July 19, 2024
Bear Ridge Farms, located in Maple Hill, NC grows and sells produce and an array of goods to the community. Chuck Wooten and his wife Delean began with strawberries. As interest surrounding their farm and what they were producing grew, the Wootens added sweet corn and other produce. Today, you can visit their store and find blueberries, watermelon, tomatoes, beans, squash, fresh sourdough bread, cucumbers, cheese, milk, meat, and other products. The Wootens are a shining example of how hard work can lead to success and growth.
Chuck grew up working on his grandfather’s tobacco farm. Now, chuck’s grandkids are on the farm as the fifth generation. Although a fulltime firefighter, Brian Knowles enjoys helping his parents on the farm on his days off.
“Growing up in agriculture was a big thing because that’s what my family has done since I was little. Working with family is a big thing because people don't have those opportunities, and it gives me more time with them,” said Brian.
Bear Ridge Farms first started with a roadside stand. Their goal was to be on the main Highway 50 to take advantage of beach traffic. They set up shop under a store awning but realized that they should take advantage of the inside of the store as well. The opportunity to lease the space became available, and it really took off. Working with Farm Credit, they were eventually able to purchase the store.
Today, Bear Ridge Country Store gets visitors from the community and beachgoers stopping in. They hold school group tours to share how food is grown. Chuck said that one of their challenges is finding the right labor to help.
“When I grew up on the farm, the community worked on the farm. It’s not like that anymore,” he shared. “As we progress and go forward, we’re looking at doing more agritourism stuff, which is going to get people more interested in what we do and see where their food comes from.”
Growth seems to be a theme for Bear Ridge Farms. Growth of produce. Growth of business. Growth in connections within the community. Watching their growth is something that AgCarolina is proud to witness and play a small role in.