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Farm to Fork food truck visits city

Organic market on wheels

By ZOË HAGGARD - zhaggard@t-g.com
Posted 4/9/22

Matt and Jessica Waid, along with in-laws Dwayne and Donna Waid, started their food truck, Farm to Fork, last September. And they’ve hit the ground running ever since.  

The Waids own …

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Farm to Fork food truck visits city

Organic market on wheels

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Matt and Jessica Waid, along with in-laws Dwayne and Donna Waid, started their food truck, Farm to Fork, last September. And they’ve hit the ground running ever since.  

The Waids own Big Oak Farm, a family-operated organic market garden with the goal to provide affordable, locally grown organic produce, baked goods and frozen treats.  

Located 5414 Charity Road in Petersburg, Jessica explains how they created the food truck as a way to branch out for customers and the community, instead of being “in the middle of nowhere where there’s nothing to eat.”  

According to Jessica, “It’s been crazy. . . .” “We never expected it to be as busy as it was. The support we’ve gotten has been crazy, too.”  

Most people who come to the food truck are familiar with the Big Oak Farm. “And they were so excited when we were coming to town. It’s made it a lot more accessible for people.”  

Along with branching out, the idea was to use products that are home-grown and in-season.  

For example, there’s no tomatoes in December. But produce like spinach, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, and onions this spring will come straight from the farm and make for delicious meals.  

They pretty much grow everything except corn and white potatoes, according to Jessica. If they can’t source it at the farm, then they go to other local places, always mindful to keep it organic. 

“We try to stay as true to our mission as we can,” she said. For example, they buy pork and poultry from Buckley Farm in Fayetteville as well as baked goods from local Mennonite bakers.  

The Big Oak Farm store opened in the middle of the pandemic in 2020, but they’ve been growing and harvesting produce since 2017. It wasn’t always the couple’s dream to own a farm.  

Rather, the idea sprung from her young son who was diagnosed with several food allergies and sensitivities. The research began.  

“In doing that research, I became really aware of how food is raised and how expensive it is to have to buy organic produce. Sometimes it is not very affordable or accessible. So, I wanted to be able to grow that for my own family as well as be able to share with our community at an affordable cost.”  

“Since then, it’s kind of become a passion.” Jessica adds jokingly, “I hated outside; I hated bugs. I was anti-outside. But now, I’m out there all the time and I love just watching the things grow and harvesting. Doing all that is so fun to me.”  

Typically, she sees an idea for a new recipe then sends it to head cook Jessica O’Neal. “She is fantastic . . . . She’ll whip it up and make it better than it ever intended to be.”  

One of their most popular items is their “Cran-sational” sandwich, which has homemade cranberry sauce, bacon, fresh spinach, turkey, cream-cheese, and a blend of seven cheeses, which O’Neal came up with on her own. 

Striking the proper balance  

On the farm, the Waids home school their four young children. Matt works full-time at Landers Tires in Shelbyville. So, balancing time is still something they’re still trying to figure out in addition to making sure they have the best produce to serve their kids.  

“It’s become a passion of ours, and we love being able to serve the community,” says Jessica. 

Of course, the most challenging part of owning the food truck is space and how much to bring. The first week, they had no idea what to expect coming to town for the first time.  

The trailer is large, but only so much can fit into it. So, they maximize how to pack things and tally up tickets at the end of the week to get an idea of what sold.  

“It’s crazy, too, because stuff that sells one week is not the most popular the next. So, in many ways it’s a guessing game,” she says. “We have to figure out a schedule to stick to because it gets so overwhelming at times, but we’re happy for the support we’re getting.”  

She loves it when people love their food. Yet the most rewarding part has been the relationships they’ve built with the regulars who come back week after week.  

“I’ve met so many people...and now I’m invested in their lives and what they’ve got going on. And that’s probably the most rewarding.”  

Look for the next location of the Big Oak Farm food truck on Facebook and Instagram or call 931- 619-9154 for more information.