Ross-Mackie Produce LLC

07/08/2025

Caption this picture!

*available Tuesday morning until it's gone, $6 per dozen.

04/08/2025

How cute! I need to get them to sowing for this year!

03/14/2025

Do you follow any planting tips like this?

I thought this was kinda interesting.

Phenology is the study of cyclical natural phenomena and events—from bud burst to bird migration—and then letting nature’s timing help you understand when to plant and harvest.
Nature’s “signs” are different in every region; however, you should still relate to these examples:

Blooming crocus are your cue to plant radishes, parsnips, and spinach.

When the forsythia is in bloom, it is safe to plant peas, onion sets, and lettuce.

Half-hardy vegetables, including beets, carrots, and chard, can be planted when the daffodils blossom.

Look for dandelions to bloom before planting potatoes.

Perennial flowers can be planted when the maple trees begin to leaf out.

When quince is blossoming, transplant cabbage and broccoli.

Wait for apple trees to bloom before planting bush beans.

When the apple blossoms fall, plant pole beans and cucumbers.

By the time the lilacs are in full bloom, it will be safe to plant tender annual flowers and squashes.

Transfer tomato transplants to the garden when lily-of-the-valley is in full flower.

Full-sized maple leaves signal time to plant morning glory seeds.

Peppers and eggplant can be transplanted when the bearded irises are blooming.

When peonies blossom, it is safe to plant heat-loving melons, such as cantaloupe.

11/28/2024

We are so thankful for our customers who buy food DIRECTLY from us as farmers. Happy Thanksgiving from the Ross and Mackie clans!

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Thanksgiving dinner survey found the average cost for a 10-person Thanksgiving dinner is $58.08 or about $5.80 per person this year.

This is a 5% decrease from last year, but still up 19% from in 2019.

This survey decided that an average Thanksgiving meal consists of: a 16-pound turkey, 1 gallon of whole milk, a 1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery), misc. ingredients, dinner rolls, pie crusts/shells, green peas, fresh cranberries, whipping cream, sweet potatoes, and cubed stuffing. If you want to add boneless ham, russet potatoes, and green beans, the cost of your meal rises to $77.34 for ten people.

With the rising price of groceries, how much of this goes to the farmer?

Not much.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) did a similar survey, but looked only at the main ingredients used in Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, potatoes, canned pumpkin, stuffing, cranberries, boneless ham, sweet corn, dinner rolls, and green beans). These items tend to have a higher percentage that goes back to the farmer since they are less processed than fully made items (like a pumpkin pie). Looking at just these, NFU found that about 10% of what you're paying goes back to the farmer. By the time you add in the extra ingredients, dairy products, and more vegetables, I'm sure the percentage going back to farmers decreases even more. This is similar to USDA findings. The USDA says that in 2023, farmers received about 9.1 cents out of every dollar spent on food.

This Thanksgiving, be sure to give thanks to the farmers who work hard year around to put food on your plate, even when they don't make much money for it. 😃

11/26/2024

What a great way of teaching young people where their food comes from! This benefits the entire community.

11/08/2024

🚨 Exciting News! MU Extension is part of a new research initiative focused on improving healthy food access in rural Missouri—and we want to hear from you! 🌱

Your insights are vital in shaping this project. Take a few minutes to share your experiences and ideas about food access in your community by completing a short survey. Together, we can make a real impact!

Start the survey 👉: https://brnw.ch/21wOsvx

09/18/2024

You've not really grown sweet taters until you harvest some the size of your head!

04/22/2024

Monday Memory:
We called this the Farm Kids Playpen. April 2017

04/20/2024

Come see us at the Mtn. Grove Square on this chilly morning!

04/20/2024

This year, the kids are growing, harvesting, and selling their own crops--and they get to keep the money too!

Eli is trying out leaf lettuce this spring. How cute is this kid?

04/18/2024

Do you garden "by the moon"? We try to when able. We have learned the hard way to not plant during barren times and times when seeds would rot.

Gardening by the Moon? Yes, please! Our Planting Calendar is your secret weapon for a bountiful harvest! From home gardeners to farmers, we've got day-by-day guides to ensure your plants are growing at their peak. So, whether you're nurturing a window sill herb or cultivating a full-scale veggie patch, we've got you covered. Find it here: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening or in our 2024 Farmers' Almanac available here: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/buy

04/16/2024

Goodness, the Ross-Mackie Produce family has grown! Be watching for updates as we recap last year and look forward to the 2024 growing season.