Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market, County’s First Farmer-Owned/Operated Indoor Green Market Open

March 22, 2010 - PRLog -- BOYNTON BEACH FL: Longtime commercial growers and one of Palm Beach County’s original farming families, the Bedners, are proud to announce the grand opening of their flagship farmer’s market and u-pick fields located at State Road 7 and Lee Road, two miles south of Boynton Beach Blvd in Boynton Beach, Florida. Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market is the first farmer-owned and operated market of its kind in Palm Beach County and a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for South Florida residents and visitors. Part country store, part green market and a completely refreshing way to shop, the spacious, indoor, air-conditioned fresh market is bright, airy, cheerful and charming, with John Deere®-green pendant lamps hanging from 24-foot high ceilings, rustic barrels of pickles and aisles wide enough to navigate even on a crowded Saturday afternoon. Strawberry and tomato u-pick is open to the public as well and includes a free tractor ride out to the fields.

http://bedners.com

Stocked with just picked-produce, much of which is cut throughout the day from adjoining fields, the market carries more than 150 products and features a 100% certified organic section, Bedner’s private label salad dressings and pickled veggies, fresh-squeezed juice, fresh-baked bread and organic eggs, among other specialty items. But the produce is the biggest draw for customers from Miami to Stuart.

“My father was a professor who specialized in the study of corn for the University of Florida, Institution of Food and Agricultural Sciences,” says customer Neal Horner, grabbing arms-full of ears. “We’ve had the best of the best, and this compares favorably!”

“It is really good, and he loves it here,” says Horner’s wife Carol. “We always find an excuse to come.”

“I haven’t seen anything like this outside of the green market in Monte Carlo,” exclaims Patricia Bregar of Boca Raton, while shopping with her daughter and son-in-law. “I mean look at all this beautiful stuff they grow,” she adds, pointing to her basket full of squash, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, fire-engine-red peppers and a head of romaine lettuce measuring 18” across.

Like many crops at Bedner’s, the giant heads of leafy green romaine are cut and restocked several times throughout the day to accommodate customer demand. Rather than typical store-bought lettuce that could be a week old at the time of purchase, Bedner’s romaine can go from the field to the table in hours. Along with better taste, fresher produce has higher nutritional value and can be safer, with less risk for bacterial growth and contamination, than produce that travels far and requires careful storage. While safety concerns and quality are major drivers of the escalating consumer trend toward buying local produce, at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market, price can be equally compelling. Customers often comment on the exceptional value they feel they are getting at Bedner’s, but for the Bedners, value is a tradition.

With a farming heritage dating back to the 1800’s, Bedner patriarch Arthur Bedner and wife Henrietta moved from Pennsylvania to Florida in the 1950’s to start Bedner Growers in Palm Beach County. On the same plot of land their father plowed more than 50 years ago, Arthur’s three sons, Charles, Bruce and Steve, along with grandson Jesse have grown their family legacy while preserving Bedner Growers’ reputation for quality produce at a great value.

“We take pride in providing the freshest produce at affordable prices,” says Steve Bedner, “and now, the market gives people a better shopping experience that you just don’t have anywhere else.”

Customers also comment on the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, many of who share the store’s namesake. Several family members work at Bedner Growers and Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market; the family pride shows in their product and their story. When many farming families sold out to real estate developers, the Bedners kept true to their roots, choosing instead to dig deeper and grow more.

“We had this vision for 20 years,” says Steve, motioning to the brick red, picture-perfect, clapboard farm store compete with white trimmed wrap-around porch and picnic tables. “We’ve been planning it for five [years], from the heart of this family.”

For several months while the store was under construction, the family sold goods from produce carts on their property. Now, with the market and u-pick open, customers can spend an entire day at Bedner’s, shopping, riding a tractor, picking their own strawberries and tomatoes, munching on hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream and fresh coffee and learning about produce farming.

“We dreamt of connecting with the community, having people meet their local farmer and giving them something really special,” says Steve.

For this dedicated family, it looks like dreams do come true.

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market is the first farmer-owned and operated green market of its kind in Palm Beach County, Florida. The market is located at 12033 State Road 7 in Boynton Beach, FL. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9AM-6PM and Sundays 10AM-5PM. To learn more, visit www.bedners.com.


Copy:
Lesley Marlo
Expert Copy
561.731.3998
lesley@expertcopy.com

Photos:
Chuck Slaton
chuckslaton@att.net