Young Farmers Market salesman enjoys talking with customers at area markets

Some might say that one is never too young to make a profit. While this platitude may be met with cynicism in certain contexts, it does have its applications. Take John Russell Potts, for example. At just 13 years old, he is an established produce vendor at various local markets.
The young man was born in Michigan, but moved to Missouri with his family shortly thereafter. His father, John S. Potts, came to the Ozarks as a dairy farmer, while his mother, Tammy, found work in healthcare. Eventually, Potts Sr. left the dairy industry; around this time, Potts began selling vegetables.
It didn’t take long for his parents to realize that he was a natural salesman.
“The boy started selling garden vegetables out of our front yard,” Potts Sr. said. “He couldn’t have been older than 5.”
Visitors can witness his talent firsthand at any of the three markets where he is a vendor under the name John Russell’s Fresh Produce. At least a few inches shorter than most of his customers and with a visibly younger face, Potts isn’t the typical produce vendor. But what he lacks in age, he more than makes up for with his vibrant personality.
Potts is quick-witted, sharp and has a superb sense of humor. The cadence with which he speaks is uncanny, like hearing an old man trapped in a young boy’s body.
“I just really like talking to people,” he said. “I grew up around mostly adults, so it’s easier for me to connect with them.”
This maturity and charisma have ensured Potts’ success and made him somewhat of a local celebrity.
“It’s a funny thing,” his father said, “we can’t go shopping at Walmart because everybody has to stop and talk to him.”
Of course, it’s difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance at such a young age. Potts is homeschooled, completing his online schoolwork during the evening after working during the day. His mother, Tammy, works long hours as a nurse, so Potts spends plenty of time with his father, who stays home and tends to the land from which they source their produce.
“We plant something every day, 365 days a year,” Potts Sr. said. They have ample space to grow, including a greenhouse and open fields, where they plant a diverse range of crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins, among others, catering to a wide variety of palates.
“As people move here from the coasts, there’s a different demand for different foods,” Potts Sr. said.
The Potts have hens, from which they sell eggs, along with their produce. In addition to chickens, they raise rabbits. Potts Sr. said that the rabbit manure makes for excellent fertilizer.
The father-son duo started selling their bounty at a market in St. Louis but noticed the local demand and decided to transition to three area farmers markets: Mountain Grove, Mountain View, and Houston.
Visitors can expect to see Potts around for years to come.
“I would like to keep doing this in the future, if I can make it work,” he said.