PA Preferred® The Farm Store in Schuylkill County connects consumers with their local farmers and producers. Owners Angela & Josiah Meck opened this farm-to-table grocery store in downtown Pottsville, where they offer locally grown and raised products direct from nearby Pennsylvania farmers and vendors.
Read more about this farm fresh initiative that’s a win-win for local agriculture and consumers:
PA Eats: What do you like about being PA Preferred?
Angela & Josiah Meck
Angela & Josiah Meck: For the Farm Store, our mission is to support local farmers by providing an outlet to sell their products and to support our community by providing a location to buy fresh, healthy products at a convenient location. The PA Preferred logo aligns with our mission and reassures our customers that we’ve done our homework when picking products from local farmers. The PA Preferred logo and the program as a whole have supported our business through marketing materials and promotions.
What is the history behind The Farm Store?
Honey Brook Farm was once Honey Brook Dairy. When it was still a dairy, Angela’s great-great grandfather moved the farm to Schuylkill County around 1910 because of the proximity to Pottsville and Minersville. Anthracite coal was at its peak and there was a huge market for food. Fast forward 110 years, and we at Honey Brook Farm are once again taking our products to sell in Pottsville because of the market for farm fresh food!
What do you love about your work?
We love being able to support our farmers by giving them an outlet to sell their product. Sustaining cash flow is hard when you’re a farmer. Our store has given our local farmers another reliable outlet for their products.
What makes Pennsylvania a special place to grow and sell goods?
Pennsylvania is unique because it has EVERYTHING! Meats, dairy, produce, flours, soaps and more. We are able to fill our grocery store with all of the essentials and then some from Schuylkill and surrounding counties.
What sets The Farm Store apart?
Our business is different because we focus on local products. We prioritize healthy options with fewer preservatives and less food dyes and we avoid high fructose corn syrup. Our customers are looking to support their local farmers and provide healthy, nutritious foods for themselves and their families.
Our business has been gaining momentum since we opened. We’re excited for the future of our business and the positive impacts it will have on the many farmers involved.
Shop the PA Preferred groceries and goods at The Farm Store, located at 113 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville, PA.
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Photos: The Farm Store
