Our road map to some of the best ingredients and food stuff our area has to offer.
Produce
More than 50 vegetables, 25 herbs and nearly a dozen fruits are offered seasonally through the farm store at Crones’ Cradle Conserve Foundation, and they offer a weekly fresh produce basket subscription. www.cronescradleconserve.org
N’ Season Farm is a family-operated fruit and vegetable store that has been growing locally for more than 10 years in Dunnellon, and offers hard-to-find varieties such as Italian dandelion and pak choi. Call (352) 817-9969 or find them on Facebook.
Behind the produce stand at Fernando’s Organic Produce Farm on County Road 42 in Summerfield are rows of lush green plants carefully tended to by Fernando DeMarcos, growing in their natural state. Call (352) 615-4775 or find them on Facebook.
LDH Farms in Northeast Ocala specializes in hydroponically grown veggies, and they also grow a variety of herbs. Find them on Thursdays at the Circle Square Commons Farmer’s Market or order online at www.ldhfarms.com
Sweets
Betty Cakes Bakery & Café is known for its iconic handmade buttercream-iced cakes, which are available in a variety of flavors with custom decoration. The café, located inside Your Heart’s Desire, features scrumptious lunch offerings. Online at www.bettycakes.com
A new entry on the food scene, The Old School Ice Cream Shop on Baseline Road has a great selection of ice cream flavors, old-fashioned milkshakes and hard-to-find, Disney-favorite Dole Whip in pineapple and strawberry. For more information, call (352) 203-2384 or find them on Facebook.
Pasta
Bleu Basil uses a proprietary flour blend to create their standout fresh pasta in flavors including tomato basil and roasted garlic, and they can prepare almost any flavor you can imagine. Find them at the Ocala Downtown Market or online at www.bleubasil.com
Specialty Grocers
Earth Fare is not only a great spot to score a variety of organic, natural and fresh foods, but also for eat-in or takeout fresh sushi, specialty pizzas, hot food bar and salad bar. Located at 2405 SW 27th Avenue.
Earth Origins Market has an extensive selection of grocery items and prepared food including organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, non-GMO, paleo and keto. Standout items include their acai bowls and smoothies. Located at 1917 E Silver Springs Boulevard.
The pristine shelves of Key Food are still stocked with a treasure trove of Latin and Caribbean foods, but the ready-to-eat hot food counter and bakery are what will keep you coming back. Located at 1929 SW College Road.
Indian grocery store and café Hari Om is a vegetarian’s dream destination, featuring a plethora of gourmet ingredients and delicacies, great produce and aromatic spices. Located at 4120 SW 38th Court.
Downtown, Stella’s Modern Pantry stocks a fun-to-shop variety of specialty items—from wine and craft sodas to gourmet sauces and candy and culinary tools—and features a cozy café to enjoy house-made salads, sandwiches, pastries and more. Located at 20 SW Broadway Street.
Meats
4 Star Farm in North Florida is a multi-generational family farm producing non-GMO, pasture-raised chicken, beef, pork, lamb, goat and turkey. Find them on Saturdays at the Ocala Downtown Market or online at www.4star.farm
Harbison Farm Cattle & Produce is a family-run business that offers ground beef from their grass-fed cows as well as fresh veggies at their farm stand on Northeast County Road 329 in Anthony. For more information, call (352) 239-3552.
Pasture Prime Family Farm in Summerfield is one of only a handful of U.S. farms that produce 100 percent grass-fed Wagyu beef. Order online at www.pastureprimewagyu.com or find them at The Villages Brownwood Farmer’s Market. For more information, call (352) 266-2660.
