Before You Hit The Grocery Store In Tennessee, Check Out These 10 Old-School Produce Stands
Cherokee tomatoes. Purple hull peas, already shelled and frozen.
Fried apple pies sold beside an orchard in the Smoky Mountain foothills.
None of those come from a fluorescent supermarket aisle. They come from roadside stands across Tennessee, where the farm is often just up the road and the sign might be hand-painted.
Some stands open only Friday through Sunday. Others close for winter and pop back up in mid-April like a seasonal TV show.
A few let you pick your own fruit and flowers, which beats pushing a cart with one wobbly wheel.
I love that a simple drive can turn into a treasure hunt for the best ear of corn in the county. So before you grab that plastic clamshell of pale tomatoes, maybe take the long way home.
Your salad has been waiting for this.
1. S. E. Daugherty and Sons Farmstand
Cherokee tomatoes have a fan club, and this stand on Highway 70 South might be its headquarters. The deep, dusky fruit shares space with sweet corn on the cob that disappears fast in summer.
You’ll find this family-owned farmstand on the wooded, pastoral edge of western Davidson County. It feels miles from downtown Nashville, even though it sits inside the city line.
The produce changes with the calendar, so new arrivals show up through the season. Mushrooms have made a comeback here, which is a fun surprise at a roadside stop.
Keep your eyes open for whatever just came in.
Here’s a bonus for planners and wanderers alike. Seasonal pick-your-own flowers and fruit let you harvest straight from the field.
That makes a grocery run feel more like a mini field trip.
The folks behind the counter know their crops well. Ask what’s peaking this week, and you’ll likely leave with a smarter shopping bag.
Friendly advice is part of the deal here.
Got a four-legged co-pilot? Dogs are allowed, and the free parking lot keeps the stop easy.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Sundays open later, from 10 AM to 5 PM. That gives you time to sleep in and still grab dinner vegetables.
Honestly, your Sunday supper deserves Cherokee tomatoes.
Address: 8250 Hwy 70 S, Nashville, TN 37221
2. Hancock Family Farm Market
Soft serve ice cream at a produce stand is the kind of reward system grown-ups need. Buy your green beans, then treat yourself to a cone.
Nobody has to know which came first.
Springfield sits in Robertson County, a farm-heavy area known for rolling fields and tobacco history. This family-owned market on TN-49 East fits right into that rural picture.
Inside, you’ll see fruits and vegetables alongside flowers and even trees. That means you can grab supper ingredients and something for the yard in one trip.
Efficiency never looked so leafy.
Farm-fresh meat is also part of the lineup here. So your tomatoes can have a burger to sit on.
It’s a handy perk for anyone trying to skip the big-box butcher counter.
The space stays clean and neat, and prices are known for being reasonable. Quality holds steady from visit to visit, which matters when you’re feeding a family.
Consistency is underrated.
Saturday afternoons get the biggest crowds. If you like a calmer browse, Tuesday evenings are the quietest stretch.
A restroom on site is helpful after a long country drive.
The market runs Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM. It’s closed Sundays, so plan your ice cream cravings accordingly.
Consider yourself warned.
Address: 7114 TN-49 E, Springfield, TN 37172
3. Lovers Lane Farmstand
With a street name like Lovers Lane, this stand practically asks you to fall for a peach. Good news: the produce makes that easy.
Lebanon is a historic Middle Tennessee town ringed by pastures and cedar glades. Out on a rural road, this little farmstand keeps things simple and seasonal.
This stand operates on a limited weekly schedule. The local tourism bureau lists Friday through Monday, from 9 a.m. until sundown, though hours may vary seasonally.
What will you find? Cherries, peaches, tomatoes, and corn are among the summer favorites here.
That’s basically a cobbler, a salad, and a side dish in one stop.
Freshness is the main draw, and the people running it are known for being friendly. Small stands like this thrive on that personal touch.
You’re buying from neighbors, not a corporate chain.
A couple of practical notes help. There’s no restroom, so plan ahead before the drive.
Delivery isn’t offered either, which feels right for an old-school roadside stand.
Expect a quick visit rather than an all-day outing. Pull over, pick your produce, and get back on the road.
Then go home and brag about your Lovers Lane peaches.
Address: 525 Lovers Ln, Lebanon, TN 37087
4. Loveday Garden Center
Grainger County tomatoes are basically East Tennessee royalty. Finding them stacked at a Knoxville roadside market feels like spotting a celebrity in the checkout line.
Loveday Garden Center sits on Chapman Highway, the road linking Knoxville to the foothills of the Smokies. Drivers heading toward the mountains pass right by, so why not stop?
The name says garden center, but the produce steals the show. Local watermelons, onions, green beans, and corn on the cob fill out the summer lineup.
Those famous tomatoes anchor the whole spread.
Seasonal plants and flowers round things out. You can pick up a hanging basket with your sweet corn.
Your porch and your plate both win.
Timing helps if you dislike crowds. Afternoons on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday get busy.
Weekday mornings tend to be calm, which suits early birds.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Sunday hours are shorter, 9 AM to 4 PM.
Delivery isn’t available, so bring a sturdy bag.
Most stops here are quick, but that doesn’t mean you’ll leave light. A watermelon has a sneaky way of hitching a ride.
Just make sure it’s buckled in.
Address: 8105 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920
5. Jones Orchard
Peach season in West Tennessee has a favorite address, and it’s on TN-3 North in Millington. Orchards and farm fields define this small town north of Memphis.
Jones Orchard pairs a produce market with pick-your-own experiences. You can grab a ready basket or head into the field and choose your own.
Both options beat a sad supermarket bin.
The vegetable side holds its own too. Tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, and cucumbers get plenty of love here.
