Setzer's Greenhouse & Nursery
Their father Setzer was farming beef and milk cows when George and his brother donald were young boys. After George returned from military service, he began to simplify his dad's work load due to his father's failing health. After 40 years, George and Donald are a large presence in their nursery, greenhouse and landscape business that is open all year round. They fill their 15 acres with multiple greenhouses of annuals, perennials and landscape shrubs. The numerous colors of geraniums, sweet potato vines, bougainillea and super petunias are breathetaking. And you can't forget the brilliant begonias, impatiens, and ageratum. They will also offer you multiple varieties of tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers. Quality, variety and a convenient location at 3111 N. Lookout Street in Claremont.
Shady Oaks Farm
Five years rescuing his farm land from weeds and neglect have taken Tim Roberts to the spring of 2009 and acres of blooming dwarf varities of cherry, pear, peach, plum and apple trees. Tim is also proud to offer multiple pick-your-own varieties of blackberries and blueberries. The fields are filling with tomato, hot and sweet peppers, okra, sweet corn, summer and winter squash and cucumbers under drip irrigated beds. This self-taught beekeeper offers pure rich honey from his hives and soon free-range eggs from his flock. His organic produce will be pouring from his fields at 3487 Yount Road in Newton off Mt Olive Church Road.
Big Oak Farm
Dawn and Mike Smith have a love for their 80 head of Gelbveith, Charolias and Angus heifers and bulls. Their system is simply grass feeding from their own fields and bailed hay until the last few weeks before market, then enhancing the lean meat flavor with a touch of a specific recipe of grains. It takes 3 to 4 acres of grass to sustain one head. It takes a lot of work to keep the herd healthy, but the results are worth tasting. Dawn and Mike care for their herd at 6565 Beaver Road Kannapolis.
Big Jim's Produce
_____________________________________________________________________________
Daddy Jim, Uncle Kenneth and Chris tend the 30 acres of fields in Troutman bringing to market 12 kinds of lettuce, spinach, savoy, red and green cabbage, tomatos from 2500 plants, fresh garlic, hot and sweet peppers, beans, brussel sprouts, kohlrabi, corn melons and watermelon. Summers are busy with family and 2 part-time helpers tending rows, picking and selling at the farmers markets. They can be found at 220 Dunwoody Road Troutman NC.
Summer Fresh Flowers
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Jackie Der Xiong with his wife and children work tirelessly growing a wide variety of flowers on their 4 acres for the last 3 years. Their 3 huge greenhouses, protecting rows of seedlings from cold spring winds, hold rows of snapdragons, diner plate dahlias, sweet Willams, bachelor buttons and other flowers seedlings soon to be perfect blooms for market bouquests. Surrounding the greenhouses areraised beds of tulips, iris, statice, lilies, peonies and eucapyptus. Their long days in the fields reward the Conover Farmers Market shoppers with seemingly endless colors of bloom all season. They are located at 1971 St Paul Church Road Newton, NC.
The Farmer's Daughter
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Carol Shrum has helped her father and brother work their 1800 acre farm when not raising and supporting her own 2 children. She has always wanted to be closer to this third generation farml and bringing daddy's crops to the market in addition to managing a farmers market part-time fills that need. Carol, her mom and husband Allen also make jams, jellies, cakes, pies and bird houses to sell. Some of the birdhouses are quite elaborate and all are neatly painted. There are fond memories of her childhood on the farm planting zinnia seeds barefoot after grandpas plowed the flower bed and family cookouts by the back yard pond. Carol and Allen are making many new friends and memories at the Conover Farmers Market. The family farm is located at 4800 Williamson Road Rock Hill in South Carolina. Carol and Allen cook and carpenter in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Freedom Farms
________________________________________________________________________________________
Bill and Jeanette Reed share the love of a vision of freedom in tending chickens that lay the best free-range eggs to be had and making the most soothing variety of goat milk soaps that soften the skin and please the nose. Their backyard garden contains many raised beds of letucce in the spring and many summer vegetables. Bill, is a Michigan transplant, is happily resettled with Jeanette and their children in Maiden, NC.
Violet's Best
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Katie, Joe, Viola and the rest of the Byler family hold a high regard for hard work, and building a strong family. Each week Viola and Katie bake numerous batches of sour dough, five grain, and cheddar cheese bread. Then they create trays of fruit pies, moon pies and cookies for the Conover Farmers Market. On market day they bring the fragrant load to market with homemade lemonaide that one of their younger children sells for $1. It is a joy to watch them work together. It is heaven ro eat all the goodies they make with the love in their hearts. The Bylers family lives in Mocksville NC.
Heavner Tater Farm
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The best day for Carroll Heavner is one he can spend outdoors and the worst is when he can't be. Between the land he owns and what he leases, he keeps his days busy planting, growing and harvesting. He not only grows hundres of sweet potato plants, but also field peas, sugar beets, okra, green beans, and peppers. It is wonderful to feel the joy he has for the land and see all the produce he brings to market. Carroll and Charlotte Heavner reside in Maiden, NC.
Chou Yang
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Chou Yang, her husband and family have farmed their acerage for ten years. Originally from Laos, Chou diligently tends her plants, first in home made green houses, then the rows. Her skill at farmimg is apparent with the success of an endless list of vegetables and flowers including bokchoi, long beans, onions, peppers, basil, white radished and numerous summer flowers. Chou Yand lives with her family in cleremont, NC.
Ira Cline Farms
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Ira and Ann Cline farm blueberries and strawberries on a 135 acre property as their family has for 5 generations. Pecan trees surround the home with nuts that they offer to their farm stand customers. They make strawberry jam and preserves as well as cider with a quality that is unbelievably flavorable. Ira also never tires of teaching others through farm tours of young farmers and local and state agricultural organizations. They have children who help at the farmers market, some bringing their own children, even though full time city jobs and family life keeps them busy. Ira and Ann make their home in Claremeont,NC.
Kinfolks Enterprises
___________________________________________________________________________________________