Organic Roots: Singing Turtle Farm

Vendor profile written by Meghan Prichard, UNC-Chapel Hill
Sharon Funderburk of Singing Turtle Farm was born into a farming legacy—and a legacy of organic farming. As she tells it, her ancestors, who immigrated from Germany, arrived in Charleston, S.C., in 1767. “We’ve been farmers ever since,” Sharon said.
Sharon grew up on a dairy farm in Union County. She pursued a degree in horticulture at Duke University and then received her master’s in horticulture at N.C. State. She worked with farmers as a sustainable agriculture consultant before there was a large market for organic products.
Sharon said her interest in organic food came from growing up on a family farm. “Before World War II, that was the only way to farm,” she said. “We used a lot of organic products without anyone saying that’s what they were.”
Now, as a full-time farmer, Sharon is happy that organic products have grown in popularity. “I think that ecological or biological farming is the most energy efficient,” she said. “And, certainly, local food is the freshest and most nutritious.”
Part of Sharon’s decision to begin farming organically was inspired by a discussion with her dad. He argued that organic farming would be too difficult to do on a large scale. Sharon, however, was determined to make the process work. Since their discussion, Sharon has been able to prove her father wrong. All her products are already produced organically and by next year, Sharon plans to have the farm receive organic certification.
Singing Turtle Farm, located in Benson, offers seasonal foods including mustard, kale, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, watermelon, sweet potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cut flowers and eggs. Because the farm is larger than most organic farming operations, Sharon said the farm is able to take a more diversified approach in its offerings.

At Market and At Table

Sharon said she’s glad to be part of the Western Wake Farmers’ Market. "I think farmers’ markets offer a very important opportunity for the farmer to connect directly to the consumer so we have a better understanding of what the consumer wants ,and they have a more immediately fresh product.”
In addition to selling at the farmers’ market, Singing Turtle contributes produce to Southern Exposure, a restaurant in Faison, N.C. “It's so wonderful,” Sharon said about the restaurant. “The chef is just amazing.”
Sharon also emphasized the importance of building relationships between consumers and farmers. “I would encourage people to talk to each vendor to enhance their experience at the farmers’ market. Find out what they're growing. If there's something that they can't find, ask if somebody will grow it.”
Singing Turtle Farm is one of WWFM’s year-round vendors and will have Southern pearl’s mustard, Japanese red mustard, red Russian kale, collards and broccoli at market this weekend.