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Freshness is the key to Logan Produce’s success

September 18th, 2010 Posted in Business

Story and photos by Satenik Sargsyan

LOGAN–If unhealthy substances at the State Liquor Store leave one hoping for the best, the fruit and vegetable store across the street may be a good starting point to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Logan Produce. at 58 W. 400 North St., is a cozy corner for those who love their groceries fresh on the table. In the course of 25 years in business the store has developed more than 2,000 loyal customers, says owner Tom Timken.

“I purchased the business from someone who had already been doing it for about two years,” Timken says. “For about 14 years we have been out by Kmart. We have been in this location for about 11 years now.”

Despite the fact that Logan Produce sells a variety of locally grown fruit and vegetables, it is famous for being a “corn stand,” Timken says. The customers jokingly recommend renaming the store “Corn Nazi,” he adds.

“Corn is not really big right now because people get tired of it,” Timken says. “Our biggest item now is peaches. We had 50 baskets of peaches this morning and sold them all.”

While most fruit arrives from different orchards in Brigham City, Timken invests time and funds to produce tomatoes and corn.

“We buy some acreage and have the seeds or tomato plants and hire some people to help us pick it,” Timken says. “I pick a truck load a day myself.”

When Tom is farming, his wife Saundra Timken maintains the store. Being in business for 25 years, the Timkens have made friends with their regular customers, Tom says.

Janice Lamb, 76, says that she shops at Logan Produce every day because the product is “cheap and fresh.

“I was headed to visit my sons a few years ago, and I stopped by, filled the trunk of my car with loads of vegetables and drove up there,” Lamb says. “I love my vegetables fresh.”

The network of customers expands on a regular basis. Despite the modesty of the store, people find the welcoming fruit and vegetable outlet.

“This is our third time coming in, and we like it because everything’s fresh, and it’s cheap,” says Michelle Athae, 36.

Timken says that the prices are usually fixed. At the end of the day, the remaining product prices are dropped, sold by bulk or given away.

“We have customers from different places,” Timken says. “Locals come here all the time. Our best customers are from Wyoming. They drive up here and buy stuff for two to three hundred dollars.”

NW

Tags: farmstand, fresh, Logan Produce, vegetables