Berlin Farm Supply Offers Feed And Much More Now With New Owners

BERLIN – A local family is bringing a longtime Berlin business back to life with a new inventory fresh from the farm.

The familiar Berlin Farm Supply on Broad Street is in the midst of revitalization thanks to the efforts of its new owners, Alan Hudson and his cousins from the Taylor family.  They took over the store in March.

“We’re trying to breathe new life into it,” Hudson said. “We thought we could market some of our own goods from the farm and keep the business going.”

Under the new ownership of the Hudson-Taylor family, the Berlin Farm Supply on Broad Street aims to be a “one-stop shop,” according to co-owner Alan Hudson. Photos by Charlene Sharpe

Under the new ownership of the Hudson-Taylor family, the Berlin Farm Supply on Broad Street aims to be a “one-stop shop,” according to co-owner Alan Hudson. Photos by Charlene Sharpe

He and the Taylors have spent the past two months gradually sprucing up the shop, something Hudson realized was a necessity when he found himself checking inventory with a flashlight. The store now features new lighting, a fresh coat of paint and an ever-expanding inventory. The storeroom in back is filled with horse and livestock feed, while the shop’s front rooms are stocked with farm and garden supplies as well as local produce.

“We really want to push local products,” Hudson said.

The majority of what’s offered comes from one of the family’s farms. A shelf full of canned goods — jams, relishes, salsas, etc. — represents the work of Hudson’s sister. Another family member supplies the store with fresh produce, which right now includes tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupes and squash. A freezer of local beef comes from Hudson’s own Romarlan Farm.

A frozen foods section includes a variety of meats fresh from Hudson’s own Romarlan Farm.

A frozen foods section includes a variety of meats fresh from Hudson’s own Romarlan Farm.

“It’s not organic but it’s all natural,” he said, adding that the grain he fed the steers was what was not used at Burley Oak Brewing Company.

Because the family is full of farmers, Hudson says taking over the store has provided them with a way to get their goods easily to consumers. It also gives area residents a place to buy local products.

“It’s a service to everybody and it helps us too,” he said. “We thought we could make a go of it and eliminate the middle man.”

In addition to the family’s products, the store also offers local cheese and ice cream from Chesapeake Bay Farms.

“We wanted it to be a one-stop shop,” Hudson said.

Along with the selection of new merchandise, Berlin Farm Supply will continue its longstanding tradition of selling feed for farm animals. The store’s horse feed inventory has been expanded to include Purina, Blue Seal and Tribute feeds.

Johnny Baker, a fixture at the store, is still there to help customers load up their purchases.

A healthy selection of jams, salsa relish and honey from Twin Oaks Farm are among the canned goods available.

A healthy selection of jams, salsa relish and honey from Twin Oaks Farm are among the canned goods available.

“Johnny came with the store,” Hudson said. “It’d be hard to do it without him. When people pull up he knows what they want.”

While still making changes to the store, Hudson and the Taylors are just happy they’ve been able to save a piece of the town’s past that dates back to the 1940s.

“It’s history renewed,” Susan Taylor said.

Hudson agreed.

“You hate to see things go away,” he said. “It’s a neat old building.”

For more information look up Berlin Farm Supply on Facebook.

About The Author: Charlene Sharpe

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Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. A graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and the University of Richmond, she spent seven years with the Delmarva Media Group before joining the team at The Dispatch.