Pick of the Crop Tater Dave……is not selling Taters

Picture from the Market Umbrella Facebook Page

David Ruble and wife Cat Ruble are busy people. As if any business owner of any size is not. They have a most interesting strategy to their cottage industry, which is bread. They make homemade, old-fashioned breads in their Hills and Heights vicinity home. Because of limited space and market popularity, they have almost maxed out on their production levels. They make and sell about 120 loaves per week supplying the two SOJ Markets.

The breads are a mix of artisanal, potato, whole grain, European and sourdough. The sourdough story is very intriguing. Dave actually successfully created his own sourdough starter which he uses along with a 250 year old strain from the King Arthur flour company. He uses identical recipes with each starter and produces different tasting sourdoughs. Here are the possible flavors that you might find on his table on any given Wednesday or Saturday.

• Rosemary Potato
• French
• Sourdough
• Portuguese Sweet Bread
• Mixed Wheat/French Garlic Loaf
• Cinnamon Raisin
• Jalapeño Cheddar
• Chile Bread

And for when he is experimenting with the local vegetables du jour….

• Beet Bread
• Kale Onion Bread

They have a Sandwich Loaf style which can be from $5-$8. Other loaves are usually $4.

Cat has added Cake Pops. (Pictured recently if I recall; tigers on a stick). They are a concoction of cake and frosting with a candy coating. These are a $2 treat that just have to be tried. Who else has cake pops? Nowhere but Tater Dave’s.

This business has been up and running for a year. Dave was always in the kitchen as a little boy stealing cookies, so Momma put him to work to settle the score. He is a self-taught baker and also juggles a full-time job. He has become educated on labeling requirements and is apparently very happy with the venture. He and Cat efficiently share one vehicle, yet still manage to supply the market and the business and the family. There was just a small capital investment on Dave’s part to get going. If he chooses to grow, he might actually have to get a bigger house or a spot to mix and bake in. Good problem to have when trying to grow a business.

Get your daily bread at Dave’s and chat awhile. See you Wednesday!

Souther of the James runs on Wednesdays 3 PM – 8 PM at 4910 Forest Hill Ave (23225). Your list of vendors.

Previous Picks of the Crop

Pick of the Crop is written by Trish Morrison.
Originally from Illinois where she was pioneering with Food Co-ops and Farmer’s Markets in the Chicago suburbs, Trish now lives in the neighborhood near Westover Hills Elementary School. A city dweller by week, weekends she travels to Lunenburg County working on an agricultural venture with her son. She enjoys the blend of art, agriculture, music and muse, you can find at a Farmers’ Market and hopes it comes through in her interview style of writing.