Mia's Market Plants Success
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Katy Beth and Mia Effler greet customers with a smile at Union County Farmers Market
Mia Effler is eleven years old and can be recognized by her hard work, dedication, and success in her own business. A sixth grader at Horace Maynard Middle School, she enjoys soccer and fishing on Norris Lake, but with the help and support of family, Mia invests much of her time planting, picking, and selling produce for her business, Mia’s Market.
Mia’s Market is a family affair. Her parents, Jared and Mary Effler, along with older sister Katy Beth, all pitch in to help. “It is a family effort,” Mia says. Everybody, including grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles pitch in where needed. Whether it be in the garden planting or plowing or at the farmer’s market vending, she can count on their assistance.
Mia has only been at it a little over a year, and her success is profound. She began the idea of growing and selling fresh produce as a way to save and purchase her own golf cart. Quickly, she met her goal and saw the need to continue and grow. Growth was rapid in demand for freshly grown goods from a sweet girl who puts in hard work and serves with a smile.
This year the family began planting in March. The Market will offer several varieties of peppers, tomatoes, okra, potatoes, beans, squash, cabbage, peas, onions, and more throughout the season. Advertising is done via Facebook on her page “Mia’s Market” and by word of mouth around town. She mainly focuses her sales at the Union County Farmers Market in Maynardville on Saturdays. The farmer’s market kicked off on May 4th and will continue every Saturday thru October 5 at Wilson Park from 10:00am to 1:00pm. This year Mia is in hopes of expanding to a few other markets as well.
Although the effort invested is dependent upon the crop harvest season and weather, it is not the usual to see such a youngster as driven to invest sweat and blisters into a business and balance this large amount of work as Mia, even with the capacity of family support. There is typically something to do every day spring, summer, and fall seasons; ground prep, planting, tilling, picking, traveling, selling, advertising, and purchasing supplies and equipment. The list is endless, really.
The foremost goal of Mia’s Market is to provide locals with Union County grown vegetables and produce. New items this year include farm fresh eggs and sweet corn from a hefty patch planted in early spring.
Mia says, “I have learned so much through Mia’s Market, how vegetables are grown, how to interact with people, and how big the demand is for fresh vegetables.” She is interested in attending college with a major in business, but no doubt she will stick to her roots in following her dreams to a success in whatever field she chooses when the time comes.
Mia says, “I just want to send a huge thank you to everyone who has supported Mia’s Market.” With a grateful heart, a bright smile, and a full support of family love, you can guarantee fresh, locally grown products from Mia’s Market. This young lady will no doubt be a success in any endeavor she tackles.
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