Shoppers often find the prices match or beat grocery stores.
Don’t skip the shelves of homemade jarred goods. Preserves and other pantry treats make easy gifts.
They also make toast feel fancy on a Tuesday.
The market keeps generous hours, open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. That includes Sundays, which is rare for a farm stop.
Weekend shoppers, rejoice.
Saturday mornings through Saturday afternoons get crowded, along with Sunday afternoons. Weekdays are much quieter if you want space to browse.
Mondays look especially peaceful.
Plan on a quick visit if you’re just shopping the stand. Picking your own takes longer, of course.
Either way, bring an extra bag for the neighbors you’ll suddenly want to impress.
Address: 7170 TN-3 N, Millington, TN 38053
6. Carver’s Orchard
Fried apple pie might be the best reason to drive a mountain highway. At Carver’s Orchard in Cosby, it comes with a side of Appalachian charm.
Cosby is a tiny unincorporated community in Cocke County, right in the foothills of the Smokies. The orchard sits along Cosby Highway, and the setting feels like a trip to an earlier era.
Bushels of apples are the stars here. During the harvest, you’ll see dozens of them lined up in the apple house.
Picking a favorite variety is the hardest job of the day.
The country market also carries fresh produce beyond apples. So you can stock up on vegetables while you’re filling a bag with fruit.
That’s a well-rounded grocery run.
Hungry? There’s a restaurant right beside the orchard.
That makes it an easy lunch stop for anyone exploring the eastern side of the Smokies.
Back to those fried pies, because they deserve a second mention. They’re a big reason people make the trip.
Grab one for the road and maybe one for later.
Carver’s is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM. That gives you flexibility if you’re heading to the mountains.
Just leave trunk space for apples.
Address: 3462 Cosby Hwy, Cosby, TN 37722
7. Apple Valley Orchard
Bag your own apples or grab them pre-bagged, your choice. Apple Valley Orchard lets you be as picky as you please.
This Cleveland spot is the orchard location and original store and bakery. It sits on Weese Road SE among the rolling ridges of Bradley County.
The drive itself is a scenic warm-up.
Honeycrisp apples are a big draw, and serious canners haul them home by the bushel. Apple butter makers, take note.
A big batch starts with great fruit.
The bakery side is worth your attention too. Apple pies here earn plenty of praise.
Jelly, jam, and honey also line the shelves for your pantry.
Variety is the name of the game in the apple shed. You’ll find a collection of apples to compare and choose from.
It’s a fun way to learn which kind you actually like best.
Fall is an obvious time to visit, but check in anytime the shop is open. A pie in the car smells amazing on the ride home.
Try not to eat it at a stoplight.
Address: 351 Weese Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323
8. Jared Farms
Purple hull peas, already shelled and frozen, might be the greatest gift a farm stand can offer. Somebody else did the hard part, and you just cook them.
Jared Farms sits on TN-18 in Medon, a tiny community in Madison County. It’s deep in West Tennessee farm country, where fields stretch in every direction.
The stand opens from mid-April until November. Inside that window, it’s open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Winter visitors will have to wait for spring.
Produce is the main event, with plenty of fresh vegetables arriving as the season builds. Seedless watermelon shows up in summer too.
Early spring brings a slower trickle of crops before things ramp up.
Flowers add color to the lineup. Grab a bunch for the kitchen table while you’re there.
They pair nicely with a bowl of fresh peas, if you ask me.
Canned relish and jam are also on hand. They’re perfect for stocking the pantry or bringing to a cookout.
A jar of relish has saved many a plain hot dog.
The atmosphere is friendly, and the selection keeps you browsing. It’s the kind of stop that makes a country drive worthwhile.
Just don’t forget a cooler for those frozen peas.
Address: 2130 TN-18, Medon, TN 38356
9. Scott’s Farm Market
Homemade ice cream and fresh strawberries under one roof? That’s a dessert plan with zero effort required.
Scott’s Farm Market sits on TN-107 in Unicoi, a small Appalachian town in Upper East Tennessee. The valley soil here is rich, and the produce shows it.
Strawberries and tomatoes are popular picks when they’re in season. Plenty of other fresh vegetables fill the stand as the months roll on.
It’s a solid alternative to the supermarket produce section.
Honey and preserves round out the shelves. The blueberry preserves are a favorite worth hunting down.
Spread some on a biscuit and thank the mountains.
Then there’s the ice cream, which turns a quick errand into a treat. Few roadside produce stands offer both.
Kids and grown-ups alike will approve.
The market operates seasonally, with hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays are closed.
In 2026, the market closes after October 31 and plans to reopen in April.
Address: 600 TN-107, Unicoi, TN 37692
10. R&J Produce
Expect more than you’d guess from a produce stand, and you’ll be right on target. R&J Produce likes to surprise people with its selection.
This longtime market sits along Scott Highway in Helenwood. The rural community rests on the Cumberland Plateau in Scott County, near some of Tennessee’s wildest outdoor country.
Locally grown fruits and vegetables form the heart of the place. Freshness is a big reason people keep coming back.
Other goodies fill out the shelves beyond the basics.
Seasonal plants add another layer. Springtime gardeners can shop for starts while picking up dinner.
That’s a two-for-one errand that saves gas.
The market is open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Sundays are closed, so plan your weekend stops around that.
Delivery isn’t offered.
Friday and Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Weekday mornings and evenings tend to be quiet.
If you like a relaxed browse, aim for midweek.
Most trips here are quick, but curiosity might slow you down. Take a lap and see what’s new before you check out.
Then head home with a bag that beats any grocery store haul, and a smug little smile to match.
Address: 12206 Scott Hwy, Helenwood, TN 37755