The Power of Being Flexible
February 28, 2023
Let's Taco 'bout Flexibility
Farm markets provide "vital economic opportunities for farmers, essential food access points for eaters, and inclusive gathering spaces for communities. They are also the testing ground for food businesses like Chaia's" wrote FRESHFARM's Juliet Glass. In 2013, we built our brand - and a loyal following - at market before opening up our first brick-and-mortar in Georgetown in 2015, our second downtown shop in 2019, and our Bethesda pop-up shop in 2021.
Our involvement and passion at the farmers market allowed us to develop our menu and business plan based on what we were experiencing at the farmers market there each week. We learned to be flexible with our menu, adapt our recipes based on seasonal ingredients, and create space to be inspired. This gave us an edge as we moved into our first store. We were able to adjust our menu and recipes as we learned, ultimately leading us to a core menu of standing favorites that our customers love, complemented by seasonal specials.
In season now at market: apples, beets, carrots, cabbage, chard, garlic, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, radishes, salad greens, spinach, sweet potatoes, turnips, winter squash
