Jolo Farms Opens The Farmers Scoop

By Nadia Tijerina, Shaelyn Lampinen, Jack Webb, and Braeden Jones

A picture of The Farmers Scoop with their fresh produce stand set up. 

OLIVET, Mich. – The Farmers Scoop is now two months out from its grand opening which took place on July 18. The drive-in restaurant, located at 704 S. Main St, sells fresh produce, prepared food items, and ice cream. 

For years, residents and college students had to drive at least 20 minutes for fresh produce options as Olivet has very limited offerings in the town. The Farmers Scoop owner, Jordan Mullins, wanted to give the community a better option.

“There's a lack of food options in Olivet, you obviously have a Subway, I know there's a small Whitetail Market, and then you have a bar on the corner, but it's not affordable for everyone. We try to make a complete meal at Farmers scoop under $10,” said Mullins. 

Most items offered at The Farmers Scoop are homegrown or produced themselves at Jolo Farms which is located in Battle Creek. 

The Farmers Scoop prides itself in having fresh and healthy ingredients on its menu, using its own potatoes for basic french fries, their own lettuce or tomatoes for hamburgers and salads, and even using their own meat for burgers. 

Beyond the fresh produce and local ingredients, The Farmers Scoop is also becoming a gathering place for the community. 

“It's nice to have a place that you can rely on, and say ‘hey, I can go there, and bring the kids’, and someone out of town does come around, and say ‘Hey, there's a nice little ice cream place there’ and that kind of thing” said Brenda Cortright, a customer at The Farmers Scoop. 

There’re multiple tables and benches for the community to hang out and talk, pumpkins for people to purchase for fall, and cornhole, a game for people to play as they wait for their food.

Vincent Cortright, a cook for The Farmers Scoop and his little cousin Jesse Hullebous outside of The Farmers Scoop.

Throughout the last 10 to 15 years, the site has seen three different types of establishments come and go. Now, The Farmers Scoop is saying it's taking a different approach.

“We are not closing for the season, because once you close for the winter, people start forgetting about you,” said Mullins. 

Previous establishments had limited hours and limited menu options for the community.

“We have been adding things to the menu, like different seasonal like fall stuff, they're already talking about winter stuff they want to do, so they are just trying to do things to keep it relevant,” said Vincent Cortright, a cook at the establishment. 

With adding specialty items to the menu, The Farmers Scoop is hoping to draw steady customers throughout the colder months and stay around longer than previous establishments. 

The Farmers Scoop hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and Mullins plans on keeping The Farmers Scoop open the whole year instead of seasonal hours.