Meet Our Farmers & Artisans
Box Turtle Bakery
Carrboro, NC
Box Turtle Bakery is a home-based business in Carrboro and is committed to doing the most with locally-grown whole grains. Their mission is to make delicious baked goods out of freshly milled whole grains. They believe that it is especially important to avoid fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides when using whole grains and to use well-grown local ingredients or organically certified ingredients. Visit them online at http://www.boxturtlebakery.com.
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Contrarian Farm
Pittsboro, NC
Contrarian Farm, run by Brittany Kordick and Dan Shields, is located in rural Pittsboro, NC and is home to a small herd of Nubian dairy goats, a growing flock of egg-laying chickens, and American Chinchilla meat rabbits. The farm name is derived from a stock market term that refers to someone going against the majority. They chose it to reflect some of their more unconventional practices and feelings about farming. They strive to maintain sustainability in both their growing and economic practices. As contrarians, they are also working to become a true local food source that provides not only novelty or garnish vegetables, but also staple food items year-round that are not typically grown by small sustainable farms.
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Coon Rock Farm
Hillsborough, NC
Coon Rock Farm is a sustainable family farm providing organically grown garden crops and pasture raised antibiotic and hormone free chicken, eggs, pigs, lamb and goat on 55 acres nestled along a bend in the Eno River just outside of Hillsborough, NC. They concentrate on sustainably and bio-dynamically taking care of the land while letting the land take care of them. Their vegetables are mostly heirloom varieties and raised without chemicals of any kind. Their animals are pastured raised and grass fed and never given antibiotics or hormones. Visit them online at http://coonrockfarm.com .
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Eastern Carolina Organics
North Carolina Farms
Eastern Carolina Organics (ECO) markets and distributes Carolina organic farm produce. They firmly believe that a sustainable food system is based on providing fresh local fruit, vegetables, and herbs while protecting the environment. They are farmer-owned and they act like it. They provide fresh organic veggies and fruits, along with the knowledge that they're enabling farmers to protect their family land. By pooling diverse harvests from several regions, they are able to meet the demand for a steady stream of high-quality, seasonal food choices throughout the year. Visit them online at http://easterncarolinaorganics.com.
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EV Southpoint
Durham, NC
EV Southpoint (formerly Entree Vous) offers the convenience of a home cooked meal at reasonable prices. If you are too busy to cook, don't want to take the time or expense of going to a restaurant and don't want to feed your family fast food, they are the perfect solution for feeding your family, entertaining on the spur of the moment or if you need food for a meeting and are tired of the everyday sandwiches. It's like having your own personal chef (only cheaper) with time tested recipes! They offer great flavors, convenience and nutritious meals. They believe that serving great food makes people happy and adds to the quality of one's life, which is why they will use fresh, wholesome ingredients packing every bite with great flavor. They try to use minimally processed food including all natural chicken, no trans fat, and will be using and selling local produce from 2 local farms, Thomson Ranch in Durham and Walker Farm's, their neighbor in Hillsborough. They are proud to say that 100% of their perishable food waste goes to feed the chickens or compost at Thomson Ranch. Visit them online at http://www.evsouthpoint.com.
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Graham Family Farms
Pittsboro, NC
Graham Family Farm is a family of farmers and woodcrafters, having over twenty years experience working with aromatic eastern red cedar (juniperous virginiana) in Pittsboro, North Carolina. In addition to being woodworkers, they produce berries and garden fresh vegetables that are raised without the use of ANY pesticides (not even organic) and without commercial fertilizers. They don't use any plastic mulches. Graham also farms hormone-free beef cows. Their beef is all natural, no added hormones or antibiotics. They have been selling at the Carrboro farmer's market for over 30 years. You may visit them online at http://grahamwoodworking.com .
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Headstart Gourmet
Durham, NC
Headstart Gourmet makes compound butters with intense wine reductions. Their products are modeled after the classic French wine sauces: the Beurre Blanc or Beurre Rouge. Making these in the form of a compound butter allows you to use them in a variety of ways: use as a spread to make fancy sandwiches or hors dourves, make into a sauce by melting gently in a pan, or simply dollop on top of your hot food to add a gourmet finish. Their compound butters "add a burst of flavor to any dish" (N&O, 8/25/07). Whether you are a kitchen novice or a pro chef, you will find that their compound butters add wonderful flavor and convenience! Visit them online at http://headstartgourmet.com .
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Hillsborough Cheese Co.
Hillsborough, NC
Hidden in the heart of historically dairy-rich Orange County, NC, Hillsborough Cheese Company is a small, boutique creamery that focuses on the art of cheese-making. Their French-trained chef & cheese-maker, Cindy, handcrafts small batches of many varieties of quality fresh & aged cheeses using goat's and cow's milk. Focusing mostly on traditional European-style cheeses, Cindy also experiments with and creates some of her own unique cheese blends tailored to the local community's tastes.
