With falling temperatures, most foundational farmers markets have closed for the season, but a farmers market operated by a Greensboro-based couple doesn’t have a fixed site to shut down.
The Homestead Market is a roving farmers market selling healthy, locally produced foods from a trailer.
Filled with bright orange carrots, vibrant greens, freshly-baked breads and desserts, as well as seafood, beef and pork, the trailer is tailored to fit the finest of fine, freshly-focused, food-loving, healthy eaters in the area , co-owner Don Milholin said.
He and wife Kristy Myers-Miholin started The Homestead Market this past May, 15 years after they founded the Out of the Garden Project, a group that works to combat hunger in the Piedmont Triad.
“We felt like it was time to retire and let someone else lead the Out of the Garden Project and start a business of our own,” Milholin said.
Myers-Milholin said they are ready for the next chapter in our lives, “and we both love food.”
“So, we decided to open up a roving farmers market. This way, we can get great North Carolina goods onto the tables of people in Burlington, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. There aren’t many fresh, local, healthy options out there, and we want to provide that for our customers,” she said. “We offer something for everyone. From fruit breads to NC catfish, everything here is delicious and lovingly grown and made.”
Twice a week, the Homestead Market is in Burlington: on Tuesdays from 8:30 am-12:30 pm outside of the Burlington Municipal Annex Building, and on Wednesdays from 3-6 pm at Alamance Regional Medical Center outside of the Medical Mall.
It’s no coincidence that they set up shop in two health-centric areas, Milholin said.
“Tuesdays at the Annex are part of a partnership with the city of Burlington. We were invited to set up here by the city’s Wellness Council,” she said.
Joy Bishop, nurse manager for the city’s Occupational Health Clinic and a member of the Wellness Council, was instrumental in bringing the Homestead Market to downtown Burlington.
“I’d heard about what they were doing at Alamance Regional and thought that they would be a great addition to our mission of promoting wellness with our city employees, and for the residents of Burlington,” Bishop said. “I think it is great for us to have this resource of healthy produce and whole foods available. I hope that people will try new things. It’s a way of taking baby steps to wellness.”
While standing out in the blustery air on Tuesday, numerous nurses and city workers made their way to the trailer, picking up everything from fresh-baked breads to elderberry syrup.
Sonjia Cross, who works for the city, said, “I come out every week, and try something new every time. I look forward to coming out here every Tuesday.”
Michele Pinnix said she and her husband, Tyrone Pinnix, saw the trailer and stopped while passing through downtown on their way to get their vehicle worked on.
“We were just riding by and thought we should check it out. As a local business owner, I love to support other locals. When one small business is blessed, all of us are blessed. I got us some homemade pickles and a couple of chocolate chip cookies to try,” she said.
Half an hour later, they were back because the cookies didn’t last.
“The cookies were so good. They didn’t make it. We’re gonna need a couple more before we head home,” she said.
With winter around the corner, Milholin said that they would like to reach out to local farmers, food producers and those making food-related products in the area to help stock their shelves.
“Wintertime is great for meeting new farmers and folks doing fun things with food. We urge any locals to reach out to us about what they’re growing or making,” he said. “We love it here in Burlington, and are looking to add a third location to Homestead Market’s weekly stops here. It will be great to be able to reach more locals in search of great food.”