One of the joys of working at farmer’s markets around the bay is getting to meet local small-business vendors who share the same passion and mission about nutrition and holistic community building. Along the way, we not only get to support each other by pointing customers to the ‘tent diagonal from us with really big artichokes!’ but also by purchasing products from each other as we grow our companies.
Mutually beneficial, and so much better that way, we’ve loved our blossoming friendship with Spade & Plow Organics, a family owned organic farm in Gilroy that sets up a weekly stand (not too far from ours!) at the Mountain View and Monterey farmers markets. Spade & Plow was started by 7th generation farmers who believed that small ag that provided quality and unique produce varieties directly to the consumer was much better than corporately operated conventional farming practices. Today, 7 years after they began leasing and planting on their first property, Spade & Plow has a faithful customer base at 3 farmers markets, across 30 bay-area small companies/restaurants (like us!), and through a thriving farm box CSA delivery program. Not only that, they grow great cabbage for kraut. What more could we ask for?
The love goes both ways. We buy totes on totes of their cabbage and they purchase order after order of our nut butters, krauts, and kimchi to list in their customizable CSA box options. Because of S&P’s large and long standing customer base, their farm box program is a great way to introduce veggie-loving customers to other farmers market friend’s products. Along with Wise Goat goods, you can find bread, biscotti, seasonings, and pastries from small bay-area companies. We’re proud to use the highest quality organic produce in all our Wise Goat products, and couldn’t be more grateful for cool farmer friends like S&P who sell it to us!
