BAKERSVILLE — For Megan Bell, local food is very important.
Megan Bell and her husband Raymond Bell own and operate Just Local Market in Bakersville.
Located at 431 South Mitchell Ave., across from Bowman Middle School, Just Local Market is a grocery store dedicated to selling products from local farmers.
“We carry anywhere from 15 to 25 diffferent farm’s products, depending on the week and season,” Megan Bell said. “There’s more than I can list.”
Just Local isn’t limited to only produce. While the store does carry a wide selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, there is also meat, cheese, honey, jams, baked goods and more.
“The core of our collaborating farms are from Mitchell and Yancey County,” Megan Bell said. “Recently, we’ve started adding items that aren’t being produced by our neighbors, like smoked trout and goat cheese, but our commitment will always be to our community.”
Megan and Raymond know firsthand what it means to be a local producer— the two also own and operate The Complete Feast Farm in Bakersville.
Megan has been farming in Bakersville for about nine years and Raymond recently started Ray’s Meats, where he specializes in local pork and beef production.
“I’ve seen wonderful and dedicated new farmers leave the area just based on how hard it was to establish themselves with enough return to survive,” Megan Bell said. “It’s not an easy business, especially with how isolated we are. Many farms have to travel long distances to get their products out there and all of us rely on a combination of outlets to earn a living.”
Just Local has become one of those outlets and Megan Bell is thrilled each time a customer shops at her store and thus directly aids local farmers.
“I love telling customers how many farms their purchase just supported,” she said. “It’s an honor, really, to represent our local farmers. My dream is to keep building these relationships that keep growing agriculture as a sustainable way to make a living here and for the community to have access to fresh, good food.”
Megan Bell said Just Local has been a key asset for area farmers during the ongoing pandemic.
“I was so grateful that the store existed when COVID-19 started,” Megan Bell said. “Many of the farms had crops in and it was really scary to think of all that work going to waste.”
Many local farms lost contracts with farmers markets and restaurants during the pandemic, at least temporarily. Thanks to Just Local, they were able to continue selling.
“Not only could I help get their products out there but could keep them safer by limiting their time interacting with the public,” Megan Bell said.
As for pandemic precautions at Just Local, Megan Bell is careful to wear a mask and clean gloves for every interaction and when handling all products.
The market is currently open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Customers are currently being served through the market’s walk-up window and are asked to keep their distance while waiting to order.
“I’m proud to have continued keeping our community safe, well-fed and informed about the products we sell through these challenges,” Megan Bell said. “We’ve all experienced how fragile our food access becomes when we’re dependent on non-local large scale food systems. Supporting local agriculture is more important than ever.”