Brown's Grove
It is only fitting to highlight a very special vendor and family this time of year. The Brown family has been a ten year tradition at the market for supplying not only produce but local oranges grown from over  1000 trees in their 4 groves. Great Grandpa Brown started the first grove in 1915. Yup 95 years ago when John and Mabel Ringling used to drive their Model A out to Macintosh Road for fresh local oranges (sort of made that up). Now a tradition passed onto Tim, wife Heidi and their three grown children, Travis, Trevor and Tressie. The boys' jobs include harvesting, packing and helping at the stand. Tressie helps with the website and shipping orders from her home in Alabama. Being a 16 year resident of Sarasota visiting their groves and packing house brought memories of living in the foothills of the White Mountains at one time when some of my friends were farmers. The Browns fit the mold, hard working, honest and a passion for tradition. Sometimes I'm questioned on what the market has that's local. Brown's groves are just the tip of the iceberg of what the Sarasota Farmer's Market has to offer locally. So if you come to the market to get their local citrus or visit their website for an order remember this...your fruit will not only be fresh and juicy but more importantly contain the SPIRT and dedication of a Sarasota family for the last 95 years. Visit www.brownsgrove.com  for more information.