news-record.com

NEWS

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Farm market opens downtown

Friday, November 20, 2009

(Updated Monday, November 23 - 9:30 am)

By Morgan Josey Glover
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — The word in Fisher Park was downtown Greensboro got a new produce market, and residents Jane Gallimore and Helen Ullrich had to check it out for themselves.

On Thursday, they stopped by the Downtown Farm Market on North Greene Street as Mike Causey set out a temporary sign with green and yellow balloons attached.

“Excuse my mess,” said Causey, the market’s coordinator and owner of Dodge Lodge Farm in southeast Guilford County. “We don’t have any store fixtures yet. We just bring everything from the farm to you.”

But Gallimore and Ullrich were almost giddy as they walked among the boxes of potatoes, squash, tomatoes and apples. Fisher Park residents have wanted a market within walking distance for years, they said.

“We’ve got a lot of people who go religiously to the farmers market and they’re just going to go crazy when they know they can come here,” Ullrich said. “And the produce is so healthy. It looks like a magazine shoot.”

After several years of selling at the popular Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market, Causey, a fifth-generation farmer, decided to strike out on his own. His market opened Nov. 7 and offers something different: six days of operation, longer hours and some nonlocal items — a no-no at the fixture on Yanceyville Street.

“He’s got a wide variety of stuff that I don’t mind comes from other farms in the area,” said Carli Smith, a Greensboro resident who has volunteered with Dodge Lodge Farm. “I can come here and get everything I need.”

The Downtown Farm Market, which occupies a former day spa, still needs a permanent sign, store shelves, refrigerators and display signs identifying the source of the food. Thirteen North Carolina farms participate and interest exists for recipes, baked goods, crafts and organic grains, Causey said.

Dodge Lodge also operates a community-supported agriculture program in which people can buy shares of the harvest in advance and pick them up at the store.

“The focus will be on North Carolina farm fresh produce,” Causey said. “We’re really committed to natural foods, sustainably grown vegetables, organic when possible.”

This new venture comes about six years after a short-lived farmers market opened at the Depot, at the corner of Washington and Davie streets.

But it lacked a variety of produce and vendors, said Ed Wolverton, who leads Downtown Greensboro Inc.

Causey believes his experience and the growing interest in local foods will make his new market successful.

“We want to offer a service, a convenience to people who live and work downtown as well as our regular customers,” he said.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

H. Scott Hoffmann (News & Record)

Photo Caption: Customer Carli Smith helps owner Mike Causey arrange fairytale eggplant at the produce market that opened recently in downtown Greensboro.

WANT TO GO?

What: The new Downtown Farm Market sells fresh produce, nuts and canned goods. Most items are grown or made in North Carolina.

Where: 505 N. Greene St.; parking available.

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Information: Mike Causey at 210-1947.

What do you think?

17 comment(s)

Read other visitors' comments.

Comments

This article has been closed to new comments. Comments are generally closed after 14 days. However, comments may be closed earlier at the discretion of the News & Record.

Inappropriate content? Please notify us.

JoeScott

November 20, 2009 - 7:11 am EST

I have to say that it's a shame Dodge Lodge Farm couldn't work out it's differences with the Curb Market, and merely walked away. They were by far the largest provider at the market, and helped bring attention to smaller farmers who were often handy with selling vegetables that Dodge didn't provide on certain weeks. And it's not like they suffered from the competition. Whenever they gave me change for my wares, their rolls of dollar bills were always thick.

I don't want to go to two farmers markets AND a grocery store to do my weekly shopping. Their selfishness has pushed me to where I am going to make a difficult choice.

The Curb Market was more than just a place where I bought my fruits and vegetables. It was an ideal.

countryboy

November 20, 2009 - 8:00 am EST

Jose'...Keep the socialist rants for your comrades...no need to attack a savvy businessman for making a savvy business decision...in the land of the FREE anyway. Good luck Dodge Lodge...see you soon...on a day of my choosing.

wscbd

November 20, 2009 - 8:20 am EST

Wow. Please tell me this is satire!

MR.SOFTBALL27

November 20, 2009 - 9:20 am EST

I think that the Dodge Lodge is a good idea and i wish them the best!

newkid

November 20, 2009 - 11:32 am EST

Incredible! Dodge Lodge doesn't need this kind of rant camouflaged as an endorsement. It is hard to imagine such anger that you feel the need to call people "socialists" and "comrades" in a discussion of vegetables!

