Local Flavor: Farms
These farms supply meats, produce, and cheeses to restaurants and farmers markets across the Charlotte area. Some offer tours or welcome visitors—be sure to check with them first for a visitor schedule or to make a reservation.
BAUCOM’S BEST
Grass-fed beef and free-range chicken from this family farm are staples at the Matthews Community and Charlotte Regional farmers markets. Baucom’s also supplies farm-fresh meats to restaurants such as the Gallery Restaurant at the Ballantyne Hotel. 1002 Baucom Rd., Monroe, 704-254-0742, baucomsbest.com
BARBEE FARMS
Though this forty-acre farm is best known for selling bumper crops of tomatoes, sweet corn, and other veggie favorites at its Concord farm stand and farmers markets in Davidson and Harrisburg, its produce is also featured on the Harvest Moon Grille menu. 1000 Shelton Rd., Concord, 980-521-1395, barbeefarms.net
BOSKY ACRES
Goat cheese made by these Union County cheesemongers is on the menu at Passion8 Bistro and sold at Dean & DeLuca Phillips Place, multiple EarthFare locations, and the Matthews Community and Charlotte Regional farmers markets. Waxhaw, 704-843-5947, boskyacres.com
FISHER FARMS 1933
Chefs from Rooster’s, Barrington’s, and other Charlotte restaurants feature vegetables such as kale, collard greens, turnips, winter squash, and eggplant from this third-generation family farm on their menus. The farm also operates a booth at the Matthews Community Farmers Market. 7725 Stokes Ferry Rd., Salisbury, 704-310-9793, fisherfarms1933.com
GILCREST NATURAL FARM
Beef, chicken, eggs, and produce from this family farm twenty-five miles north of Charlotte are found on the menus at restaurants such as The Wooden Vine and are available at the Charlotte Regional and Davidson farmers markets. 1164 Lowes Lane, Iron Station, 704-308-1431, gilcrestnc.com
SPOTLIGHT: Lucky Leaf GardensDiners find cilantro, mustard greens, chard, beets, and other microgreens from Lucky Leaf Gardens on the menus of more than thirty upscale restaurants between Ballantyne and Lake Norman. The tiny, sprout-like greens—young, leafy plants grown from vegetable, herb, or plant seeds—are harvested when they are less than two inches tall but offer intense flavors.
Lucky Leaf owner Kate Brun gathers up to sixty pounds of the tender, organically grown greens every week. “We custom grow for restaurants,” says Brun. “The chefs love it. They like being able to add them at a moment’s notice, or at least however long it takes us to grow [the microgreens].”
Customers flock to the Atherton Market in South End on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays to buy bags of the microgreens that are harvested and delivered on the same day. Photo by Chris Edwards. Harrisburg, 704-773-9355, luckyleafgardens.com
GRATEFUL GROWERS
Best known as the farm behind Harvest Moon Grille, Grateful Growers also supplies pastured pork, free-range chicken, and fresh vegetables to restaurants throughout Charlotte, including Lulu and Zada Jane’s. Products from the ten-acre farm in Denver, which uses no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides, are sold at local farmers markets. 3006 Mack Ballard Rd., Denver, 828-234-5182, ggfarm.com
LAUGHING OWL FARM
Organically grown vegetables and farm-fresh eggs are sold through the Charlotte Regional and Matthews Community farmers markets. The farm also supplies produce to farm dinners and special farm-to-table events. 28016 Ryan Rd., Richfield, 704-463-1555, laughingowlfarm.com
NEW TOWN FARMS
Certified organic vegetables, heritage pork, and pastured poultry from this diversified family farm are found on local restaurant menus and at the Matthews Community Farmers Market. The farm also operates a Community Supported Agriculture program. 4512 New Town Rd., Waxhaw, 704-843-5182
POPLAR RIDGE FARM
Established in 1994, Poplar Ridge is a family-owned USDA certified organic farm with a focus on community supported agriculture. The farm’s popular CSA program offers vegetables, herbs, and flowers, along with eggs, poultry, cheese, coffee, and baked goods from local partners, and is the second largest in the state. 1619 Waxhaw Indian Trail Rd. S., Waxhaw, 704-843-5744, poplarridgefarmnc.com
PROFFITT FAMILY CATTLE CO.
This multigenerational family farm operation raises hormone- and antibiotic-free grass-fed beef on 750 acres across four farms in Shelby, Kings Mountain (which also houses the farm store), and Blacksburg, South Carolina. Their USDA-certified organic beef is available for purchase at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market and Atherton Mill and Market, and their beef is on the menu at Passion8 Bistro and 300 East, among other restaurants. 150 Old Home Pl., Kings Mountain, 704-751-6455, proffittfarms.com
TEGA HILLS FARM
This South Carolina farm started selling to chefs in 2003. Today, their greenhouse-grown microgreens grace the menus at fifty local restaurants from Blue to Zinc. Tega Hills Farm also sells lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs at the Matthews Community Farmers Market and the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market. 1780 Zoar Rd., Fort Mill, 803-370-4466, tegahillsfarm.com
