On a mission to break up the monotony of the produce season, Rachel Tebbs-Livermore, retail manager of Tebbs Farms & Greenhouses in Williamsport, had an idea in 2021 to create weekly market boxes to keep things exciting for her customers.

Tebbs-Livermore knew that the boxes could not just contain seasonal produce like tomatoes and corn, but had to include other ingredients that customers could use to create famous Tebbs family recipes that had been amassed over their 75 years in the fresh produce industry. Each box includes a recipe with as many produce ingredients as they can source or grow.

In addition, each box contains a locally grown unique produce item that people may not have heard of or been too intimated to try. Yellow and orange watermelon, Yum Yum peppers, black heirloom tomatoes, blueberry milk, okra and donut peaches are a few of the unique items that have been included in the market boxes.

Once the team at Tebbs Farms knew they wanted to include a recipe in each box, they knew they would need more ingredients than their business could provide. That is when Tebbs-Livermore began reaching out to other small businesses in the area.

“I am a firm believer in small business being the lifeline of the economy,” Tebbs-Livermore said. “You will never meet more proud, hardworking people than the people behind a small business.”

Tebbs-Livermore wanted this concept of local small businesses working together to be the backbone of this venture. Some of the local businesses they have worked with include Tony’s Deli, Lycoming Bakery, Nittany Valley Creamery, We Sister’s Bakery, Kathy’s Café, Helmrich’s Seafood, Susquehanna Mills and many more.

Some of the recipes the family has shared in the market boxes include bruschetta, tomato and corn salad, peach cobbler, fresh pasta primavera and roasted sweet corn.

At first, the team at Tebbs Farms assembled about 35 boxes each week. The boxes would consistently sell out, and word of mouth spread quickly. By the end of 2021, that number of weekly boxes increased to 300. Today, 250 full and 50 half boxes are sold each week. Half boxes are new this year and are a great option for single people or couples.

Each box has a theme and a creative name to go with it. Sometimes the theme is built around a certain recipe, and sometimes the team comes up with a theme and then finds a recipe to go with it.

Livermore-Tebbs attributes the success of the market boxes to several factors including not having to stress about meal planning for that night, eating local and supporting small businesses.

Tebbs-Livermore feels the whole experience has brought the business closer to its customer base. Week after week, customers order boxes by name and it gives Tebbs-Livermore and team at Tebbs Farms a chance to greet customers and talk to them.

“Customer service is one of the things that separate us small businesses from big box stores,” said Tebbs-Livermore.

Customer Gail Watkins could not agree more. Watkins has been ordering the boxes since they started in 2021. She says the boxes are a great way for small businesses to come together, especially during these times. Watkins, of Liberty, loves that the boxes include fresh ingredients from the appetizer to the meal to the dessert and that they are family friendly. She also thinks the people at Tebbs Farms are fantastic.

Robin Tebbs, owner of Tebbs Farms & Greenhouses, says that the boxes have been good exposure for the small businesses that have partnered with them. Tebbs says a couple recently came up from Lock Haven and saw that an item included in that week’s basket was from a local restaurant they had never heard of, as they usually frequent chain restaurants when they come to Williamsport. The couple tried the restaurant and loved it, and plan on returning as well as trying other restaurants in the area.

“It’s a great way for other small businesses to get business,” said Tebbs.

Tebbs Farms & Greenhouses is located at 1620 Four Mile Drive, Williamsport. For more information and to get on the email list for the market boxes, go to www.tebbsfarms.com. Emails are sent out each Wednesday at 8 a.m. To reserve your box, you simply reply to the email with your name, phone number, and size of box. Boxes are sold on a first come, first served basis and are picked up on Thursdays.