A Fort Mill organic delivery service now has a shop for customers to get fresh produce
A Fort Mill produce company known for delivery now has a walk-in option too.
Farm Fresh Carolinas now has a retail store, Our Market at Farm Fresh Carolinas. The business is at 8161 Regent Parkway, suite 102. It’s right beside where Farm Fresh filled deliveries for five years, in what was a dance studio Farm Fresh owner Lisa Strump’s daughter attended.
When the dance studio expanded to its own new space, Farm Fresh saw and opportunity.
“As soon as we found out we contacted the landlord, and cut holes in the wall and expanded over here,” Strump said.
Strump and her husband are both chiropractors. They have a medical office in Steele Creek. Strump used an organic produce delivery service in this area for half a dozen years before it stopped service.
“We realized that there was a hole in our community for this type of service,” Strump said.
Farm Fresh delivers to the greater Charlotte area. In recent years the company added local and regional farm items like honey or peanut butter to its organic food staples. Strump said organics are key for her family. Strump said they are healthier for consumers, farmers and communities compared to food grown with pesticides. Strump is also passionate about avoiding food waste.
The new retail space hits on those goals. It’s open when delivery orders are packed, usually 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday.
“If the sign still says open, you can still come in,” Strump said.
Fridays and Saturdays leftover produce from orders turns into an indoor farmers market. Availability will depend on weekly deliveries. There is a large flag Farm Fresh puts out to let customers know what’s happening.
“When the flag’s out, the produce is out,” Strump said.
Customers also can go online to place a la carte orders. The new space allows Farm Fresh to keep produce cool inside but still offer it to customers before it goes to waste, as can happen at the end of farmers market events.
Farm Fresh is a year-round service. It relies on local and regional farms, along with organic co-ops.
“We do always start regionally, and get from as close as possible first,” Strump said.
A grand opening for the new store will include vendors and samples. It runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 23 and 24.
For more, visit farmfreshcarolinas.com.
This story was originally published September 18, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
