Most people are familiar with the weekly ritual of grocery shopping. Checking the cupboards, making a list, heading to the store and loading up the cart – most people can do that in their sleep. But what if you mixed up your grocery routine? What if, instead of throwing a prepackaged food item into your cart and merely nodding to the clerk who checks you out, you held the food in your hands, admired its uniqueness and actually spoke to the farmer who grew it? Well, with some of these locally grown grocery options in and around Branson, now you can!
College of the Ozarks: If you have spent any time in the Branson/Tri-Lakes area, chances are you have probably heard of College of the Ozarks. It is a small, local work college where students work for their tuition – and if that is not cool enough, they also have some locally grown goodies for you to enjoy! During the months of May through November, the college holds a weekly farmers market on Fridays where visitors can buy student grown and made products. You can purchase everything from green beans, to potatoes, to peppers, to fruitcake, milk and meat – and best of all, the proceeds benefit the college. Now, if you aren’t in Branson during the summer months, have no fear – Edwards Mill carries milk and meat products from the campus dairy, beef farm, and hog farm all year round as well as stone ground grain products and baking mixes, and the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen is open year round as well for you to purchase fruitcake, apple butter, jams and jellies, and summer sausage.
Farmers Market of the Ozarks: For a huge variety of locally grown, raised and made products all year round, head to Springfield on a Thursday from 4pm to 8pm or a Saturday from 8am to 1pm to check out the Farmers Market of the Ozarks in Farmers Park! Farmers Market of the Ozarks was created to bring together the community by providing local food and products while educating people about where their food comes from, and why living a sustainable lifestyle is both important and necessary, on a local and global level. With over one hundred vendors, there is something here for everyone’s weekly grocery list. Vendors like PT Gardens and Milsap Farms offer herbs, veggies and other fresh produce. Springhill Dairy and Terrell Creek Farm offer great selections of cheeses and dairy products. You’ll also find a wide array of meats, breads and sweet treats here too!
Amish Country Store: To support a great local business that has a variety of unique groceries in Branson, check out the Amish Country Store on Gretna Road. Here you will find a great selection of spinach noodles, pickled eggs, biscuit mix and more to fill your shopping basket with!
So grab your list and your reusable shopping bag and get some great local groceries in Branson and beyond!
