At Cornett Farm Fresh (CFF) in London, Ky., “If it were any fresher, it would still be in the field.”

That’s their slogan, after all, but it’s more than just a flashy headline.  

“Instead of spending two or three days on a truck and then two or three days in a warehouse, the product is usually here within six to 18 hours from being picked,” said Rhonda Cornett, owner of CFF, a KFB Certified Farm Market.

On a visit to their brand-new store space in early summer, shelves were brimming with buckets of fresh strawberries straight from their 300-acre farm (ran by her husband, Brent).

“People didn't know strawberries could taste like this, because they're not picked green, they're picked ripe,” Rhonda said as she bit into a tender berry. “The consumer can see a shelf life of a minimum at least a week more than what they’re used to. So, the customer is willing to pay a quarter more a pound for something, because they know that the longevity of the product and the quality of the product is better.”

CFF shoppers are treated to a one-stop-shop approach, with an emphasis on locally made products.

“We’re up to 43 Kentucky Proud vendors in the store, from meat and produce to Woodstock Lavender Co. to Rock Bottom Soap,” Rhonda said.

CFF sells more than groceries and dry goods, however; the new location also boasts flowers, a deli, a farm-to-table café, and a bakery. The café serves up country cooking six days a week (Monday – Saturday), a convenience many shoppers enjoy.

“I told my chef that I want down-home meals that you would get from your mom or your grandma,” Brenda said. “Nothing weird that we can't pronounce. Nothing that a farmer or a papaw is going to come in here and say, ‘I don't even know what that is.’”

The menu features staples like cheeseburgers and French fries to more unique offerings, like catfish sandwiches and fried green tomatoes. On opening day April 26, the restaurant sold 82 pounds of chicken livers!

The staff at CFF pride themselves on the convenience factor and providing exceptional customer service.

“We break and string beans for [our customers], and they love that,” Rhonda said. “Some people are too busy, and some are not able to. A lot of our older clientele that used to do a lot of canning can't do it these days because they've got arthritis in their hands or they're not strong enough to lift their canners anymore. So, we can do things for them and they're tickled to death to still have what they grew up having.”

Humble beginnings

While this KFB Certified Farm Market has recently undergone explosive growth, this bustling business grew out of one small seed that was planted in 2020. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for food products far outpaced supply, leading to sparsely stocked shelves in grocery stores across the country. The Cornetts set up shop in their barn, selling a few basic produce items to locals. Before long, they were renting a space closer to town, an old lawnmower shop that they flipped into a farmer’s market in about a weeks’ time.

“People really were into ‘know your farmer, know your food’ because of everything pandemic-wise and lack of availability,” Rhonda said. “And people were, for the first time, more concerned about who handled their food on the way to their plate, too.”

Business soared. CFF operated out of that small shop for four seasons before opening their new location in London, Ky., this spring.

In the past few months, CFF has swelled from less than ten employees to 32.

“We’re brand spanking new here, and still very much working through the growing pains and the kinks,” Rhonda said. “I think we've had a 70% growth rate every year for the last three years. We are growing faster than we can handle it.”

The market’s successes recently earned them a 2024 Pacesetter Award by the Kentucky Small Business Development Center. Out of 360,000 small businesses in Kentucky, CFF was one of 19 recipients.  

The store will continually evolve and grow as the Cornett family adds more Kentucky Proud vendors and products. If you’re ever in the London area, be sure to stop in at 319 Hwy 192 West, London, Kentucky 40741.