The History of Garden Valley

There’s always a story to every place, to every business that’s been built, and learning that journey is what reveals the heart and soul behind it. What started out as a small, quaint produce stand, has now turned into a beautiful and thriving farmers market that serves a good part of both Alamance and Guilford Counties of North Carolina. That business… is Garden Valley Farmers Market, and this is their story:

Nestled in the heart of Alamance County, there was a small produce stand that was owned and operated by Josh Readling (along his beautiful brown lab, Shelby). His desire was to provide fresh and local produce to a community that was in lack of healthier food options. Josh grew up in Alamance County, and his knack for business and desire to bless people was at the heart of starting Garden Valley, and has such, remained the core desire. To plant better, eat better, and live better.

Fast forward a few years, and along came two brothers who not only lived together, but decided it was a good idea to work together too (read that last line as sarcasm). Those brothers are Paul and Luke Laparra. Long story short, they went to church with Josh, had conversations, and wanted to expand Garden Valley to reach more people. Little did they know that this partnership would turn into a bond that would not only bless the outside community, but also provide a friendship filled with trust and understanding, something that not many businesses are blessed to have.

• Paul is a craftsman by heart. He loves working with his hands, is a former electrician, and loves carpentry work. But even with all of the time consuming work that he continues to do with Garden Valley, his main passion in life is his love for the Lord, and raising his beautiful family.

• Luke was already working for Garden Valley as an employee at the time, and wanted to continue to grow in the company. It was in this journey that he learned his passion for business, finances, and streamlining processes. But even with this new discovery, he still remains passionate about loving his family, and helping others simplify the stresses that can often come with finances.

While this partnership was being developed, Garden Valley was slowly growing from one location, at Chapel Hill Road, to FIVE locations in a span of ten years. What once was a modest produce stand, is now a farmers market that sells pottery, flowers, trees, shrubs, and so much more! And even though they have grown into a bigger company, the promise to provide quality product to the community is still one of their main goals.

The biggest season of growth for Garden Valley came during a very unexpected time… 2020. It was in the thick of this pandemic that Garden Valley was blessed with the most amazing outpour of support from their community. It was filled with hope, strength, and solace in a time that was focused on fear, hurt, and anxiety. The love shown by the community of Alamance/Guilford County brought a refreshed determination to Luke and Paul… this was the right direction for the company. This business was supposed to be here. Garden Valley was home for its community.

Through the good years, and not so good years, Garden Valley has always remained true to their identity: plant better, eat better, live better. They have continued to provide access to healthy vegetation so that the community can plant better. They always strive to provide quality produce so that the community can eat better. And they are a place where anyone can come, and be inspired to live better. This motto of theirs rings true, and it’s Garden Valley’s hope to continue to do so for many years to come.

A Stroll in the Market

The day was perfect as Haylie and Ben strolled through our market with Iced Lattes from The Blend & Co., a local coffee shop located in downtown Burlington. The lattes made the perfect addition to an afternoon filled with all things plants and fresh produce. As they strolled through the aisles, holding hands and carrying a gorgeous Apolis bag, it truly was the perfect setting for a peaceful and joyful evening. Through the recent global health pandemic, one thing has remained constant in it all… Garden Valley Farmers Market is always a place you can feel at peace, and at home. And this evening perfectly reflected that. DiPrima Photography flawlessly captured the essence of this beautiful couple in this peaceful setting. With her light filled images, it truly reflects how the Light of our Savior is in Garden Valley, and we hope that you feel this Light as well when you visit with us.

We highly recommend you enjoy this tune by Andrew Laparra while scrolling through these gorgeous photos. Available on Spotify and iTunes.

The Talented Team

Jeans- Madewell
Shirt- Garden Valley Farmers Market
Market Bag- Apolis
Photography- DiPrima Photography
Venue- Garden Valley Farmers Market
Iced Lattes- The Blend & Co
Models- Ben and Haylie Abele from Our Balanced Bowl
Song- “You’re Gonna Be Okay” by Andrew Laparra

Spring Is Here!

Spring is finally upon us; 

the birds are chirping, the warm sunshine is hitting our faces, and everything is fresh and new. We, Garden Valley Farmers Market, are SO excited to start serving you and bringing you the best flowers, plants and produce that North Carolina has to offer. Along with the excitement of Spring and the hope that it brings, we also have a few new projects up our sleeve, and we're excited that one of those new things is this updated blog. 

This space is here to share updates on our stores, encourage you to start thinking more locally with your purchases, and inspire you to create a beautiful gardening masterpiece of your own. And whether you're planning your next spring garden, or searching for tips for future landscaping ideas, we want this blog to be a resource and space for you to turn. We might even include a few mouth-watering recipes that incorporate our fresh, local produce that’s grown by our local farmers across the beautiful state of North Carolina. We're excited to share with you, grow with you, and learn with you. Without further ado, we welcome you to the blog of

Garden Valley Farmers Market

where we strive to plant better, eat better, and live better. 

See you soon,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

To nurture a garden is to feed
not just on the body, but the soul.
-Alfred Austin