Taste of tradition: Country Mercantile celebrates 30 years

PASCO — The smell of fresh waffle cones, rows of glossy caramel apples and bins of peak-season fruit greet visitors stepping through the doors of Country Mercantile – a place that feels as much like a memory as it does a store. For 30 years, the roadside business along Highway 395 has served as both a stop for travelers and a staple for locals. But its beginnings were far simpler: one farmer, a roadside tent and a need to connect directly with customers. “It started as a farmer trying to sell produce direct to the public,” owner Jay Wood said. “I just needed a more consistent market.”