About NEEDMORE FARMS

Late summer is a busy time at Needmore Farms market in Fuquay-Varina. Final crops of tomatoes, summer squash, and stone fruits are pouring in for customers eager to enjoy the waning tastes of summer. Behind the scenes, preparations are ongoing to transform the produce market into an autumn landscape with 100 varieties of pumpkins and themed photo opportunities for families (stop by after Labor Day to witness these displays).

Owned by mother-daughter pair Shannon King and Shelby Steele, Needmore Farms grew from a roadside watermelon stand to a thriving marketplace by nurturing the talents of all eight of King’s children, including Zach, who grows the plants, Kyleigh, who manages deliveries, and Mattie, who stars in the social media posts.

Now the business offers produce deliveries in addition to the locally grown fruits and vegetables, plants, decor, and artisan food products on sale at the market.

Needmore Farms also maintains a fun and informative social media presence, recording cooking and gardening how-to videos.

“Mom and I would tell customers how to care for plants and what to cook with the produce, but we got busier, and we couldn’t be out there all the time. We started the videos as a resource for the community,” says Steele.

Mattie, the cook of the family, brainstormed with Shannon to create these late-summer recipes based on the family’s favorite flavors.

“The tomato pie is something we always make for dinner. The flavors go so well together,” says Mattie.

“If you make any of it, make the cake,” says Shelby. It uses fresh plums paired with traditional fall spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom) and is a delicious way to transition the seasons. Plus it’s just “so good.” – Emily Uhland