Today we’d like to introduce you to Myisha Croom-Turner.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Hey there! I’m Myisha Croom-Turner and I currently reside in Claremont, CA. I’m a serial entrepreneur, wife, mom, and lover of coffee, travel, fresh flowers, farmers markets and “me” time. I’ve been starting businesses since I was a teenager. From selling candy out of my house to now owning several farmers markets with my husband, as well as a boutique floral design business. My journey prior to becoming a business owner is unique because I went from a very military structured profession to a very relaxed work environment as a creative. Prior to beginning my first business as a jewelry designer, I had been in Law Enforcement for 12 years working in a corrections officer capacity for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. After having an anxiety attack in 2009 due to work stress, I made the decision to take a leap of faith and resign. As scary as that was, I knew God had a plan for me, so I followed His lead.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The entrepreneurship journey has been a rollercoaster ride. Plenty of highs and lows and everything in between. Don’t believe the social media hype that it’s all vacations, date nights and free time. I’ve been working and re-working businesses since 2009 and I am just now being able to reap some of the benefits of my hard work. I’ve endured money problems, failures, sleepless nights, and a plethora of hard times that come with working for yourself. However, I’ve always been resilient, so thankfully, I’ve been able to withstand all of the challenges that come with pursuing your passion.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My businesses mean so much to me. I am committed to the work I do and the effect that it has on others.
My husband and I launched our first Heritage Farmers Market in 2010 with 4 farmers and 5 artisan vendors. Our passion for healthy eating began in 2009 when our son was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes also known as Type 1, which is a form of diabetes in which very little or no insulin is produced by the pancreas. This created a huge shift in the way we saw food and it also ignited our passion to spread the word about healthy eating and living. Since 2010 we have gone on to launch over 14 farmers markets. We’ve assisted cities and organizations with the launch of their own markets and we currently operate several of our own. Our mission was and still is to provide a space for locals to be in community with one another and have access to fresh and local produce.
I manage the day to day operations of each market which entails managing employees, problem-solving, vendor relations, marketing, and a whole laundry list of other duties that come with being an entrepreneur.
Through the work I do, I’m most proud of my relationship with our farmers and the inviting atmosphere that exists at our markets.
As if the task of running one business wasn’t enough, in 2017 I launched Bohemian Blooms, an extension of my love of farm-to-table experiences. I am a free-spirit at heart and I love expressing myself creatively through many art forms. I was drawn to flowers during a really stressful time in my life because they brought me joy. During this time of self-exploration, I discovered I had a real love and talent for floral design, so I decided to take another leap of faith and launch a floral business. There is a joy and sense of peace I get from creating with flowers. Whether it’s delivering a congratulatory arrangement, making a bride’s vision come to life, or hosting a floral workshop, it’s such a special feeling to know I’m delivering the same joy that I felt to others.
What were you like growing up?
I was very unique as a child. Meaning, I was different from my family in a lot of ways. I danced to the beat of my own drum and despite all the mischief that was taking place in my neighborhood, I never followed or participated in any of it. I was also very shy and introverted, but also brave, self-aware, creative, and never afraid to be exactly who I was. Not much has changed today.
Contact Info:
- Website: HeritageFarmersMarket.org | BohemianBlooms.net
- Instagram: @ bohogurl | @heritagefarmers | @bohemianblooms
Image Credit:
Myisha Croom-Turner
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