Most of you know that I enjoy supporting small businesses and if given the chance, I’ll choose a local business 99% of the time as opposed to a large chain (Chipotle is my big exception). I love helping other entrepreneurs grow and thrive in the community, hearing their stories, and making new connections. When I lived in Columbia, SC, most weekends started with a trip to Soda City Market which has grown into an incredible melting pot of local vendors including farmers, artists, musicians, food trucks, and so much more. It’s one of the things I miss most about South Carolina, but thankfully I’ve found the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market here in NC which has been a wonderful replacement. I love their purpose, listed below:
“Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc. (GFM) operates Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on behalf of the City of Greensboro. GFM is a 501c3 nonprofit. GFM provides greater Greensboro with opportunities to purchase and learn about local foods in a friendly and diverse social setting. GFM encourages and supports the growth of local foods and artisan goods businesses to improve Greater Greensboro’s economy, support better health through healthy eating and build social and community connections.”
A few weeks ago, my husband and I headed down to the market for their Strawberry Pancake Day, just one of the many special events hosted by the market. We both love pancakes and it was a bonus that proceeds went to support local food security programs. The delicious pancakes were made by local Chef Alex Amoroso of Cheesecakes by Alex and topped with juicy strawberries from Rudd Farm. Needless to say, we both left with happy bellies, but not before taking some time to visit the wonderful vendors inside!
We had fun perusing all the goodies inside the market and ended up picking up some tomato and pepper plants that I’m currently trying hard not to kill. I’d definitely recommend coming to the market early since it gets quite crowded (for good reason). There are so many unique vendors and I’d love to learn all of their stories eventually, but for this week’s Support Small Spotlight, I have three outstanding small businesses to share with you.
Gorilla Grains
I love the clean ingredients Alicia uses in her granola. It’s so hard to find great tasting snacks without junky fillers, so I was excited to find her product! These will definitely be serving as some fuel for my upcoming volleyball tournaments and road trips.
About Gorilla Grains:
Gorilla Grains is unique in its toasty, buttery taste and light, delicate crunch that our customers come back for again and again. We use a thick-cut rolled oat, certified organic, that holds up well to mixing. In addition, we use real butter, no canola oil. Real butter has no competition in creating a rich, toasted flavor and in producing a light, crispy texture. Brown sugar is our choice for sweetener, and we finish the short list of natural ingredients with non-fat dry milk and salt. Careful mixing, mostly by hand, preserves the body of the oat. With watchful baking, we look for eye-appealing characteristics we want to see before removing the granola from the oven.We are pleased to offer discerning consumers a delicious, whole food snack that is free of high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fat, canola oil, and artificial flavorings. We package in poly/foil bags for optimally fresh servings and excellent shelf life free of preservatives.
Poe Family Farm
I have always liked the idea of living sustainably and would love to have a small farm someday, so I’m fascinated by learning about how each one operates. One thing I love about this one is that they raise Great Pyrenees and use them to protect their flock of chickens! Be sure to pick up some delicious free range eggs from them!
About the Farm:
Poe Family Farm is a sustainable family owned and operated permaculture farm in beautiful southeastern Guilford County, NC. We practice closed-loop farming methods by using the resources we have around us to their fullest potential. We have spent a great deal of time observing and learning from nature so that we can work more closely with it. We work to establish a balance with the environment that will provide us with the things we need without hurting the natural world. Our philosophy is simple. We want to work with nature and not against it. Poe Family Farm is dedicated to raising the healthiest pasture-raised poultry, free-range chicken eggs and Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian Dogs. We sell the tastiest chicken, freshest eggs and seasonal veggies in the local community. Farm-grown local products without the use of added hormones, pesticides or unnecessary artificial growth enhancers. Just the way nature intended!
Cookie Gurlie
Check out her amazing German Chocolate Chancellor Cookie below! I don’t know about you, but I’m drooling just looking at it. She has so many different options that I’m going to need to keep coming back each week to try them all. Next up for me: her Rocky Road Cookies!
About Cookie Gurlie:
Cheryl, aka Cookie Gurlie, always baked, even as a child. Her mother reminded her that her first attempt at baking was indeed a chocolate chip cookie. She broke away from baking as she got older, but her love of cooking continued to grow by watching and learning from her grandmother, mother, and aunties in the kitchen.
Cheryl also attended culinary school in the Washington, D.C. metro area and was the owner of a small catering company called Table for Two.
About three years ago, a family member was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has since passed away. However, when Cheryl would visit, she would request homemade cookies with crazy flavor combinations to awaken her taste buds that had changed due to the side effects of treatment. Cheryl rose to the challenge. Cheryl would sample her new creations with friends, neighbors, and co-workers, making adjustments based on the feedback she received. Word of Cheryl’s delicious cookies began to spread and people offered to pay Cheryl for her cookies. The Cookie Gurlie was born or according to Cheryl’s mother, re-born! Cookie Gurlie cookies are known for blending traditional baking with innovative flavor combinations for a truly superior and surprising taste. We make a perishable product without preservatives because we believe in the principles of purity and freshness in food. Our cookies are always baked from scratch.
Have you been to the market yet? If not, I hope you’ll be able to visit soon and enjoy all it has to offer. Mark your calendars for June 30th when they’ll be having their Blueberry Pancake & Celebration Day!
Hours of operation:
Saturdays, 7 am – 12 pm, year-round
Wednesdays, 8 am – 1 pm, April 19 – December 20
Location:
The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market is located at 501 Yanceyville St. at the corner of Yanceyville and Lindsay Streets, just east of downtown, across from War Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Emily
The Planking Traveler
The Planking Traveler 
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