest Foods in Quincy are gearing up to celebrate a major milestone this weekend.

The family-run grocery store has been in business since 1963, said Akins vice-president Nick Akins. Akins' grandfather opened the store on Quincy's Central Avenue that February, he said.

The store's current building on F Street was built in 1983, said Akins. The store is about 28,000 square feet and houses a bakery, deli and meat department in addition to the main aisles of grocery items.

The family also owns a grocery store in Oroville as well as one in Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, said Akins.

Although the store's 50th anniversary passed in February, Akins said he wanted to wait until things warmed up to hold a celebration.

Akins said there will be a three-day customer appreciation sale Friday through Sunday. Customers will find great deals storewide, he said.

The public is also invited to a customer appreciation barbecue at the store from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Akins said there will be plenty of giveaways that day including Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks tickets and kid's bicycles.

Akins said the store wanted to hold the barbecue as a way to thank Quincy residents for their support over the years.

"The town of Quincy has been very supportive of us, and that's why we're doing this," he said.

He said Akins makes it a point to stock the shelves with high-quality items, which keeps customers coming back.

"We pride ourselves on fresh, quality products and buying local as much as we can," he said. "Especially with the produce, given the area that we're in."

Akins said the store sells local potatoes, corn and watermelon, among other products. The deli also uses local produce when making salads from scratch, he said.

Akins also said the beef in the store's meat department is all Pacific Northwest grown.

In addition, the store's bakery features fresh bread, donuts and other items that are made each day, he said.

"We make our dough every single morning from scratch," said Akins.

Akins said he is looking forward to having a presence in Quincy over the next few decades.

"We love this town, my grandfather loved it and I love it," he said. "We try to root ourselves into as much of it as we can."

Akins currently sits on the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The store also donates to a Quincy youth football program and supports the area's 4-H kids during their annual stockyard sale, he said.

Akins Harvest Foods is located at 106 SW F St. in Quincy.