5 Arkansas Country Markets Where Amish And Mennonite Bread Is Worth Clearing Cooler Space

Some road trips start with a destination. This one starts with a loaf of bread.

5 Arkansas Country Markets Where Amish And Mennonite Bread Is Worth Clearing Cooler Space
5 Arkansas Country Markets Where Amish And Mennonite Bread Is Worth Clearing Cooler Space

Some road trips start with a destination. This one starts with a loaf of bread. Across Arkansas, a handful of country markets run by Amish and Mennonite families sell homemade baked goods, farm-fresh staples, and pantry items you will not find on a big-box shelf.

Several keep short weekly hours, so a little planning goes a long way. The list runs from Benton County near the Missouri line to the Ozark hills of Sharp County and the Randolph County countryside. Each stop has its own personality, from a roadside produce market to a small-town bakery with a sandwich counter.

Pack a cooler, check the hours, and leave some extra room for the loaves.

1. Eagle Corner Amish Market, Gentry, AR

Eagle Corner Amish Market, Gentry, AR
© Eagle Corner Amish Market, Gentry, AR

Plan this one around the calendar, because the doors open only on Friday and Saturday. Eagle Corner Amish Market keeps Friday hours from 9 AM to 6 PM and Saturday hours from 8 AM to 4 PM.

The store is Amish owned and operated, and it sits on South Pleasant Valley Road just outside Gentry, a town of about 3,800 people in Benton County. The setting is rural, so expect a country-road drive rather than a downtown stroll.

Shelves hold locally grown produce, homemade baked goods, and natural foods. Handmade furniture and crafts round out the stock, which makes it a fun browse if you want more than groceries.

Bread and muffins are the headliners for this list. The market also sells fresh produce, so you can build a whole picnic from one stop.

It is a quick visit, and there is no delivery. Bring the cooler and get there early on Saturday, when the day starts at 8 AM.

2. Dalton Country Market, Pocahontas, AR

Dalton Country Market, Pocahontas, AR
© Dalton Country Market, Pocahontas, AR

Sandwich fans, this stop is for you. Dalton Country Market is an old-fashioned country market that serves deli sandwiches on homemade bread.

It is a Mennonite store on Township Road, on the rural outskirts of Pocahontas in Randolph County. Bulk foods line the offerings, so you can stock the pantry as well as the cooler.

Baked goods and fresh produce add to the mix. The homemade bread is the reason it earned a spot here, and you can buy a loaf to take home after lunch.

Hours run Wednesday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The market is closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and it does not deliver.

3. Cedar Ridge Country Cupboard, Berryville, AR

Cedar Ridge Country Cupboard, Berryville, AR
© Cedar Ridge Country Cupboard, Berryville, AR

A gravel road leads the way here. Cedar Ridge Country Cupboard sits on County Road 708 in the Ozarks countryside near Berryville, a short drive off the main road.

It is a discount grocery store, and the shelves include farm-fresh eggs and a deli. Homemade baked goods are the main draw for bread fans, with loaves, cinnamon rolls, and pies on the list.

Many shoppers come for the prices, and the stock includes things that large grocery stores do not carry. Mennonite bakers are behind the baked goods.

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. The store is closed Sunday and Monday, and there is no delivery.

Stop in on a weekday if you want to stretch the trip into a day of Carroll County exploring.

4. Kozey’s Country Market, Hardy, AR

Kozey’s Country Market, Hardy, AR
© Kozey’s Country Market, Hardy, AR

Hardy is a small, historic Ozark town of fewer than 800 residents, and Kozey’s Country Market sits right on US-63. Of the five stops, this one has the broadest mix of goods beyond bread.

Shelves carry fresh breads, jams, jellies, and mustards. Candles and soaps share space with a deli, so gift shopping and lunch can happen in one trip.

An Amish section stocks a large range of Amish products. The store blends local goods, pantry items, and unique finds into a country-style shop.

Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, which makes it the best option on this list for a Sunday outing. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, and there is no delivery.

5. Honeywheat, Gentry, AR

Honeywheat, Gentry, AR
© Honeywheat, Gentry, AR

This is the only bakery-first stop on the list. Honeywheat is a bakery and deli at 245 E Main St in Gentry, with fresh-baked bread and made-to-order sandwiches.

Sourdough gets particular attention, and sandwiches are built on homemade bread. Salads, desserts, and cookies are also available, and frozen take-home meals are an easy way to stock the freezer. Seasonings are sold too.

Seating is limited, and the price range is about $10 to $20 per person. Coffee is available, and the options include dine-in, takeout, and drive-through. A restroom is on site, and free street parking is nearby.

Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM, Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM. It is closed Sunday and Monday, and there is no delivery.

Since the shop tends to be busiest in the afternoons and on Fridays and Saturdays, a morning visit or a Friday evening one may be calmer.

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