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Dave Franklin unloading plants

IT BEGAN IN 1992

Newcastle Fruit & Produce Market's Dave Franklin developed a passion for plants and produce early on while working at a produce stand over 30 years ago in Seattle's famous Pike's Market.

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Vibrant flowers and flavorful produce freshly harvested by local farmers were a daily reminder of how connected people, sun, soil, and plants truly are. The fact that friendships could be forged over chats about berries and Yakima peaches made a lasting impression.

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It was this experience that created a life's work of connecting people to the source of the food they eat and flowers they grow. Along with long-time friends and business partners, Dave opened the business now known as Newcastle Fruit & Produce Company (affectionately known in the neighborhood as "the fruit stand").

STARTING OUT

Starting out, the striped tent and some very, shall we say, loud fence signs made the market hard to miss in the neighborhood. The support was so strong that it became apparent that we needed more plants, more trees, more everything. But not just anything: more local and premium produce, more unique fruit, more hard-to-find plants, trees, and landscape essentials. And more great people! As we've grown, so has our community of loyal customers who support us to this day. The alchemy created through the combination of produce, plants, and people is what sets us apart from corporate-owned stores.

Newcastle Fruit & Produce Co. 2017

The original striped tent made the market instantly recognizable.

30 YEARS LATER

From the start, Dave recognized that the success of the market came down to the people: our customers and our team of produce and garden experts.

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We’ve never forgotten that. That’s why we’re committed to offering personable and knowledgeable customer service while also creating a casual environment where everyone feels valued and welcome.

 

As Dave frequently says: "It's the produce. It's the plants. It's the people".

Dave reflects on winning the 2021 Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Mayor's award.

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