06/20/2026
π Supporting local farms means understanding local farming π
One thing we occasionally see (and experience) across our local agriculture community is online reviews criticizing the price of locally grown produce. We understand that everyone has different expectations when it comes to pricing, but we also know that a single review can influence how potential customers view a small business before they've ever visited. That's why we want to share a little perspective on behalf of all of the hardworking farms in our area.
Our strawberry prices (which have been the same for 3 years, despite costs increasing) are in line with other local farms and produce stands in the area. Sure, there is some variance, but at the end of the day, competition is what keeps the market strong, and prices low. While we're on the topic of strawberries, for us specifically, when you see our berries in a supermarket, they are in 1 pound containers. Comparing the price of a 1lb. container to a quart in our store is like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, when you buy directly in our store, the prices are higher. But, you are getting 1.5lbs. of berries instead of 1lb. If you do the math, it works out to be cheaper to buy it in our farm stand!
For the rest of the produce we sell in our store, if we can't buy and sell it at-or-below the price that the big supermarkets sell it for, we simply won't sell it in our store. Which is why we haven't had romaine in a couple weeks, the prices are through the roof!
What many people don't see is everything that goes into growing local produce. Seeds, plants, fertilizer, irrigation, equipment, fuel, packaging, labor and countless hours of work all happen long before a single piece of homegrown fruit reaches our store. These costs continue to increase every year, yet local farms work hard to keep prices fair and affordable for our communities.
Unlike chain stores, family farms like us operate on a much smaller scale. We don't have the buying power of major corporations, but we do provide something they can't: fresh, locally grown produce and a direct connection to the people who grow it. You won't find warm strawberries that just came in from the field at a supermarket!
We understand not everyone will see value in shopping local, and that's their choice. We're certainly not here to tell people how to spend their hard-earned money. We just hope that when people compare prices, they also consider the work, costs, freshness, and community impact behind locally grown food.
We work hard every day to keep our prices fair, competitive, and accessible while continuing to provide the quality and freshness our customers expect. We encourage everyone to support local agriculture whenever they can. Every purchase, positive review, recommendation, and share helps family farms continue doing what they love, and keeps local food available for future generations. β₯π±