Best of luck to Mike Causey in this new venture. And continued success to the wonderful curb market too.

JoeScott

November 20, 2009 - 12:37 pm EST

Country, my name is Joe. I'm hardly a socialist. On the contrary, I am a person who wants companies to compete against each other in order to sell me the best product at the best price. Is that not the object of the game?

logicfairy

November 20, 2009 - 9:02 am EST

Mike did the right thing by leaving the Curb Market when he didn't agree with following the rules. I wish him well. I have often bought from him.

But most of the customers of the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market made it clear that they were not in favor of ditching the established rules of the market in favor of letting a few vendors sell non-local produce. It was not selfishness - it was fairness to the other vendors who were following the rules and to the customers who didn't the rules opened to a slippery slope of non-local produce flooding in. It would have changed the character of the market. I applied for a permit (which I did not use) around the same time that Mike did and the rules that I was given were crystal clear. The leaders of the market should not be villainized for applying them to everyone.

wscbd

November 20, 2009 - 10:42 am EST

If a vendor has the means to make it on his own, then there's really not a compelling reason not to try. It's like these big-name music acts that extend their contracts with record companies. Why bother? If you have the finances and prestige to make it on your own, then why be constrained by an unnecessary authority?

Superfish35

November 20, 2009 - 10:44 am EST

What great reporting. Failure to mention that Dodge was suspended from the Yancyville Market twice for not being able to disclose the sources of his foods. I applaud the choice to stay Downtown, but this wasn't a planned buisness move. It was punishment for duping customers into thinking they were buying local, and organic produce. And those thick bank rolls came from charging whatever they thought they could get out of the customer. I almost purchased an onion for $5 from one of Mike's assistants. When I asked how much a pound the onion was she said $2.50 lb. When I asked her to weight the onion again she balked and apologized. I told her to keep the onion!

newkid

November 20, 2009 - 11:33 am EST

wscbd

November 20, 2009 - 11:50 am EST

I didn't know about the suspension. Your account explains a lot because they have done the same thing to me on at least 5 occasions! Apparently they've been trying to dupe a lot of people. I always assumed the people were bad at math or just plain stupid, not consciously trying to steal from their customers. Guess I was wrong.

JoeScott

November 20, 2009 - 12:39 pm EST

I have never been duped by the folks at Dodge Lodge. I did have another vender who was an old lady steal a five spot I had placed on her table, then try to charge me three dollars for some eggplants.

Like an arab market, you kinda have to watch yourself in there.

Laura

November 20, 2009 - 1:38 pm EST

Wow. I thought this was a feel-good story until I started reading the comments. Intrigue, scandal and shady dealings at the farmer's markets. I see a book deal in the making.

gsogrl

November 20, 2009 - 2:15 pm EST

I believe all things happen for a reason. Mike may have had some misfortunes at the curb market, but all comes for with lessons and new wisdom. The new downtown market is a great spot where new opportunity waits. I think it is a great idea and a beautiful spot. It is in a great location and is starting off great! I know it is just going to keep getting better and better. Good luck Dodge Lodge and you will see me often!

kalanndra

November 20, 2009 - 4:18 pm EST

I have not bought from them recently at the market, I prefer the smaller vendors. The only reason I go to the market is for locally grown, organic produce. Otherwise, I could just go to Harris Teeter, which has by far more choices. So I am glad they were suspended from the market, and unless they change their policy to sell only produce grown from their farm, I still cannot support them.

logicfairy

November 23, 2009 - 9:22 am EST

Agreed - if it is just about convenience, then go to a grocery store. Farmers markets are special because they grow their own produce. I know that the management at GFCM turned a blind eye to a little bit of non-local, but it was Dodge Lodge that began pushing it too far to be ignored any longer. They weren't the only ones guilty of passing off produce as their own, but 95% of the vendors are trustworthy.

phil221

November 21, 2009 - 9:55 pm EST

I work at the Farmers Curb Market every weekend selling product I make, with my own two hands and according to the rules everyone else follows there except this man. Also be aware that if you see what veggies Mike is selling vs. what is currently being sold at other market, please just know it is NOT local. The farmers Curb Market is all about local and there are MANY customers who attend the market weekly, know exactly how Mike operates, he always had fruits and veggies before anyone else and all year around. He plays by his own rules. For all of the loyal customers and for new people who want to see what is really happening LOCALLY please come by on Saturday morning to the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market we would love to have you.