Indian Summer Farms

Neil Combee and Lewis King come from families that have been farming in Polk County for generations. In the past, they followed the traditional method of selling their fruits and vegetables to brokers who would distribute the produce to stores. Now Combee and King, friends for decades, are taking their crops directly to the people. On Thursday, their families opened a produce market, Indian Summer Farms, at the corner of Knights Station Road and Galloway Road in the Griffin area, northwest of Lakeland. The property is one of several Combee's family owns in the area. Combee, 50, said the guiding principle behind the market is providing fresh, locally grown produce at lower prices than customers would find in grocery stores. The appeal of locally produced food has grown in recent years, spurred by both nutritional and environmental concerns. "Locavores" strive to eat only food grown within a certain radius of their homes.