Tega Hill Farms
Mark & Mindy Robinson give a new meaning to “growing in love”, sharing their passions for agriculture and partnering in business over the last 21 years as owners of Tega Hill Farm located in South Carolina.
Tega Hill Farm opened its doors in early 1970, establishing itself locally and quickly becoming known for their production of delicious, ripe homegrown tomatoes. When Mark & Mindy purchased the farm in 1999, they continued growing the popular Tega Hills tomatoes, but began to elevate their agribusiness by experimenting with raising lettuces, herbs, and other kinds of vegetables in various hydroponic systems.
Hydroponic gardening is the alternative method of growing plants without soil, leaving the water to do all the work. The farm uses greenhouses and high tunnels to produce lettuce, microgreens, edible flowers; tender greens such as arugula, kale, chard, watercress; and seasonal produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, onions, carrots, squash, and various peppers. Using these controlled environment techniques allows Tega Hill to provide a year-round supply to local customers.
“We are actually humbled and thankful to God every day we walk into the greenhouses and see lettuce, tomatoes, microgreens and other produce growing, ready to be harvested and delivered to restaurants to taken to local farmers’ markets.” says Mindy.
With only 9 employees total, the staff at Tega Hill Farms is pretty tight knit - which made it difficult when COVID-19 led to furloughs of all non-family employees. “We have three kids and over the years, they have all worked on the farm - sold produce at farmers’ markets, and made restaurant deliveries for us, but the older two children no longer work for us, and our youngest daughter will be a senior in high school this fall… so she worked for free” Mindy explained.
Mindy went on the explain that when restaurants closed in March, it led to a 90% drop in their total revenue. Since then, as some restaurants continued with pickup and delivery option, and then began to re-open at 50%, they have stabilized at a 50-60% reduction in sales to restaurants. “It has been a significant shift for us. We have, however, seen an increase in farmers’ market sales and sales from our on-farm stand”
Today, Tega Hill continues to sell produce to 50-60 restaurants on a monthly basis around the Charlotte area. Legion Brewing Southpark is currently purchasing 2,000 pounds of lettuce each year, along with micro greens, vegetables and herbs that can be found in a variety of dishes found on our current menu, including all of our salads. Executive Chef Gene Briggs has also been personally purchasing Tega Hill Farms produce for his own kitchen since 2003.
Visit Tega Hill Farms at tegahillsfarms.com to shop their variety of greens, produce, flowers, and honey available to be delivered right to your doorstep using the Barn2Door App.
Follow Legion Brewing SouthPark on social media for all upcoming news, and be on the lookout for more stories on our local growers and purveyors.
