Special Growers, East TN Makers Market

by Amy Campbell


S9:E15. 04/23/2022

Special Growers, East TN Makers Market, Debra Dean's Peanut Gallery and fourteen-year-old Miller Dean's Squeezy's business.

Today, we are setting the table with special growers, an East TN makers market, and a young entrepreneurial fellow who has his own flavored tea and lemonade stand. Today, our guests are Kent Davis, one of the parents who created a non-profit organization called Special Growers in Maryville, TN. Special Growers grow culinary herbs and fresh-cut flowers. In addition, they partner with several regional restaurants and offer meaningful job training and employment to special needs individuals post-high school. We also visit with Debra and Miller Dean. Debra is a baker, a maker, and one of the founders of the ETMM markets held biannually on the campus of Maryville College. I love to feature young entrepreneurial individuals through regional food or agriculture on this show. We also visit with Miller Dean, Debra’s fourteen-year-old son, who has a flavored tea and lemonade booth at these markets.

Links:

Special Growers: https://www.specialgrowers.com/

East Tennessee Makers Market links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryvilleMakersMarket/ Instagram: @Easttennesseemakersmarket

Squeezy’s Fresh Lemonade and Tea: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069262149891

Debra and Miller Dean. Photo: Amy Campbell 2022.

Employees and participants with Special Growers. Photo: Amy Campbell 2021.

Kent Davis of Special Growers. Photo: Amy Campbell, 2021.