Had the opportunity to visit Shirks Country Market in Centertown, MO, and this is hands-down one of…read moremy favorite stops whenever I'm in the area! First and foremost, the deli here is nothing short of amazing. I always get the BLT, and it never disappoints. The bacon tastes incredibly fresh, and the produce on it is just as fresh. I also love to add their jalapeño cheddar cheese--so flavorful! A few jalapeños for an extra kick, and it's perfect. Another highlight for me is the bakery. The service is great and their banana bread is one of my absolute favorites--moist, tasty, and often fresh out of the oven. This market has so much to offer: * Fresh produce * Bagged candy, all packaged neatly with an Amish-style retail vibe * A variety of unique items to explore Next door, there's even a plant shop with a beautiful selection of plants, adding to the charm of this spot. The parking lot is huge, making it easy to stop by. It's handicap accessible, so there's nothing to worry about when it comes to accessibility. All in all, this place is a gem, and I truly love stopping by every chance I get!

I am not often this way, but whenever I am near Jefferson City I absolutely stop by here!…read more Today I got the "sweet balogna" with Colby, pickles, mustard and mayo on their oatmeal bread and it was really amazing, I love the thin bologna slices. Peanut butter pie was so good! The peanut butter part was light and creamy and the crust is always good in their pies! They're all always very nice, friendly and helpful, and I just love going in there. I wasn't sure if the deli would be open when I got there at 8:30, but they open at 8 with the store, so I was very happy about that.

Best place to get plants. We showed up 30 minutes after they closed while the owner was pulling…read moreout of the drive. Stopped her to ask us we could put our flowers by the front door that we wanted to pay for them the next day when they opened. She said she would open for us so we could buy them. She was so nice and helpful. The flowers made such a huge difference at my campsite. See for yourself and yes I will be coming back. The place looks amazing and they have great ideas for what they will be doing to the place. New owners are wonderful

Fantastic salsa and great produce. Always very friendly when I go…read more The monster cookies are great too!

Love this place. I've only been during festivals so it was always busy! But so worth it. I love the…read moreseeds I get from here everything grows so well! If you've not checked out a festival you should!!

I attended the Flower Festival last weekend and could not have been happier or surprised with the…read moreexperience! (I drove from Oklahoma!) My bonus daughter and I met my son there, and we spent a good part of the day just exploring, enjoying, and learning! The food trucks were amazing! The music was beautiful, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the grounds were immaculate. Truly, it felt like we were at Silver Dollar City for gardeners! We meandered around the property, looking at all the greenhouses, booths, stores, and exhibits. We ended up making three trips to the car to drop off our new gardening goodies! We weren't expecting the various musical platforms, which sent our overall impression of Baker Creek Seeds even higher than it already was! We all came home happy, with full tummies and lots of tried-and-true (and many NEW) packets of seeds to try this year! If you are looking for heirloom seeds, knowledgeable gardening advice, and an exceptional experience, look no further than Baker Creek! (the drive may be to the middle of nowhere, but the roads that lead to it are picturesque and peaceful.

