FLORIDA HARVEST
NEW PORT RICHEY’S STARKEY MARKET FOOD, FUN, FARM-TO-TABLE LIVING
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Written by: Ava Grace
rey Starkey and Aaron Derksen co-own Starkey Market in New Port Richey and the nearby Starkey Blueberry Farm in Trinity, Florida, due north of Clearwater.
In addition to fresh produce and berries, fun events, gifts, hot food, wine/beer selections, scooped ice cream and a coffee bar, the pair own farms in Pasco County that use green-growing practices. “On our farm we have 1.5 acres of blackberries to U-pick (early February through July) a half mile away, 40 acres of blueberries and five acres of strawberries for U-pick (early December-May),” says Starkey, a generational CEO and president. Derksen is the chief operating officer and VP. Starkey Farms was founded in 1921.
Carefully selected wines are available at The Barn at Starkey Market in New Port Richey, Florida.
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F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 3
“Starkey Market is an agriculture-focused market featuring quality first and local as we can,” says Starkey. The market, he adds, is three buildings. “We have large porches, comfortable sitting for just chilling and hanging out.” There is the Barn, where wine, craft beer, hard seltzers and ciders are available in an indoor/outdoor setting. There is also a tower called the Roost and seating areas nestled in a live oak called the Tree Fort. And there’s the Trough, an open-air pole barn, a burger joint featuring grass-fed beef with salads, pretzels, hot dogs and more. “We also have a large open area in the back of the building where kids and adults run wild. Sometimes a bit too literally,” adds Starkey. And beyond that area is a
