By Katie Hoffman
Demand for sustainably raised products is growing, and that increased demand is good news for small farms like the ones who supply the food you purchase on our online local food market each week. Of course, growth brings challenges, but our farmers are finding creative ways to meet them, often by coming together in collaboration.
That’s the story behind a new name you’ll see on our pages this week: Commonwealth Market Growers.
Pictured Above: Mark Clements and Jon Bremer of Commonwealth Market Growers
Jon and Meredith Bremer of Liberty Tree Farm in Louisa County have faithfully provided our Fall Line Farms and Local Roots members high-quality produce, herbs, and flowers, along with some truly tasty value-added products like their pepper jelly and their Red Anaheim Pepper Sauce. Now they’re joining forces with their friends and neighbors, Mark and Faye Clements of Salt and Pepper Farm, to form Commonwealth Market Growers.
“We were already sharing equipment and labor,” explains Jon, “so this just made sense. Our farms are still separate, but we’re working in partnership now because it allows us to expand our offerings, reach more customers, and still keep a high level of producer involvement in the selling process.” The Clements bring humanely raised meat and pastured eggs to the partnership—the perfect complement to the Bremers’ beautiful produce.
This week’s offerings from Commonwealth Market Growers will include farm-fresh pastured eggs. Eventually, they'll add woodlot-raised pork and other high-quality meats. There will also be fresh cooking greens, pea greens, and leaf lettuce—along with two kinds of pesto (pea green and arugula) and frozen braised Asian greens.
When you purchase from Fall Line Farms and Local Roots, you’re supporting farmers like the Bremers and the Clements, who are dedicated to bringing you the best possible food they can deliver. While you nourish your body and enjoy the tasty meals that you prepare from your market haul, you are also strengthening our local food system. Thank you for your orders, which build our community in so many positive ways!
(If you're not already a member of Fall Line Farms and Local Roots, our nonprofit online local food market, you can try us free for 3 months by using the promo code "lovelocal" when you register before June 21, 2019.)