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Kaleidoscope Gardens
Cedar Grove, NC
Kaleidoscope gardens makes delicious herb jellies/glazes. Their jellies are great with bread, stirred into veggies, or as a glaze for meat, seafood and chicken. They also make great appetizers served with cream cheese and crackers. At the local farmer's market in Chapel Hill, they sell potted herbs, shrubs, groundcovers, patio roses, native red honeysuckle vines, perennials, hostas and some native plants. They make wooden garden benches, walking sticks, and birdhouses.
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Larry's Famous Cheesecake
Pittsboro, NC
Larry's Famous Cheesecake invites you to indulge in the best cheesecake you've ever eaten! Their New York Style home-made cheesecake is baked in their in-home bakery in Pittsboro, Chatham County, North Carolina. They are a new small business that was started in November 2006. Visit them online at http://larrysfamous.com.
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Mary Rocap / Gathercreek
Hillsborough, NC
Baker, Crafter, Song-writer, and Chronicler of the life of her backyard chickens, Mary Rocap is a multi-talented individual. Her cinnamon raisin bread and oatmeal bread are absolutely delicious! Check out her music, writing, quilts, and other crafts online at http://www.maryrocap.com and http://www.maryrocap.etsy.com.
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Ninth Street Bakery
Durham, NC
Ninth St. Bakery has been baking quality, hearty breads since they fired their first oven in 1981. They have always used the finest ingredients, including organically grown flours from historic Lindley's Mill - started by the Lindley family around the time of the Revolutionary War! Stoneground, organic flour makes their bread flavorful and good for you. You can eat their bread knowing it is free from harmful pesticides, chemical fertilizers, bleaches and bromates. Visit them online at http://ninthstbakery.com.
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Organic Bakies
Durham, NC
Organic Bakies, LLC was formed in early 2008 in Durham, NC to address the dearth of desserts and sweet baked goods that actually taste better than their highly processed cousins. They use certified organic dairy, grains, sweeteners, and flavors. Additionally, they use NC honey, peanuts, pears and other seasonal items to support agriculture in North Carolina. From their internationally desired chocolate chip cookies, to the apple pie that makes the holidays extra special, you can be sure your sweet tooth will be satisfied by any Organic Bakies treat! Visit them online at http://www.organicbakies.com
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Pepper Dog Specialty Foods
Apex, NC
Pepper Dog products are all natural, gluten free, no MSG, low in sodium and low in fat. The salsa’s unique texture and smoky flavor give customers a delicious alternative to traditional salsas without adding onions or vinegar. While it’s good on chips, the salsas can be used as a cooking sauce or as a condiment for hot dogs and hamburgers. Pepper Dog Dry Rub’s unique blend of spices is perfect on fish, chicken, pork or beef and even makes a great taco seasoning. Visit them online at http://www.pepperdogsalsa.com.
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Thomson Ranch
Durham, NC
Thomson Ranch has a large market garden in south Durham and an on site farm stand twice a week, plus they participate in the For Garden's Sake farmer's market on Saturday afternoons. They also sell produce to Six Plates restaurant in Durham and last summer they sold to the Brewery in Chapel Hill and Pulcinella's in Durham. They use sustainable practices such as they partner with a tree service to have wood chips delivered to the property and they collect restaurant waste to compost with the wood chips. They also do vermicomposting. They use drip tape for watering, burlap bags for weed control and mulch in the rows and use only OMRI (organic) approved products when spraying is necessary. Visit them online at http://www.thomsonranch.com and http://thomsonranch.wordpress.com.
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Vesta Fiery Gourmet Toppings
Cary, NC
Vesta Fiery Gourmet Toppings is a hand crafted, fresh, natural, chile-based, topping for foods that are already prepared but can also be used in cooking. The topping is textural, flavorful (from its smoky chile and caramelized onion flavors), packs the right amount of heat and adds dimension to food we already love.
Vesta Fiery Gourmet Toppings was created in 2008 by Ben Tuorto an avid Chile food enthusiast. Turned off by the flood of gimmicky & often unpleasant tasting and single dimension Hot Sauces & Hot Salsas’, he was inspired to use only fresh chilies and began exposing many friends and family members to his love of adding heat to food. In striving to make spicy food realistically usable to a wide variety of palettes, his Vesta Fiery Gourmet Topping was created.
Vesta Fiery Gourmet Toppings is available in “Hot” (this version has appeal for food lovers who enjoy all heat levels, including those that typically eat in the ‘Mild’ & ‘Medium’ ranges) and ‘Very Hot’ (for those who typically ‘go for the heat’).
Add to favorite foods such as: Pizza, Pasta, Sandwiches, Hot Dogs/Hamburgers, Dips, Salsas, Hummus, Salads, Bean Dishes, Rice Dishes, and Noodle Dishes.
Visit them online at: www.vestatoppings.com.
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Walker's Farm
Hillsborough, NC
Walker’s Farm has been in existence in its current location in Hillsborough, NC, since the mid-1700’s. It has managed to remain a family owned and operated independent business for more than 250 years. They are proud to keep the tradition of American farming alive, while using new technologies and techniques to remain sustainable for future generations. Visit them online at http://www.walkerfarmservice.com.
