Meet Our Farmers: Little Wing Farm

Farmers Jim and Carmela Cook at the 2020 Columbia City Farmers Market.

Meet Jim and Carmela Cook, the two total sweethearts behind Little Wing Farm. In 1989, Jim and Carmela invited friends Scott and Wynne Beaton to check out a piece of land in Chelan, WA, which would later become Jerzy Boyz Farm. You might recognize the name, Jerzy Boyz sells apples the University District Farmers Market to this day! The four worked hard clearing the land, and grafted and planted nine acres of organic apple and pear varieties. Driven by an urge to expand beyond apples, Carmela and Jim decided to start their own farm, Little Wing, on the same property.  

"Our goal was to remove most of our apple trees and replant with a wide variety of other tree fruits and grapes that would ripen in succession with the hope to get into a Neighborhood Farmers Market. We now have nearly 90 varieties on two acres which is micromanaged for optimum quality. 2018 completed thirteen years of growing with Columbia City."   

Fun Fact: For the last thirteen years, Jim and Carmela have camped out every Wednesday night on their way back to Chelan from market! That’s a lovely tradition we can get behind. 

Visit Carmela and Jim at the farmers market and they would love to tell you more of the story behind Little Wing Farm, and their favorite varieties of fruits. You can find their delicious produce at the Columbia City Farmers Market every Wednesday! Their fruit is also available for pre-order and Columbia City Market pick up on WhatsGood. Learn more about shopping the markets online!