Osage Farms in Rabun Gap, GA
OK, I won’t go so far as to say this local produce stand in Rabun Gap, GA has a cult following but the phenomenon behind the crowds that Osage Farms draws amazes me. Others in the area have tried to tap into this market of locals and visitors who drive for miles to buy produce, hoop cheese, baked goods and barbeque but none have been as successful. It does not matter the time of day, the parking lot is packed.
As winter draws to an end, we look forward to our first sign of spring and that is the opening day of Osage Farms. This day varies every year because the doors do not open until the strawberries are ripe. After the strawberries, the bounty is unlimited from peaches, silver queen corn, beans, peas, squash, peppers, eggplant, tomatos, potatoes, melons, cabbage, etc. I love that I can purchase poblano peppers, heirloom tomatos and in the fall a wide variety of apples. I find the written tags very helpful in describing flavors and each varieties best use. Besides the corn and peaches, my daughters favorite purchase are the apple cider doughnuts from Ellijay, GA. I hear the jalapeno bread is yummy too but have not tried it yet.
I think the draw is more than the produce; people like being this close to nature. It’s the feel of being in an outdoor market, surrounded by fresh air, the visual of the fields behind you and the multitude of colors. I love the paper bags used for the peaches and baskets for the strawberries. My daughter is still fascinated by the bee hive in the glass case and always asks at some point, “can I go watch the bees?”.
If there is a cult following, I admit that I am one of the pack. For us, shopping local and eating what’s in season was a part of our lives long before it became “trendy”.
