Produce stands and farmers’ markets are popular throughout Nashville during the summer, and Howell Farms takes advantage of prime real estate with its produce tent in Green Hills along Glen Echo Road, only one mile from Lipscomb’s campus.
In addition to the Glen Echo location, Howell Farms sells its products at Sharondale, the Nashville Farmers’ Market and their farm in Bellevue. The stand at Glen Echo is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Chad Howell, whose grandfather owns the farm, said his family has been in business for three decades.
“We’ve farmed the same farm for 30 years,” he said, taking a break from unloading a truck full of fresh goods. “My great papa farmed tomatoes, and it’s just been passed down from generation to generation to generation.”
Under the red and white tent, shoppers will find a variety of fruits and vegetables. Included in the vegetable options are: potatoes, corn, tomatoes, squash, asparagus, peppers, onions, beans, okra and more. The fruit selection includes blueberries, grapes, apples, peaches, bananas, lemons, limes, eggplants, watermelons and cantaloupe among other things.
The stand has baked items like breads and muffins from Anne’s Cakes on Trousdale Drive. Howell Farms also sells jams and jellies from Spring Valley Farms in Holland, Ky. The stand also has local honey, syrups, fresh herbs, peanuts and other items like bottled black or green teas.
Howell said his family specializes in tomatoes.
“Our tomatoes basically speak for themselves,” he said. “It’s hard to beat a homegrown Tennessee tomato.”
Dry weather this summer has harmed the farm’s crops, Howell said.
“We irrigate, but dry weather has affected us a lot,” he said. “We’ve lost peppers, all of our corn and all of our squash fields.”
At the Howell’s stand, Bradley tomatoes are $2 per pound, squash is $1.50 a pound, corn costs $1.25 for 3 ears and asparagus is $3.75 per pound. Peaches are $2 per pound, grapes cost $2.50 per pound and strawberries are $2.75 per carton.
Howell said his family has maintained a presence in the Brentwood and Green Hills areas for a long time, and he encourages people in Nashville to support local growers.
“Eating local is healthier,” he said. “Buying locally helps hometown businesses and farms. If it wasn’t for farmers, there wouldn’t be any produce, any food.”
For more information about local growers, farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture visit http://picktnproducts.org/.
