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'Country Thangs' co-op finds new home in Lutz

 
Lisa Hunt owns Cheyenne’s  Country Thangs  with her husband, Darrel, which moved in June to 21405 County Line Road in Lutz.  The outside area will contain a petting zoo,  herb gardens, entertainment area and more.
Lisa Hunt owns Cheyenne’s Country Thangs with her husband, Darrel, which moved in June to 21405 County Line Road in Lutz. The outside area will contain a petting zoo, herb gardens, entertainment area and more.
Published July 22, 2017

LUTZ — Lisa Hunt grew up gardening with her own garden at age 5.

Raised on a farm in North Carolina, Hunt, now 54, said her Native American grandfather encouraged her with her plants.

Now her love for fresh produce and people has resulted in the June 28 opening of Cheyenne's Country Thangs in Lutz on County Line Road. It is a new location for the business that had been drawing customers to shop and join an organic produce co-op since September 2009.

That market was named for her granddaughter, Cheyenne, who is now 12 and had her first garden at age 18 months.

Hunt said she and her husband, Darrel, moved the market because "We were in our home and it was just too busy. We didn't want to create a problem."

The new location also allows her to expand to sell more than just fresh vegetables of greens, tomatoes, squash, beets and more and plants, including moringa trees and potted herbs.

The indoor-outdoor business also has a soon-to-open petting zoo, party rental area, vendor space (with free rentals available Aug. 1-5) entertainment area and herb gardens where she will cut a handful of the fresh herbs for customers.

"It took lots of hard work," said Hunt, who came to Florida in 1986 with her husband of 34 years. "We have a little bit of everything, even natural salves, mouthwash and toothpaste."

The indoor store also includes Amish products including milk, butter and jellies, local honey and cold-pressed olive oil. She also has freezers with seafood including red snapper, Alaskan scallops, local black grouper, jumbo shrimp and more. There are grass-fed meats and free-range chicken and eggs.

Currently there are 450 registered members of the food co-op who pay $960 for a year (and get three additional months for free). Each week a member is entitled to $25 of food at no additional cost with his or her membership, and can purchase additional items if desired.

Also a member can choose items from a "free basket" and receive free admission to the entertainment area and half-off the registration fee for classes she plans to start on topics such as canning, crafting and gardening. Non-members also can shop at the market.

Scott Distasio of Westchase was among the shoppers on a recent Saturday morning. He has been a member for five months.

"I like the fresh organic produce; you can't get any better in town," he said, adding he particularly liked the kale, olive oil as well as the seafood.

Judie Bortness of Lutz has been a member for six months and also shopped on a recent Saturday.

"Everything is so fresh and Lisa and Darrel are friendly, helpful. It is small and personal," Bortness said.

While the market is named for Hunt's granddaughter, a popular drink at the market, is named for her grandson, Cameron, 4. Called Cam's Generator, it features fresh fruit juice, fresh fruit slices and grated ginger.

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"He started calling it that because he couldn't say ginger," the grandmother explained.

Contact Lenora Lake at hillsnews@tampabay.com.