From generation to generation, family legacy lives on

Izzy Pender, 21 and her boyfriend Iain Macneil Ross, 20, have taken the reigns of a 25-year family business selling fresh produce to the community (with free smiles) at the Pork Dover Silver Lake Famers Market. 

Alex Hunt

Advocate Correspondent

For years, Izzy Pender helped her grandparents run their produce business. Today, she and her partner are proud to carry that legacy forward at the Port Dover Silver Lake Market, with fresh food, familiar faces and a deep love for the market.

Down to Earth was the produce business owned Dennis McCutcheon and his wife Maxine Jenkins founded and operated for 25 years in Norfolk County. The couple grew and sold their goods at the different farmers markets in the area. Six months ago, the successful business owners passed on their life’s work to their 21-year-old granddaughter Izzy Pender and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Iain Macneil Ross. 

“My grandfather was the one that taught me how to count cash, treat people with respect and be very friendly,” said Pender. “I was able to count money at the age of seven because of him. My grandfather was happy that he was passing along his business to me, but he did not want to let go, he was holding on a little bit.”

Pender said that over the years, her grandparents gradually stopped growing their own produce and instead built relationships with local farms and purchasing their fresh goods to sell at markets. Since acquiring the business, Pender and her boyfriend continued selling produce at the Port Dover market, with the hope of expanding to the Simcoe Farmers Market. 

Pender and Ross continue to maintain strong relationships with the local farms her grandfather once sourced from, while also expanding their network by building new connections with additional growers in the area. 

“A challenge that I learned was making sure you know how much you need to spend on because it does get expensive from all the produce that we must buy,” said Pender.  “It’s a little stressful but it’s worth it. We go every Friday, we make sure we get it the day before so it’s as fresh as it can be.”

After selling produce at the farmers market every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pender and Ross donate leftover produce to the Port Dover and Area Lifeline Foodbank to ensure nothing goes to waste.

Ross said that one of his favorite aspects of running the business with Pender is engaging with their client base, giving back to the community through foodbank donations and sourcing locally grown products. 

Pender reflects on her past job, where the work environment was difficult and often left her feeling miserable. Now, running her own business, she finds joy in seeing familiar faces return, always smiling to support the couple’s growing business. 

With Down to Earth, Pender and Ross are not only continuing the family legacy but building a future rooted in community, dedication, and connection. For them, it’s more than just produce, it’s a purpose.