Farm Stand Fare: Asparagus at Local Yokels

Promoting our local farm stands is one of my favorite things to do here on Old Mission Gazette. And I’m happy to report that our growing season on the Old Mission Peninsula is off to a great start.

Buying local, knowing where your food is grown and by whom, and bringing farm-fresh produce home for dinner is more important now than ever. Fortunately, we have a lovely array of fresh local foods at our OMP farm stands.

Local Yokels, owned by Ben and Jen Bramer and located at 13130 Center Road, is one of those farm stands. Right now, they have a variety of garden plants available – both veggies and herbs – as well as fresh asparagus, greens and other spring produce.

I can tell you this asparagus tastes as amazing as it looks.

So far, we’ve eaten it steamed and grilled, and it really is the best. Here’s a pic from last night’s dinner – my son grilled it on the grill along with some tasty steak from Peninsula Market (and tots and garlic bread).

And here it is steamed from a few days ago. The perfect accompaniment to macaroni and cheese.

There are many reasons why I love Local Yokels Farm Stand. First, over the past several years of buying from them, every single thing has been top-notch. I care about my food, and I don’t say that lightly! When they note on their website that “We are very picky about our quality standards” and “If we wouldn’t want to eat it ourselves, we won’t sell it,” they mean it.

Second, having grown up on an OMP cherry farm, I know what a challenging business farming can be. And I would say it’s only become more challenging as the years go by. So by buying from farm stands like Local Yokels, you’re helping to preserve the future of farming here on the Old Mission Peninsula. That’s a very big deal.

Third, they’re very careful about HOW they grow their produce, using sustainable and organic methods as much as possible, rather than synthetic chemicals.

And fourth, I love that the Bramers are not only great at farming, but they’ve also embraced new forms of social media marketing, which is so important to my generation and the youngsters coming up behind me. Be sure and check out Local Yokels’ Facebook and Instagram accounts, where they take us behind the scenes of their farming operation and let us know what’s at their farm stand on any given day. Yes, we get to know the farmers who grow our food.

Read more about the history of Local Yokels and the Bramers’ background here. And be sure and support them – and OMP agriculture – by stopping by their farm stand and picking up something fresh for dinner tonight. Their sign will let you know what’s inside the farm stand.

“We are lucky to be able to live and work in this dynamic community which has a pretty unique mix of farmers and also newer residents that are attracted to the beauty and offerings that the Peninsula provides,” they note on their website. “Some of the best farmers we know live and work here with us, and I am always very proud to have them stop at our stand and buy our produce.”

For more information, visit Local Yokels’ website, Facebook and Instagram pages, stop by their farm stand at 13130 Center Road, call them at (231) 223-7900, or email them at [email protected].