Roadside Treats

I drove up to Toccoa, GA this weekend with a friend. It was a beautiful weekend and one filled with friends, food, and fun. I love road trips...the road stretched out before me, driving through winding mountain roads, and interesting finds along the way! Fortunately, my companion was just as willing to stop and taste the treats as I was.


As we drove toward our destination on 441 North, we saw a sign for the Jaemor Farm Market and I couldn't resist checking it out. As we drove up the gravel drive, there was a big sign announcing the Farm and apple trees growing along either side just about as far as I could see up the hill. Approaching the market building, there were very few cars and I was worried that we might be too late since it was approaching 6pm. There are a couple of barns on the property and a corn maize in the fall (note to self). Fortunately, the place was open and we had few shoppers to compete with.

As you enter the market, its charm is wonderfully reminiscent of the flea market stands that I remember visiting as a young child. Only much cleaner. The market is set up in several "departments" including a gift and pottery shop, convenience store, ice cream and fried pie shop, homemade foods, and fresh fruit and vegetable market. They even carry local double-yolk eggs, butter, hoop cheese, and freshly packed meats. I was like a kid in a candy shop!



I strolled up and down the aisles checking out the produce -- beautiful ripe tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and cucumbers, alongside small ripe figs and fat round muscadines and scuppernogs. I couldn't resist a few small ripe peaches, that smelled so sweet I was tempted to eat them right there in the aisle! They had dried fruit including pineapple slices, apples, and kiwi (which I'd never seen before!) and homemade trail mix (including unsalted for my pal, Tammy). I found a rack of fresh baked sweet breads including peach, apple, and cinnamon pecan and had to add a loaf to my stash, along with some fresh locally made butter.


Amish popcorn was another interesting treat. Not sure if it's really Amish, but it's multicolored and was fascinating anyway. I added a small bag for fun. I also tossed into my cart a bottle of Vidalia onion and summer tomato dressing that will be fabulous to lightly dress some remaining cucumbers from Johnny's garden. I almost added some local honey, but we're so blessed to have Hometown Honey in the neighborhood that I couldn't let myself "cheat".


For the road, freshly roasted peanuts were irresistible along with a bottle of Scuppernog Cider to wash them down! The trip to Jaemor Farm Market was so memorable that I couldn't resist stopping again on the way back home to pick up a couple of loaves of bread as gifts. Next time you're on 441 North in North Georgia, don't miss this Georgia treasure. Freshly grown produce, eggs, butter, meats... there's nothing better in the way of food than this.