Almost every weekend, the Keiter Family trade the mountain views of their Grainger County ranch for rows of vendors at farmers markets across East Tennessee.
"Those are our bread and butter, that's where our clients come from," said Kimberly Keiter, co-owner of 4 Corners Ranch.
The Keiter family raises grass-fed cattle.
"We raise Texas longhorns right here in East Tennessee," she said.
Keiter loves farmers markets, but more and more clients kept making the same complaint.
"We had several clients say we would love to come to the market but my work schedule, my kids, illness, everything would get in the way," said Keiter.
That's how the idea behind Local Farms to Families was born.
Currently, 10 local vendors are part of the company. Shoppers can buy products from any of the vendors on one site and have it delivered.
The full list of vendors includes:
- 4 Corners Ranch
- Bread of Life
- City House Roasters
- Goshen Family Farm
- Grassy Creek Soap
- Jem Farms
- Mama C's Gluten-Free
- Olde Virden's Red Hot Sprinkle
- Reclaiming Your Roots
- The Farmstead at Wears Valley Ranch
"With this we still get so see our customers because we're delivering it close to their home," said Melissa Spradin, owner of Bread of Life.
Local Farms to Families is not the only online farmers market in East Tennessee. Garden Delivery CSA established a similar company in 2007.
Garden Delivery CSA began with six local family-owned farms providing produce, eggs, honey and herbs. Now, the company has 15 vendors.
- 2 chicks and a farm (Jefferson County)
- Bird Song Farm (Jefferson County)
- The Breadshed Café (Knox County)
- Country Lane Farm (Jefferson County)
- Dale's Fried Pies (Knox County)
- Dudash Farms (Jefferson County)
- Kelly's Pasta (Sevier County)
- Lacewing Farms (Knox County)
- Mossy Creek Mushrooms (Jefferson County)
- Mountain Meadows Farm (Knox County)
- Seven Springs Farm (Union County)
- Tall Cedar Farm (Jefferson County)
- Three Bears Coffee (Knox County)
- Tyler Honey (Jefferson County)
- Honey Creek Farms Produce (Jefferson County)
Both companies feature vendors who use clean ingredients.
"I use the beef from 4 Corners in my chili, and gluten-free flour from Mama C's," said Spradin.
"We want real, clean, holistic foods. We want real foods," said Keiter.
Anyone who lives, works or goes to school in East Tennessee can shop through Local Farms to Families.
There is a $35 minimum to order, but Keiter said the fee can be avoided if you pick up at a market.
The vendors said they still go to farmers markets. The majority of them will be at the Nourish Knoxville Farmers Market on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cathedral United Methodist Church.