Freshfields Farm: A Raw Vegan’s Perspective
Metro Jacksonville's Brandi Gregory takes a trip to Freshfield Farms and provides a tour of the new store through the eyes of a raw vegan.
As a raw vegan, the staples of my diet consist of fruits and vegetables. In the summertime, I see them in abundance anywhere I go. During the winter and beginning of spring, though, it can be nearly impossible to locate a decent selection of produce. Most of the local grocery stores have an endless supply of apples in all shapes and sizes, but there are only so many apples I can eat. I have learned that, living in the city, it is more difficult than I initially presumed to find a place where I can attain good produce… but I struck gold when I went to Freshfields Farm.
In Southside, on University Boulevard West, Freshfields Farm is a big red barn with a John Deere green tractor out front that cannot be missed. I was excited from the moment I arrived and, as soon as I walked in the door, I was surrounded by a large display of fruit. I knew I was not going to be disappointed. When I ventured further inside, I discovered that many of the fruits and vegetables were grown locally such as strawberries, tomatoes, green beans, and yellow squash. In fact, there is even an impressive sign hanging above the produce that lists which foods are organic and which are local.
The colors of all the fruits and vegetables were vibrant, indicating their freshness, so I loaded up my cart with some of my favorites: strawberries, pineapples, pears, and grapes. I even found fresh strawberry lemonade that was preservative-free, so I took two. It was better than I thought it would be and by the end of the day, I had already finished one bottle!
I visited twice, once on a busy Saturday evening and again during midafternoon on a Tuesday. Tuesday was not nearly as packed as Saturday, where there was quite a crowd. The crowd was encouraging, however, because it meant that Freshfields Farm was really as great as it seemed. The checkout line was long, but it moved along quickly with the help of friendly associates. I was in and out within five minutes, loaded up with bags of fresh produce, and I got it all for under $20.00.
Freshfields Farm not only has an excellent selection of fruits and vegetables, but it has affordable prices and great customer service, too. This raw vegan will officially be making it a weekly grocery stop.
Next Page: Additional Photographs
Article by Brandi Gregory
In Southside, on University Boulevard West, Freshfields Farm is a big red barn with a John Deere green tractor out front that cannot be missed. I was excited from the moment I arrived and, as soon as I walked in the door, I was surrounded by a large display of fruit. I knew I was not going to be disappointed. When I ventured further inside, I discovered that many of the fruits and vegetables were grown locally such as strawberries, tomatoes, green beans, and yellow squash. In fact, there is even an impressive sign hanging above the produce that lists which foods are organic and which are local.
The colors of all the fruits and vegetables were vibrant, indicating their freshness, so I loaded up my cart with some of my favorites: strawberries, pineapples, pears, and grapes. I even found fresh strawberry lemonade that was preservative-free, so I took two. It was better than I thought it would be and by the end of the day, I had already finished one bottle!
I visited twice, once on a busy Saturday evening and again during midafternoon on a Tuesday. Tuesday was not nearly as packed as Saturday, where there was quite a crowd. The crowd was encouraging, however, because it meant that Freshfields Farm was really as great as it seemed. The checkout line was long, but it moved along quickly with the help of friendly associates. I was in and out within five minutes, loaded up with bags of fresh produce, and I got it all for under $20.00.
Freshfields Farm not only has an excellent selection of fruits and vegetables, but it has affordable prices and great customer service, too. This raw vegan will officially be making it a weekly grocery stop.
Next Page: Additional Photographs
Article by Brandi Gregory