100th Anniversary of The Montgomery Curb Market Spotlight: Bartles Family Farm

As we countdown to celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Montgomery Curb Market, this vendor made it special with their family’s love of feeding their community!

Three generations at a farmer’s market stall with fresh produce (corn, melons, beans) and a wreath with an American flag in the background, smiling at the camera.

James Bartles is the current steward of the Bartles Family Farm booth at the Curb Market. He is 72 years young with 3 children. He was born in Montgomery and grew up on the Bartles Family Farm. Bartles’s great grandfather purchased the farm in the late 1800s, and was passed down through the generations of the family ever since. Produce has been in his blood from birth. Growing up, they used to pick tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, green beans, and watermelons right on the farm.

Their farm primarily sells fresh local produce and homemade canned goods. During the summer, the fresh produce includes peas, butter beans, okra, tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, and cantaloupe. The rest of the year, the most popular items are apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, collard greens, turnip greens, and pecans. As for canned goods, they sell jellies, jams, preserves, relish, and various soups and stews.

Pile of pink and white variegated beans in a metal crate, ready for sale or harvest fall from the field.

Around 2002, Bartles mother, Ms. Jettie Rawls, and her sister, the late Ms. Carolyn Coalson, set up at the Montgomery Curb Market with just 2 tables. Through the years and the seasons, and with the help of Ms. Carolyn’s friend, Hunter, they expanded to 6 tables filled with an assortment of local goods. Throughout the years, Bartles would join to help them at the Curb Market. When Ms. Coalson passed away in 2023, he started to work at the market with his mother full-time, helping his mother run the tables. They’ve sized down to 2 tables again but still have loyal clientele that keeps them busy. Bartles children now help out at the market from time to time as well, carrying on the beloved family tradition.

Continuing to be able to share the produce from the Bartles Family Farm with their local community for nearly 25 years has meant the world to the family. Not only has it meant carrying on a beloved family tradition, but it has also meant being able to serve their community freshest, best produce around.