Finally Fresh is a new produce market in Shawano, the first permanent market in the city in recent memory.
Owner Amanda Young is excited to offer farm-fresh vegetables and fruits at this new farm stand. Located on the corner of East Green Bay Street and Rusch Road, the market opened July 22. It offers the convenience of a quick stop to pick up just one tomato, for instance, or even a bushel of tomatoes, knowing that they are fresh and of a high quality.
A full-range of produce is available, including sweet corn, tomatoes, pickles, cucumbers, dill, zucchini, potatoes, green beans and everything else in season.
Young and her husband, Jim Young, bought the 1.3-acre corner lot, just east of Shawano Cinema, in fall 2024. The street address is 1500 E. Green Bay St.
The construction activity on the lot has piqued the interest of Shawano residents.
On the western edge of the lot, a repair and maintenance shop for Briarton Logging company, owned by Jim Young, is being built.
“We had been planning on building his shop eventually,” Amanda Young noted.
The building Jim Young had been leasing was sold, so it was a perfect time to build on the lot.
“It’s a nice big lot, with room to grow,” Amanda Young said.
A small store for Young’s retail market store is nearing completion on the east end of the lot.
Young plans to sell seasonal home décor in the building, along with canned and pickled items. She’s been coordinating with local maple syrup producers for maple syrup to sell, also.
Young will have home décor and kitchen items for sale, crafted by local artisans and artists.
She stressed that they are their own business, their own market. She noted that she respects and admires other markets in the area but has no association with any of them.
“We are our own and unique produce market, and we look forward to building our own, unique brand,” Young said. “As people come and the season progresses, we’ll have new things. We’ll keep our produce fresh and local. That’s very important to us.”
By early September, she will have gourds, squash and pumpkins for sale. Mums will also be available.
“All of the fall décor will start to roll in,” Young said. “We’ll also be doing “paint your own pumpkins” for the kids, with the purchase of a small pumpkin.”
Shelf-stable items like potatoes and onions will be available inside the store through December.
Young sources her produce from farms within 45 minutes of the stand. Some days, she visits four farms and other days, she may only stop at one. She said that it depends on what she needs to replenish or what is in season. She is adamant about having fresh items for sale.
“It’s lots of early mornings to stock up, but that’s OK,” she said.
Young, herself, has a large kitchen garden.
“We have beans, peas, onions, pumpkins, gourds. Also, tomatoes and herbs,” she said. “We do bring some of our produce here to sell at the stand.”
Young doesn’t divulge the names of her sources, even when the produce is her own.
Growers that she’s known for a long time, including family friends, are Young’s sources for the produce on sale at the market. She also sources from people that she’s heard who grow great produce and specialize in specific items.
“I like to buy from people who grow things like no one else can,” she said.
Finally Fresh is the first retail partner of The Rustic Oven. Young currently sells Rustic Oven’s traditional and Parmesan garlic sourdough breads. Fresh bread is delivered to the market by Aspen Brunner, owner and baker of The Rustic Oven, on Monday afternoons.
Partnering with The Rustic Oven came about because Jim Young’s and Brunner’s mothers grew up together in the Bonduel schools. Also, Brunner’s uncle is one of Jim Young’s best friends.
“I’ve always loved being outside,” Amanda Young said when asked why she opened the market. “I have a master’s degree in animal science, so I’ve always been outside.”
Amanda Young grew up in northwest Iowa. Her husband grew up south of Bonduel, graduating from Bonduel High School.
“I got up this way doing my internship here, met my husband and haven’t left,” Young said.
Her internship was with Apple Creek Whitetails in herd health. Her husband was raising deer and selling them to Apple Creek, which is how they met.
“We got married and settled here. We live in Bonduel,” Young said.
The couple has three children, Henry, 9; Charlie, 7; and Aspen, 4.
The children enjoy eating the fresh peas and beans from the garden.
“When those things are nice and fresh, they will eat them,” Young said.
Finally Fresh plans to sell fresh-cut Christmas trees. Young noted that they will be very fresh, coming from a local source. When the supply goes down, she’ll simply call her source who will cut new trees and bring them to the market.
The market will stay open through December, then reopen in May, when Young will sell hanging baskets and flowers before the fresh produce season starts.
The market accepts cash or card.
Finally Fresh has a Facebook page. Young said that is the best place for finding out what is available or if something new is coming in. The phone number is 920-609-5149.
