By Megan Sprague

Every summer until he went to college, Josh Graham would sell canteloupe with his grandfather on the side of the road. 

Now, Graham has returned to those roots, re-opening Josh’s Produce Market with his wife, Alicia, on Williamson Road in Mooresville for its second season at that location.

“I think there should be farmer’s markets everywhere; they’re such a neat experience,” Josh said.

Josh’s Produce Market uses fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers and Columbia, S.C., to fill the stands under their tent.

“We get up really early, at 2 a.m. on Fridays to drive to Columbia to get the freshest produce,” he said. “We haul back as much as we can, as long as the quality is good. By the end of June, 75 percent of the produce here will be local.”

The Grahams are personally growing tomatoes, watermelon and an acre of potatoes and will add okra this year.

“We’ll also have sweet corn from Frank Meadows, squash and zucchini from Woodleaf Farm and green beans, honey and blueberries from Kim Rector,” he added.

He believes his market is popular because of the freshness and quality of the products.

“There’s not many places that you can go where the squash or blueberries were picked an hour before you buy them,” Graham said.

Vegetables aren’t the only thing that the market carries. It also imports Amish bread from Hamptonville.

“Debbie isn’t Amish, but she used to bake in one of the Amish stores for about seven or eight years and now uses the recipes to bake on her own,” Graham said. “We started out carrying 20 loaves, but it’s been so popular that now we’re selling 85 loaves in about two days.”

Jams and jellies, made by Rector, are also offered at the market.

“They truly are homemade,” he said. “I’ve tried all of them except the fig and they’re all wonderful.“

The Grahams are considering expanding their market, but it’s not official.

“I would love to open a country store along with the market, and I think it really would do well,” he said. “The location we have right now is pretty much the best you can get, so we’ll see.”

If his regular customers have anything to say about it, the Grahams will be in business for a long time.

“I would say I’ve been here probably on a weekly basis this year,” said Gayle Long of Mooresville. “I love the fresh vegetables and the seasonal fruits, like strawberries and blueberries. You can also really count on them for fresh bread and their tomatoes are to die for.”

Keela Dyer, also of Mooresville, agreed.

“It’s top quality and I like supporting local growers,” she explained of why she continues to come. “The Grahams were so generous to our church last year and donated peaches for our women’s dinner, so it’s great to be able to reciprocate.”

Josh’s Produce Market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until October and is located across the street from the Goodwill on Williamson Road in Mooresville.

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