The Good Ole' Stuff

There is something to be said of a good ole' local farmer's market.  Nearby in Huntersville is The Bradford Store.  Originally built in 1912, the family refurbished the little store in 2006. It's been thriving every since. Visit their Facebook page to see pictures and information. Not only do they have produce but also organic garden supplies and such.

Entering the store front, mounds of wildflowers and herbs hug the walkway. If you're lucky, you will meet the chickens scratching around. Customers can find refuge on the front porch in a good rocking chair with a cold bottled soda, and that is what you'll see on most summer days, rain or shine. In the winter months, there is guaranteed warmth inside by the old wood stove and a hot cup of complimentary cider. As you enter the bright red screen doors, you immediately tread on creaky wooden floors. I always grab a garden basket as soon as I step in, it is often impossible to make it through without a basket full of goodness! Shelves behind the counter are lined with jars of homemade relish, sauces, jams and jellies, pickled this and that. In the corner there's an old time box cooler with glass bottled sodas and Carolina Spring water. You can find everything from homemade pies, cookies and candies, to local beef and pork. If they are out of North Carolina mountains apples then you can usually find dehydrated apple rings. They have a bounty of their very own organic veggies from the garden like collards, potatoes, onions, and red beets to name a few. They also stock dry beans from other suppliers and some spices. A kitchen refrigerator sits off to the side of the room and in it awaits the best homemade butter, so smooth and creamy with just the right bite of saltiness. Oh yes and local goat cheese, flour, flax seed, and dried dates and figs. The big cooler in the back is usually stocked with fresh eggs, organic Brussels sprouts and spinach, even shiitake and cremini mushrooms, hoop and pimento cheese, organic milk, buttermilk, and bacon. There is so much more!

On my recent trip, the store was well stocked! With bags in tow, I left with organic sweet potatoes, shallots, and hot house tomatoes. I couldn't resist a block of fresh cheese from Ashe County or that oh-so-divine butter. Another little tasty prize that I sometimes indulge in is The Label Readers Healthy Coffee Creamer, in Mocha, Vanilla, and Hazelnut. Finally, I could not leave without a bottle of the local wildflower honey.

How could you not long for the good home grown foods from places such as these? Before you spout the burdens of cost, do some sincere hands on homework. The cost is really minimal compared to chain prices. The way I see it, for all of the junk food that I have stopped funding, it is a comparable trade. It matters what we eat and what it is doing to our health and the health of our children. Start with a small change and as you learn, make more changes, but just start! Organic milk is a good start!

So find a market and pay them a visit! Enjoy the friendly and slow-paced atmosphere. Talk to the store owners and staff, learn something about them. Take advantage of these little gold mines and support their dedication and compassion to give us good, clean, healthy food. Bradford's is one of my absolute favorite places and I can only hope that where ever you live, there is also such a piece of heaven for you.