Countryside Family Farms has announced that it will not be reopening its farm store at 6325 81st St. The farm store also was the location of Countryside’s iconic annual fall festival, which has delighted local families for nearly a quarter century.
Cheryl Roseland, the store’s owner, made the announcement on the company’s Facebook page on Sept. 18. Countrywide Citrus will continue to farm citrus, primarily grapefruit, but will operate its mail order portion of the business from another packing house, Roseland said.
The property owners, Roseland’s aunt and uncle, Fred and Florence Van Antwerp, have decided not to renew the lease on the farm store property, Roseland said. Added to the escalating cost to carry insurance for the festival and other family-oriented events, it was just time to shut down, she said…