Earlier this week, my sister texted me a picture of creamy blueberry ice cream in a delectable-looking waffle cone, and I immediately responded, Where can I get that?!? Surprisingly enough, the ice cream was located in Unicoi, Tennessee, at a place called Scott’s Farm Market. A mere 25 minutes from our home in Elizabethton, I called up my husband, made the necessary plans, and soon enough we were on the road to Scott’s.
The outside of Scott’s Farm Market
An extension of Scott Strawberry and Tomato Farms, Scott’s Farm Market has more than just homemade ice cream, though with my sweet tooth that was enough to draw me there. Scott’s offers visitors an array of fruits and vegetables all picked during peak times to ensure freshness and flavor. Some of Scott’s most popular times include fresh strawberries and blueberries, crunchy green beans, ripe tomatoes, and sweet yellow corn. In addition to produce, Scott’s also sells specialty items such as bales of straw, pumpkins, and preserves made with Scott’s Strawberries and Scott Unaka Mountain Blueberries.
Blueberries at Scott’s Farm Market
Besides being a family business, one of the best things about Scott’s is their motto: “If we didn’t grow it, we know who did.” Being able to know exactly where your produce is coming from in this age, is nearly impossible. Honestly, as I millennial, I hardly give it as much thought as I should. That said, Scott Strawberry and Tomato Farms, Inc. either grows their own produce or gathers their produce from other local growers.
The Basics
Open from the beginning of strawberry season (towards the end of April or early May) to October 31 when fall items like pumpkins come to an end. As for specific times, Scott’s is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Personally, we only spent about 30 minutes at Scott’s and that was more than enough time to take in all Scott’s Farm Market, so unless you’re planning to explore the packaging areas, you can expect this little adventure to take less than an hour. Feel free to check out Scott’s Farm Market Facebook or their website www.scottfarmstn.com. Also, if you’d like to know more about Scott’s before venturing over, call them at (423) 743-7511.
Expectations versus Reality
I’m going to be honest, I expected more than what I got. Don’t get me wrong, if you’ve never been to Scott’s and you’re local to the Unicoi area or passing through, you should stop by, but don’t expect rows upon rows of growing produce within easy viewing distance. Prior to getting to Scott’s, I hadn’t seen any photographs of the place, and for some reason, I had conjured up in my head that I’d be walking through aisles of blueberries (similar to apple orchard aisles), picking my own blueberries. I just knew I was going to make another great summer memory with my husband and get a couple cute photographs in the process… that wasn’t the case. While my husband and I still made a fun seasonal memory, Scott’s Farm Market was not near as grand as I thought it would be. It truly is a smaller farmer’s market for those who appreciate “the little things in life.”
Unfortunately, we got there late in the day at around 4:30, and a lot of the produce had already been sold. Personally, my husband and I had no plans to buy any produce (besides a carton of blueberries), so we weren’t upset. Recommendation: If you want some of the more popular produce such as the sweet corn, then you should make plans to visit Scott’s early in the morning before most of the “good stuff” gets done.
Produce at Scott’s Farm Market
Friendly Folk
When we walked into Scott’s Farm Market, we were immediately greeted by multiple friendly faces. Always curious about the places I visit, I asked one of the employees all sorts of questions related to the produce. That’s when I discovered that tomatoes (there were many varieties offered in the Farm Market) are actually Scott’s Strawberry and Tomato Farms, Inc.’s largest crop! I was informed that Scott’s grows State Half Runner green beans, handpicks them daily, and sales them at the market. Because the corn was sold out (a Honey Select variety with sweet flavor), I asked if it was usually a favorite, and the employee said it was one of their best sellers! Lastly, I inquired about the exact whereabouts of those blueberry aisles I’d so vividly imagined. Turns out, they do exist, just not in close proximity to the Farm Market. While the employee did explain we could visit the package facilities, she didn’t give us clear directions on those dreamy blueberry aisles, so my husband and I didn’t get a chance to visit them this time around.
Variety of Tomatoes at Scott’s Farm Market
After picking out a carton of blueberries, we headed to the ice cream counter to satisfy my sweet tooth. When we stepped up to the counter, a young sweet girl asked my husband and I shyly if we’d just been married – for what it’s worth I was wearing a white dress and Logan was wearing a suit. We just laughed it off, and I kindly told her we’d been married over a year-and-a-half. The nice girl proceeded to offer my husband and I samples of their homemade ice cream, and she shared her personal ice cream favorites to help us along in our decision making. All of the employees as Scott’s Farm Market were extremely kind, and I think those workers were part of what made our Scott’s experience so great!
Ice Cream, Blueberries, and a Bottle of Coca-Cola
After taking a couple of photos outside on the adorable front porch, my husband and I entered Scott’s Farm Market, and my eyes were immediately drawn to the many rows of fresh blueberries along the right side wall of the market.
I spent many minutes eyeing the berries, admiring the fresh produce before picking out the perfect carton for my husband and me.
toasted coconut homemade ice cream
After sitting the blueberries on one of the counters to be purchased, we headed over to the ice cream counter to sample and buy a couple cones. My husband opted for the blueberry homemade ice cream inside a waffle cone with – wait for it – gummy bears on top! 
Yes, my husband eats his ice cream the same way a child would, but that’s just one of the things I love about him! I ended up getting the toasted coconut homemade ice cream in a waffle bowl, and it was delicious. I talked my husband into giving me a sample of his blueberry ice cream, and although I favored my coconut, that blueberry was so fresh and creamy! To go with our ice cream, my husband got us a glass bottle of Coca-Cola. There were other drink options available, but my husband always insists on getting Coke when it’s available in the bottle. He says it’s the best way to drink a Coke. I happen to agree. Tip: If you have a bigger family, you can purchase the ice cream in a freezer by the pint then ask for a couple of paper bowls to split it up. This is a cheaper option than getting individual scoops of ice cream! Enjoy!
As we finished up our ice cream (my husband eats about 10 times faster than I do!), we walked around the produce once more, then checked out with our blueberries. Even though my husband isn’t a fan of eating actual blueberries – just the smashed up ones in the ice cream – I couldn’t resist buying a quart of blueberries for $6.00!
Harvested during the peak season for maximum sweetness, Scott Unaka Mountain Blueberries are picked, rinsed, and sold fresh daily in the market while they are available, and let me tell you, they are wonderfully sweet. They are the best blueberries I’ve ever had. Right after us, a woman came in the store to buy an entire crate for $96, and another lady purchased a quart of blueberries to make a pie while we were there. Personally, I’ve just been eating my blueberries by the handfuls! They are so good that way!
An End to This Adventure
Despite the small scale of Scott’s Farm Market, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there. If you’re fairly local, a trip to Scott’s can be accomplished on a weekday afternoon after work. In fact, that’s what my husband and I opted to do, and it worked out great. Of course I recommend trying to get there as early as possibly if you are interested in purchasing any specific produce. Other than that, enjoy your experience at Scott’s Farm Market.
Me sampling a berry… or two…
Take advantage of the outdoor seating, grab a cone of homemade ice cream, sample a berry or two. You’ll come home with a new memory and maybe even some delicious seasonal produce. Let me know in the comments below if you end up visiting Scott’s Farm Market or if you’ve been there already, and as always feel free to connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!
Until next time my darlin’,
Caroline Craft
