Will Mastin and Karl Brantley thought there must be a better option for buying fresh produce than what was available in big market stores. Together, they purchased property and equipment in Baldwin County and started Local Appetite Growers. Today, Local Appetite Growers are the premier growers of hydroponic lettuces, leafy greens, specialty produce, and herbs. What they don’t grow themselves, they source from other local growers in the area. 

Each week, Will and Karl deliver to local restaurants and markets in the Eastern Shore area as well as the eastern side of Mobile. They even have a local distributor from New Orleans that purchases their goods. This encompasses about 50% of their business sales and the rest is through their home delivery subscription service. 

Customers can sign up to receive Local Appetite’s Weekly Bag of fresh produce. Depending on the season, you can expect different varieties of lettuces, tomatoes, radishes, greens beans, okra, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, herbs, and farm fresh eggs. They are adding sunflowers and other flowers to the delivery bag mix. They even have an early crop of local peaches and blueberries available, compliments of our warmer spring temperatures. 

Will grew up in Spanish Fort and was a landscape architect before joining Karl, who is from Daphne and has a more extensive farming background. When asked what led to growing hydroponically, Will said ”It’s a better way of growing, and you get cleaner lettuce.” Local Appetite Growers utilize a regenerative method of farming that constantly builds the soil back.  Will said “Tilling destroys the soil. We found by experience that this is a better way of farming. The soil just gets better and better.”

Local Appetite Growers is beginning to host small groups on their property. So far, they have had reunions, birthday parties, celebration of life events, and a few small dinner parties on site. They are adding facilities to better accommodate up to 100 people and expect to host larger groups soon. Think open-air event space in  the middle of a working farm that features the food they grow. Sounds delicious, fun, and different! 

Check out Local Appetite Growers website where you can subscribe to local weekly bags delivery program. You can also reach them via email.

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