Since setting up her first roadside stand in 2008, Jen Chary, has grown Chary Picker Country Market, into a thriving business which has become a valued and important part of the community.
Chary, who didn’t have a farming background, explained her start and moving to Oakland, Ontario.
“I came from Brantford [and] was a school teacher. I married my husband, who is a part owner of the farm, Chary Produce, and moved here. [Steve] and his brother own it, and his sister helps run it as well. I then had two boys and as they were growing up, we decided to open this market so I could stay home with them. My youngest was three, and my oldest was four and a half five at the time. When we started, we just had a little roadside…where the kids put little tomatoes outside with a cash box. The kids would help me and as we grew, we started to offer more produce from our farm and local farms in Ontario and packaged products, canned goods which were all locally sourced,” said Chary.
However, Chary maintained that a highlight is the people she has met and built relationships with over the past 17 years.
“People are constantly doing their shopping here…every day, twice a week or three times a week. The market has become a staple in our community. When I see people, I call them by their name [and] really enjoyed making those relationships over the years which has been very rewarding and making connections in the community and also getting some business opportunities too. We also have had a chance to help others…[and] donate some of produce to [organizations like] the Blessing Center in Brantford,” she explained.
Along with offering fruits and vegetables grown in Ontario, Chary also has a great selection of meals sourced from a business in Brantford.
“Devlin’s [Country Bistro and Catering]…does all my frozen meals. They make my pies, my tarts, and my salad dressings [and] much of what I have that’s homemade here is made by them. I also carry cinnamon buns from Gennaro [Battista] at Lidz CinaBunz…and through the years, I have made so many connections [and] worked together with other businesses. We have helped each other grow…through social media and word of mouth. And we have always tried to promote local business,” Chary said.
Nevertheless, a big turning point for the market was 2020, with the pandemic.
“That was a big eye opener for me. Suddenly, this little market had these lineups coming down the driveway…with people waiting to come in because they wanted to get something and go back home quickly during the pandemic. That’s when our business started to grow. More and more people discovered us during those years. Some of our customers tell us, especially during the summer months, they just come to us rather than to the grocery store,” she said. “Our customers also have seen the costs go up in big [grocery] store chains because of the tariffs recently, but it doesn’t happen here because we grow a lot of our food right here on farm.”
Chary has also found out that her customers crave a more personal touch in their shopping as well as being educated.
“[Many of our customers] like to be greeted [and] they like that personal communication and that personal touch. I also found that they want to be educated too and want to know where their food comes from,” Chary explained “We now have younger clientele coming in with young children. They tell me that I’d rather give their children some apples that cost a little more than giving them something like ice cream [and] they are happy to know that it’s [healthy food] grown right in our backyards. So, many customers like to know who grows what and where and I can answer them [confidently]…because I know where all the food I sell comes from…and know the farmers, and the business owners.”
Nevertheless, for Chary, the community has been intrinsically important not only for the success of the market, but reinforcing friendships and giving back.
“It has become more than just a business. It’s about friendships [and] getting to know the people that come in and supporting our community. I helped and sponsored two young children in the community…a boy who is seven, rides a dirt bike, and a little girl who is ten drives a go kart…We also do a fundraiser in July for cancer [which] is called Corn for Cancer. This is very personal to me, as I had a nephew who passed away from it,” Chary explained. “We raised $7,000 with Chary Produce matching that…[and] we sent over a total of $14,000. All corn sales went directly to Juravinski. It was a big community event… children were out playing together…we had music and silent raffles…everybody who came out had a great time. We have now been doing this for four years and that’s a big way we give back to the community. It’s just not about [our business or the] market itself; it’s about our community.”
