Growing up in the rural south, childhood was full of warm days of roaming the farm and savoring the tastes of the vast gardens cultivated by our parents and grandparents. Oh, how we mourn for those who have never experienced a July evening with yellow crookneck squash, boiled new potatoes and vine-ripened tomatoes as their dinner entree. Over the years, our love for farm-fresh food has not wavered. While our garden has yet to flourish in the same fashion as our ancestor's, we still enjoy the simple act of watching seeds become nourishing additions to our family's table. Our mediocrity as food producers leaves us reaching out for sustenance from the few people around who still know how to raise meat and grow fruits and vegetables. The search for food...good food, I should add...has become a normal part of life for our household; albeit, a sometimes unpopular one with the children. You see, there are plenty of perks of being raised in the country, but there is one major downfall we have identified - and that is access to healthy food. Although we were raised on nature's bounty, that bounty didn't always come with the greatest of care, and was often doused in pesticides, drenched in White Lily Flour and Dixie Sugar, then fried in vegetable oil. All the same, it tasted remarkable. As adults, we reminisce on those flavors of our childhood, but have a different take on how to prepare them in a way that will nourish your mind and body. We believe it is possible to find harmony in delicious and healthy pairings that leave even the most apprehensive foodie satisfied. Our area, like most rural communities, holds a strong agricultural tradition. These fresh homegrown foods are a great starting point to improving many of our poor health outcomes. It starts with this understanding - that not all food that is good for you has to taste bad to you - and with additional options comes a strong foundation for your overall health.
Through this vision of health for our community, the concept of Native Provisions was planted. After years of tossing around the idea of opening a health food store featuring locally sourced agricultural products and sustainable home goods in our hometown, we are now at the cusp of launching our first (temporary) storefront. Our hope is to complete renovations on our permanent location in the months to come. We will be sharing more information on this project in posts to come. Around a year ago, we started mobile delivery of our "Graze Boxes", which have been well received and a great segue into the fresh, clean food we want to provide . These customizable charcuterie boxes typically feature meats, cheeses, veggies and fruits. We have been completely overwhelmed by the support we have received upon the launch if this portion of our business. Truthfully, it was an idea presented to us by a sweet friend who thought it tied in well to our future plans. And was she ever right! We never imagined our boxes would be so popular, but we couldn't be more pleased to have offered a small taste of what Native Provisions hopes to bring to you in the very near future.
To say that we are passionate to see our rural community have access to high quality foods that they can feel good about eating is an understatement. Often, when we introduce our business plan to folks, you can see a preemptive look of deprivation in their eyes. Our greatest desire is to provide products to customers that improve their life and cater to their dietary needs, whatever they may be. We stand by the saying "when you EAT WELL, you FEEL WELL". We hope you will follow along to see our entrepreneurial progress and learn more about our mission to make our little corner of world a healthier place.
