Flora’s Finest: How This Mississippi Town’s Food Scene Adapted to the Pandemic

Flora, Mississippi, may be a small town in Madison County, but its vibrant local food scene rivals even the largest cities in the state. From Mississippi Bees, which produces honey that’s sold at Krogers all over the state, to beef from Bozeman Farms, Flora’s farms are as diverse as it’s growing food scene.

Salad Days Produce

Salad Days Produce is one of the many culinary gems in Flora. Started by husband and wife Jamie Redmond and Leigh Bailey, this 18,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse began lettuce production in 2014. Prior to COVID-19, their customer base was 90% restaurants.

“When the shutdown happened, we had to quickly reinvent our entire business model,” Bailey says. “We found more grocery stores, boutique food markets and produce markets to work with, while also donating thousands of heads of lettuce to a Mississippi food bank.”

See more: What’s in Season? Mississippi Produce Calendar

The farm doesn’t offer a traditional Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), but it did develop a drive-thru farmers market for those interested in contactless shopping. It also partnered with Two Dog Farms, which grows seasonal produce on the land adjacent to its property. “We purchase produce from their farm for our online farm bundles, and they purchase lettuce from us to include in their CSA boxes,” Bailey says.

In Bailey’s experience, Flora is a special place with a great synergy that’s led to the development of quite a culinary hot spot. “All the businesses located in Flora support each other in many ways, and it’s so exciting to see the numerous customers that make the drive to Flora to visit the farms, restaurants and retail establishments we have to offer,” she says.

Two Dog Farms

Van Killen and his wife, Dorothy, started Two Dog Farms six years ago as a backyard garden, but it has since grown to 25 acres, boasting extensive specialty crops, restaurant customers and farmers market customers.

Killen says they spend 11 months of the year growing produce, and many of these items are included in their CSA boxes. While this has always been an integral part of the business, COVID-19 made it clear that shopping local was more important to customers than ever.

“When COVID-19 hit, our CSA grew dramatically,” Killen says. “We quickly changed our CSA pickups to a drive-thru method for those who wanted a more limited-contact shopping experience.”

Their partnership with Salad Days Produce has been beneficial as well, providing both farms with an opportunity to support and build up one another in a community that is determined to provide for its own. “Flora is full of businesses that support the community,” Killen says. “Everyone knows everyone and is committed to helping one another.”

“Flora is full of businesses that support the community. Everyone knows everyone and is committed to helping one another.”

Van Killen, owner of Two Dog Farms

The Flora Butcher

The Flora Butcher is a whole-animal, farm-to-table butcher shop inspired by chef David Raines’ father’s Wagyu cattle production. The Flora Butcher collects all the best Mississippi animals, produce and products to fill its shelves and sources fresh gulf seafood.

“Using our local beef, lamb, goat, pork and chicken, we produce artisan sausages and charcuterie for both retail and wholesale,” Raines says. In traditional Flora fashion, this operating method allows the business to support an ever-growing number of Mississippi producers and craftsmen.

The Flora Butcher didn’t participate in CSA boxes prior to COVID-19, but the pandemic encouraged the company to shift gears. When local business owners began to lose restaurant customers, Raines says he knew they needed to pull together to make it through.

“We sold them house-made breads, artisan bacon and sausage, and Wagyu beef for their boxes to help entice customers to support Flora agriculture,” Raines says. This adaptation also allowed Raines to retain his staff and avoid layoffs.

“I’ve always been impressed with the number of specialty farms and craftsmen here,” he says. “In a time when small towns are struggling, Flora just seems to get better – and I hope I can help it grow.”