The proponents, Mike and Julie Taylor, are run off their feet busy as they attend to a thousand different details associated with opening a new business with many suppliers. The couple also owns the Bony Broth Company, which has a stall at the Summerside Farmer’s Market and supplies local restaurants and stores.
“Well I haven’t gone totally crazy – yet,” chuckled Mike on Thursday.
Farmed, in addition to being a butcher’s shop, will also offer a variety of local and non-local foods and snacks, though Mike stressed their commitment to carrying local products.
“If there’s an alternative that’s made on P.E.I., we’re trying to source it,” he said.
In addition to selling produce and meat, Farmed will also offer meals to go, both fresh hot and frozen for reheating later. They’re even going to make their own ice cream on site.
“The feedback from the small producers has been great. They’re really excited to have another avenue to sell,” said Julie.
The couple is shooting for a July 27 soft opening at their 591 Read Drive location, but there is still a lot of work to be done before then.
But for all the work they have left, their excitement is growing daily.
Farmed will be the culmination of a dream for them. Not just in an entrepreneurial sense, but also in terms of their vision of what a local-focused community business can be.
For example, they’re encouraging farmers with a community supported agriculture or food box program to use their parking lot as a drop off/pick up point, or even temporary storage. They’re also offering free coffee to farmers. And in general, they are completely open to further suggestions for more local products they might like to carry.
They are focused on building a community around their business, they said, and they are eager to get to work.
Colin.MacLean@JournalPioneer.com
@JournalPMacLean
