Mixon Fruit Farms celebrates fall, opens inn
By ANDREA SHAY
A woman looks at gift baskets from Thankful Heart Creations at the recent Mixon Fruit Farms Harvest Festival.
Last week Mixon Fruit Farms held their Harvest Festival Craft Fair at the local groveside store on 27th Street East in Bradenton. It featured over 80 vendors that lined the farms’ outdoor area and packinghouse along with live entertainment from Mike Sales, Erica Currtucio, KC and the Sunshine Dancers, Heat MSA, Jaszewska School of Performing Artz, Moriah, Harmony B, Bonnie Gray and the Southeast Chamber Orchestra. Those who attended the event and shopped had a chance to win a $100 gift card for Mixon Fruit Farms.
According to Janet Mixon, who owns and runs Mixon Fruit Farms along with her husband, they try to hold community events on a regular basis, and they see events like this as a win-win for themselves and all the local vendors who participate. Mixon’s holds another seasonal celebration — an orange blossom festival — near the end of February or the beginning of March. They’ve also recently held events like the “Taste of Mixon’s” in which visitors get to sample the store’s signature delicious foods, and also held a chili cook-off with Southeast High School’s culinary arts students.
Mixon Fruit Farms has been in business for 78 years, and during that time they’ve diversified what they offer the community. “Making magical Mixon memories” for customers is what the staff and owners try to provide. They want people to have a unique experience at the store and at the grove.
“We have something for everybody,” said Mixon. “We have ice cream, a deli and homemade fudge.” They also have a pavilion, a one-acre pond with koi fish, tram tours, and they share some of the space in the grove with Wildlife Inc. that features the Florida Wildlife Care & Education Center.
Along with many side attractions, there is also a main store, which is — as Mixon puts it — very eclectic. “It’s an attraction just to be at the store,” she said.
In August they completed The Farmhouse Inn, a beautiful, rustic onsite lodge right in the grove. Because they frequently hold weddings in the grove, the Farmhouse Inn has mainly been booked and enjoyed by wedding parties.
Mary Zigman poses with the stand for Apple Butter Mike, which she runs with her husband.
In addition, Mixon said that with the investment of her daughter, Julie Busa, Mixon Fruit Farms has begun planting 3,000 organic bamboo plants. For the future, they want to harvest the bamboo for food and potentially for use in clothing, fabric and flooring.
Before they offer the bamboo for sale as a food product, they will receive training from a chef on how to cook and prepare it. It can be used in shakes and smoothies, and it’s already well known for lowering bad cholesterol, strengthening immunity, fighting cancer, improving cardiovascular health and assisting with weight loss.
Mixon Fruit Farms is located at 2525 27th Street E., Bradenton. To order online, go to mixon.com. You can call 941-748-5829 or 800-608-2525.
Knitted caps for sale by vendor Crochet by Marge.
Patio lanterns and wind chimes are sold by Connie’s Bottle Works at a booth at the Mixon Fruit Farms Harvest Festival Craft Fair.
ANDREA SHAY PHOTOS
Monica Lord owns Button Beauties, Victorian and vintage jewelry.