I was a fervent Root Cellar-er when they were under the old owners and when they were located on…read moreBroadway (more on that later), but now it's on a whole 'nother level. No, literally, they have more than one level to the store. What's going on? Why can't they just stay in that basement place and call it good? Well, this new venue is bigger, and the old owner(s) also owned the Broadway Brewery, and the rumor is they are going to expand that restaurant into the basement place where they old Root Cellar was located. Plus, this new place has much more panache, and since the new downtown farmer's market started on Sundays, this new location hooks them into that whole casbah (or would it be a souk?). Anyhow, there are things in the works. Some of the things in the works: Free wi-fi for the internet deficient. There is a loading dock that they want to turn into a stage for live music acts, and the audience can hunker down in the parking lot and listen al fresco. They've already installed a cooler in the loading dock deck, where they might start stocking beer and wine and such. I told them to install some old speakers and a turntable and an amp, and I would provide a mess of vinyl, and that would attract the neo-retro folks who dig that stuff. Who knows. From the loading dock deck, you can saunter down a few stairs into a long room with a huge wooden bar, end-capped with a deli counter. So the plan is, to have sandwiches and stuff, as well as coffee, tea, etc. Perhaps they will give Uprise a run for their money? I say they should aim for a different consumer niche, since Uprise has pretty much locked-in the hipster crowd, they need to go for the blue collar crowd who appreciate all that local food/music stuff. Who knows? This could usher in a critical mass for the new North Village Arts District. Maybe it will give the "District" a run for their money. The "District" being the semi-mafioso oligarchs who control the downtown area, and who took out the benches from the sidewalks because unseemly folks were sitting in them. I guess they installed them, so they can take them out, but geez, it sounds a little draconian. For all I know the NVA District folks will do the same thing, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Anyhow, here is a good article on their moving, and some nice photos: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/06/20/root-cellar-moves-north-village-arts-district/ In addition, they have a CSA, where you can get a box of local veggies and fruits and stuff for like $30 or so. They give you a little print out with info on where everything came from, and some recipes that include some of the foods. You pay by the week, but to guarantee a box, you should sign up. The new owners are real nice, and if you are looking for suggestions on what is good or interesting, they are very helpful.

Great little find in downtown! I read online that this place has THE best chicken available around…read moretown and boy was I correct! At first I was sticker shocked at the price, but after realizing that I'm supporting local agriculture as well as, having the closest thing to fresh here -- totally worth it!!! I wish it could fresh and not frozen, but hey not complaining! Their veggies are delish and fresh, too! Can't beat local arugula from MO! Definitely check it out!

A must stop location for fresh fruits and veggies and Amish foods. We go here before we go to the…read morestore because their produce is so much better. Their tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes.

people here are very unfriendly .they never smile never say hello never say thank you .We like…read morethe place across the street . Everything is better and they want your business .

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Gardner's Orchard with my children, and it was truly an…read moreexceptional experience. The opportunity for them to interact with and pet the baby animals was both educational and inspiring, especially since we do not have animals at home. The experience exceeded our expectations in every way. A 5-star rating does not seem sufficient to reflect the quality of what Gardner's Orchard offers--this is truly a 10-star experience. It was particularly meaningful to see how approachable and manageable it can be to care for animals such as chickens, which has encouraged me to consider this opportunity for my own children. I would like to sincerely thank your team for the effort, dedication, and care you invest in creating such a welcoming environment for the community. It is evident that a great deal of hard work goes into maintaining this beautiful place and providing such enriching experiences for families.

Enter at your own risk!…read more My wife, grandson and others slipped and fell on loose rocks throughout this establishment. Every attraction is run down and in great need of TLC. Staff is very friendly, but I will not be returning. Good luck!!

They had bunnies, goats and Shetland ponies...like sold…read more Look I realize we're here for the fruit which they also had...cherries, blueberries, peaches and currants were ripe today. It's about a hour from STL city, mostly highway. Pick a playlist and vibe. I will definitely go back.

My new favorite farm! This beats out all the popular farms and I can't wait to come back each…read moreseason. The flowers were amazing and great price to pick yourself! It was such a special time with some small animals there as well. The people were also very helpful and friendly.

The Blueberry Jam is transcendent. I must get more soon, fortunately they are not far from me so I…read morecan get to them directly. The Farmer Market in Bolivar was where I first encountered their products, but now that it is fall, the market is spotty as to when it seems to be open. (sigh)

Ohh man... I received a jar of strawberry jam while camping with their family. It's very yummy!!…read moreWill be in contact to purchase more.

What a wonderful family business. Allergy friendly, great produce: hormone, gmo and antibiotic free…read moreproteins. Great spot for bulk buys. Wonderful soaps and teas. Love the seasonal flowers and all of the jams and jellies.

Love the bulk fruit and meat I've gotten the past few months. Great customer service. They are…read morealways so kind when I go in and are prompt to answer questions on their FB page.