Story & Photos By Larry H. Oskin
National Women’s Small Business Month takes place each year during the month of October. This is a time to recognize the myriad achievements of our country’s female entrepreneurs and the positive impact they are making on jobs and the economy. This is a month to celebrate all small women-owned businesses, so we are here to applaud all that Basting and Fielding have done for our community. Kim Fielding notes, “We want to say hell yeah! … Congratulations to all of the women’s owned small businesses here in Clermont! We pray for all of us to succeed, support each other, stay healthy and thrive!”
Kim’s Cabbage Patch has been happily treating everyone in South Lake to farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, specialty foods, plants, flowers and love for the past 20 years! Kim Fielding was manager of the original Clermont Cabbage Patch for one year, before she and Suzi Basting bought it from the previous owner. Located near Downtown Clermont on busy Highway 50, thousands of customers have become very loyal fans.
Kim Fielding and Suzi Basting have been together for 28 years. Fielding is originally from Georgia and Basting is from Ohio. They first met in Fort Meyers, before moving to the Tampa area. Fielding worked in the corporate produce industry for Fresh Point Restaurant Supply over 8 years, while Basting worked for the Department of Corrections for over 15 years. As business partners, they are now very loyal Clermont, South Lake and Florida fans!
Kim’s Pumpkin Patch: They have become a special seasonal go-to place for every season and holiday, especially Halloween. They are currently well-stocked with pumpkins, gourds, straw, scarecrows, corn stalks, bales of hay, seasonal flowers and plants. Many young families bring their children for photo opportunities in their beautifully decorated fall season areas that will remain up through the Thanksgiving holiday. Bring your kids, grandkids, families and cameras to make each visit fun, colorful and memorable.
Seasonal Updates: Coming soon will be farm fresh Christmas trees, poinsettias and all of the year- for 8 years end holiday treats. You need to be ready to visit them weekly for your specialty fruits, vegetables and foods besides their decoration for Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Spring, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Summer.
COVID-19 Challenges: They were doing extremely well until the Coronavirus pandemic hit. While they offer a safe, clean outdoor shopping space, they needed to protect themselves and their staff. They closed and quarantined for 20 days. Today, they practice safe social distancing, while they and their team all wear facial masks. Customers are encouraged to wear face masks, yet they are not required. They busily clean and sanitize everything, every day.
Always Farm Fresh Resources: Everything they offer is farm fresh and affordable! They buy as much as possible from local area resources. From eggs, meats, specialty Amish foods, sauces, dressings, fruits, vegetables, honey, flowers, colorful plants and seasonal decorations; they do their best to provide better quality, more diversity and different products than the normal retail venues. They proudly offer fresh new flowers for every season and holiday. They also like to help us all celebrate each time of the year with fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables like peaches, strawberries, corn, onions and more. Just last week, an 18-wheeler arrived early with thousands of beautiful new pumpkins. So, Fielding and Basting took out their forklift and pallet jack to unload the entire truckload by themselves.
Unfortunate Challenges: Besides, COVID-19, their storefront location was broken into and robbed one night, to really set them back financially. Two weeks later, their truck and trailer were stolen from their property. Fortunately, some of their local friends and fans started a GoFundMe project to help them.
Very Charitable! Kim’s Cabbage Patch team is known for having big hearts! Kim shares, “We really want to help! We want to give back to our community! We love it here in Clermont!” Besides actively helping the Greater Clermont Cancer Foundation, they always do their best to graciously support many Clermont and South Lake community charities and fundraisers. They are also supportive members of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Happy Place Extras: They remain a very hard-working team, with a great staff. They promise to deliver over the top high-quality merchandise matched with extra high-quality customer service. They both note, “We want Kim’s Cabbage Patch to be known, loved and experienced as a ‘very happy place’ for everyone who visits us!”
Open 7 Days A Week: Kim’s Cabbage Patch is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6:30 PM. They are open on Saturdays from 8 AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Visit Kim’s Cabbage Patch – Specialty Grocery Store & Farmer’s Market, located at 511 West Highway 50 Clermont, FL 34711, call: 352-394-4119 or visit them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Farmers-Market/Kims-Cabbage-Patch-118705841517581/
