From Strawberries to Success 

Bear Ridge Farms, located in Maple Hill, NC, grows and sells an array of fresh produce and other goods to the community.  

Chuck and Delean Wooten began their farming journey with a roadside stand and a handful of strawberries. Today, you can visit their store and find blueberries, watermelon, tomatoes, beans, squash, fresh sourdough bread, cucumbers, cheese, milk, meat, and more. The Wootens are a shining example of how hard work can lead to success and growth. 

Their goal was to be on the main Highway 50 to take advantage of beach traffic. They set up shop under a store awning but realized that they should take advantage of the inside of the store as well. The opportunity to lease the space became available, and it really took off. After the Wootens partnered with Ag Carolina Farm Credit, they were eventually able to purchase the store.  

Growing Produce and Community 

The Bear Ridge Country Store holds school group tours to share how food is grown. They enjoy educating community members about their farming practices and inspiring interest in agriculture.  

“When I grew up on the farm, the community worked on the farm. It’s not like that anymore,” Chuck said. “As we progress and go forward, we’re looking at doing more agritourism stuff, which is going to get people more interested in what we do and see where their food comes from.”  

Growth is the theme for Bear Ridge Farms… Growth of produce. Growth of business. Growth in connections within the community. Watching their growth is something that AgCarolina is proud to witness and play a small role in. 

This story was originally published by AgCarolina Farm Credit.