Local Farm Shifts Beef Business from Restaurants to Retail

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Businesses across our area are making adjustments to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Restaurants aren’t buying as much beef, so a farm in Mooresville is now selling much of its inventory directly to the public.

Possibly losing half their sales was a frightening prospect for Bradley and Nicole Mills, at Mills Family Farm.

“Yeah, we were very concerned, because you know we do have a considerable amount of our business that does go to restaurants,” Bradley Mills says.

But in the past few days, the community has stepped up, thanks in part to a customer’s Facebook post, now with more than 21,000 shares, letting people know the farm needed to sell a thousand pounds of ground beef per week to keep up.

“I didn’t expect it. My phone just kinda went crazy one day and (I) said, ‘Oh my gosh, what’s happening?'” Nicole Mills says.

Now the businesses has shifted to focus on retail instead of restaurants, selling to a long line of drive-thru customers, showing up each time there’s a new stock of meat.

“One, we have social distancing, so we can bring it to your car. We’re not in a crowded area, where we can supply customers,” Bradley Mills says.

He also says people seem to appreciate a farm to fork approach.

“Also, you know, people would like to know where their food comes from, so we’re an all natural, all-local farm,” he says.

Mills Family Farm’s retail store isn’t open every day, so make sure you check here first, before showing up.