Brightside: The Farmacy Market Growth
MILFORD, Del. – More and more food enthusiasts with a sustainable mindset are flocking to the growing food haven, the Farmacy market. A food market in Milford that’s providing access to unique ingredients, high-quality produce, and artisan products while also promoting the idea that “Food Is Medicine.” One of the owners, Patrick Hemlick says, “Our mission is to bring the most nutritionally dense food to our community and that is so very important. So the way I think about it, is we’re changing our community one bite at a time.”
Fresh, fine, sustainable, local foods; words the Milford community would use to describe the Farmacy market. It’s a growing food market where the idea that “Food Is Medicine” gets a whole new meaning. “Whether they have dietary restrictions, gluten-free, lactose-free, dairy-free, whatever it is, giving them the option to be able to support and be able to find those items here,” says wife of Patrick, and co-owner, Chantel Hemlick.
Patrick and Chantel, husband and wife duo teamed up with a family friend, and successful business owner, Sherry Shupe, to create the Farmacy market. Between the Hemlick’s passion for fresh and local food and Sherry’s passion for local and sustainable practices, they’re giving the community a brighter future, through food. “I want to provide the best ingredients so sourcing locally and also sourcing from around the U.S. and the world, just the top products ethical brands that have a like-minded mission where food truly is medicine,” says Sherry. Patrick adds, “Milford is going to continue to be that shining beacon of how we revitalize that food system and revitalize our community.”
For the Hemlick’s, their journey to open this store came with many health trials and tribulations; Chantel battled stage three cancer back in 2017. “I didn’t know what to do with myself I had a loss of control in that situation, how do I help her so I started a very small garden and that’s really where our healthy journey began,” says Patrick.
After their successful produce business that sprouted from their passion to find healthier food, Chantel is healthy, and hoping to help others find their path to a healthy lifestyle through the finest quality produce, seafood, meats, cheese, bakery, sweets, and artisan products. She says, “Giving people the opportunity to experiment and try things that might help them reduce their symptoms so that we can focus on more of that eating healthy and providing our bodies with what we essentially need.”
The trio focuses on offerings from local farms and businesses. However, even if it’s some items can’t be found locally, they actively search for small-batch vendors using sustainable farming practices, high-quality ingredients, with humanely raised animals. Furthering their other mission to better educate consumers on what they’re buying, and what they’re putting into their bodies. Patrick explains, “You go into the grocery store and it says farm fresh, that’s just a buzzword, what does that mean, consumers don’t know.” He goes on to say, “So to be able to explain to the consumer who the farmer is, introduce the families, help them to reconnect with their food has just been so fun.”
While the Farmacy Market also helps to bridge the gap between the end of farmer market season and the next season, the repeat customers along with new ones are a true testament to the success of the work they’re doing and their exponential growth in the short amount of time they’ve been open. “Here we know your name and you matter here,” says Patrick.
Sherry, who is also the owner of Fur Baby Pet Resort, says they’re always looking for partners and networks to better provide customers with what they need. Their online store was recently launched, and they’re continuing to look for ways to expand their services and offerings.
To check out their store, visit the store’s website, or check out their Facebook page.
