Today we’d like to introduce you to Deanna Butler-Toombs
Hi DeAnna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hello everyone. I’m DeAnna Butler- Toombs owner and operator of Simply Produce llc. A family owned and operated fresh fruit and vegetable company. But before we go into that let me give you a little bit of background about myself and my family. I was born in Baltimore, Maryland at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I grew up in a neighborhood where our fresh fruits and vegetables were sold off the back of a horse and buggy. We called them Arabbers. They sold the best seeded produce you could ever buy. And as children we couldn’t wait until he made it to our block. We would run up to that buggy and buy all the fruit we wanted. But right before I hit my teenage years my Mom decided to move to Georgia. Before moving here I had not known of seedless produce. So naturally I was amazed that here they were selling seedless watermelon and grapes and I wanted nothing to do with seedless fruit. I was used to seeds. To me it was NOT NATURAL! So my Mom and I would have to travel and pay a bit more to get the seeded produce we wanted but we didn’t mind. So we would travel to the different farmers markets and grab what we needed. Once I was old enough I decided that I would be a supplier of fresh SEEDED Organic and NON GMO fruits and veggies because they seemed to be hard to get here. And I live in an area that’s considered a food desert so it was needed. We have plenty of fast food restaurants but not too many healthy food options. So in September of 2016 I opened up my first brick and mortar and I named it Simply Produce llc. My family and I ran the business up until January 2020. At which point I decided it was time to close as the support was not as we had expected or had hoped for. We had ran our company for four years. Nothing but blood, sweat, prayers, and a lot of tears. After closing I wasn’t sure what to do next. But by the Grace of God and some Loyal Customers we’re still here. Though the brick and mortar had closed Simply Produce was still active. By June of 2020, six months after closing our store and not knowing what was going to happen we were blessed with not only our loyal customers but some much needed business grants. And that abled us to buy our bus. So now were a mobile unit. Simply Produce llc is now the owner of Simpro Mobile. We strive to provide the best service possible and the best quality Seeded Produce that we can locate locally and globally.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to goodness is hardly ever smooth. We had so many hiccups in that building that we did not own until it was ridiculous. And a owner that didn’t want to invest in his property on any level. Nor did he want to do the minor repairs. And the fact that we were paying premium rent was not setting well with us. Outside of that my biggest struggle has been trying to maintain my sanity and continue to push through after one of my daughters was maliciously murdered by someone she thought was her friend. And though I’m coping it’s hard. This is one pill that I will never swallow.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Simply Produce LLC?
Simply Produce is a family owned and operated fruit and vegetable company that strives to provide the best organic and non-gmo seeded produce available at a very reasonable price. We pride ourselves on our customer service, our ability to get and maintain quality produce, and giving back to our community. We’re known for providing quality produce and great customer service as well as providing an environment that allows our customers to enjoy their produce without having to worry about the cost. What really sets us apart is that if a customer is short on funds we still provide what they need. I remember having stores that used to do this for me! Now how’s that for a small business!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people don’t know that I’m an Ordained Minister and I can officiate their wedding.
Pricing:
- Fresh Cut and Cored Pineapples $5 each
- Seeded Globe Grapes $5.99lb.
- Bananas .25 each up to three / four or more 79lb.
- Kiwi .75 each
- Seeded Watermelons $10 each
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplyproducemarket.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simply_produce.llc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15KpdT5Lde/
Image Credits
All images were provided by the owner DeAnna Toombs.
