GREENE – In recent years many main street landscapes have seen a marked increased in the number of local shops and restaurants eager to please the individual consumers in addition to stimulating the local economy.

With an emphasis on supporting local vendors, main street merchants keep incomes earned by the community in the community. Shops in our small towns create local employment and entrepreneurs.

Donald and Andrea Cascun, owners of the Cascun Farm in Greene and the newly established Butcher Block and Farm Market in downtown Greene are a prime example of the national focus to “shop local” campaign. “We raise and process our own poultry as well as process other farmers’ poultry, rabbits and game birds in the area,” said Andrea Cascun.

At the couples' downtown location, The Butcher Block, the Cascuns sell a variety of local meats that are brought in as halves and quarters. “The large portions are broken down into specialty cuts, the old fashioned way,” said Cascun. “We hand make our own sausage with custom blended seasoning and make fresh ground beef every day in house.”

In addition to selling meat and poultry raised on the Cascun Farm, The Butcher Block serves as a hub for other venders to offer their locally produced goods to the community for sale. “We also sell and showcase products from other farmers and producers on our shelves,” said Cascun.