From family farms to neighborhood cafés, Harford County’s small food businesses are proof that local still matters. While national brands and large-scale operations may seem to dominate the broader marketplace, these locally owned businesses continue to thrive by staying rooted in place, prioritizing relationships, and leading with creativity.
For Kate Dallam of Broom’s Bloom Dairy, evolution was about preservation, not expansion. “We are a small dairy farm, we’ve been a dairy farm for almost 30 years,” Dallam said. “In order to maintain our farm and keep it sustainable, we needed to look at getting into direct sales. That was the driving force to keep our small dairy farm (in the family since the early 1700s) viable and sustainable for another generation.” With limited ability to increase herd size or acreage in Harford County, direct and retail sales offered a path forward that honored the farm’s history.
Remaining small allows Dallam flexibility that chains can’t match. “Because we’re still considered a small business, I can source the best products I can,” she explained, describing the ability to personally select seasonal ingredients and use produce from nearby farms. Local peaches, strawberries, and corn regularly find their way into Broom’s Bloom’s ice creams and other offerings. That freedom also fuels creativity. “I make very specialized ice creams,” Dallam says, pointing to offerings like sweet corn ice cream in August and custom flavors for weddings. “That’s my favorite part--creating very specific things for very specific customers.”
Community involvement is equally central. Broom’s Bloom partners with nonprofits throughout the year, donating $2 from select ice cream sales to organizations including Harford Family House and Alpha’s Glory. Dallam also highlights weekly milk donations to the Harford Community Action Agency during the winter months. “We donate milk to them in January, February, and March; it was 900 gallons last year during those three months,” she said. “We’re blessed to be able to give back to the community that has supported us.”
That same community-first mindset defines Newberry Café & Bakery, where owner Nichol Barbes blends nostalgia with purpose. “I have fond memories of going to my local donut shop every Sunday growing up,” Barbes said while drawing inspiration from Bel Air’s longstanding bakery traditions. Menu favorites like the famous honey-dipped, rum raisin donut, and the Fat Tuesday Faschnacht donut help anchor Newberry as what Barbes said she wants to be: “the town donut shop.”
Newberry’s role extends beyond baked goods. Barbes and her team support a wide range of local organizations, from CASA and Toys for Tots to schools, libraries, arts groups, and youth programs. End-of-day donuts are donated to churches, athletic teams, and community organizations across the county. “All of this is what we call our grass roots marketing,” Barbes said. “We get our name out by supporting our community and giving donuts out everywhere we go.” With a second location planned for Havre de Grace in 2026, that mission is set to grow.
At Coffee Coffee, community is built cup by cup. The café’s owners emphasize that personal service sets them apart. “The level of service and the hands-on nature of a family-owned business cannot be replicated by a chain,” said Hillary Tayson. With a strong base of regulars and a true neighborhood feel, Coffee Coffee collaborates with local farms, including Flying Plow, Broom’s Bloom, Andy’s Eggs, and Bogarty Farms, while sourcing from other regional producers and local coffee roasters.
Despite challenges like staffing and rising costs, Coffee Coffee remains focused on quality and connection. “We have such a neighborhood vibe… and it really contributes to the community cafe atmosphere that we strive to achieve,” Tayson said.
Through local sourcing and nonprofit partnerships, these homegrown startups reflect a shared belief among Harford County’s small businesses: investing locally strengthens the entire community.