बोनटन फ़ार्म्स

Visit Dallas: Can you share the story of this business - how it started and how it’s grown into what it is today?

Bonton Farms: Bonton Farms began with a simple idea in South Dallas’ Bonton neighborhood, starting not with a garden but with bees. Raising bees and selling honey created early jobs and sparked a sense of possibility for local residents. From that first enterprise, the work grew into a small backyard garden, then expanded into a full farm with fresh produce, livestock, and a community of neighbors who helped it all take shape. As the mission deepened, Bonton Farms became a nonprofit with the mission to disrupt systems of inequity.

Today, Bonton Farms operates two full farms, a Coffeehouse, a Farmer’s Market, and a farm to table Market/Cafe restaurant. We grow organic food and hope for a better tomorrow right here in Bonton, and we are committed to helping residents access all seven human essentials: Transportation, Education, Access to Financial Tools, Community, Health and Wellness, Economic Stability, and Safe and Affordable Housing, so the community can continue to heal from within.

Visit Dallas: What makes this business special or unique within its Dallas neighborhood?

Bonton Farms: Bonton Farms is unique because it began as a hyper-local, community-driven initiative to transform a community in South Dallas. It creates local jobs, fosters community engagement, and provides access to the seven human essentials, making it a hub for both nourishment and neighborhood revitalization.

Visit Dallas: How would you describe the personality or energy of this place to someone who’s never visited before?

Bonton Farms: The personality and energy of Bonton Farms is resilient, genuine, and humble - rooted in community, growth, and care for both people and the land.

Visit Dallas: What do you think keeps people coming back?

Bonton Farms: Visitors know they’ll find fresh, healthy options, a welcoming environment, and a sense of purpose in supporting a place that genuinely uplifts the neighborhood. Plus, the fried green tomato sandwich is Ah-Ma-Zing!

Visit Dallas: What role does this business play in the community around it?

Bonton Farms: Bonton Farms plays a central role in its community as a source of nourishment, opportunity, and empowerment. It provides local jobs, fresh and healthy food, and a safe space for neighbors to gather and connect. It’s both a catalyst for growth and a hub for healing, helping the community thrive from the inside out.

Visit Dallas: When someone chooses to support a local spot like yours, what does that support help make possible?

Bonton Farms: Supporting Bonton Farms helps make real change possible in the community. It creates jobs, funds programs that provide access to food, education, and wellness, and strengthens local economic opportunities. Every visit or purchase contributes directly to the well-being and future of Bonton.

Visit Dallas: What’s a favorite story or customer moment that really captures what this business is all about?

Bonton Farms: One story that really captures Bonton Farms is about a regular visitor who comes to eat at the restaurant every 2–3 weeks, often bringing a friend along. While he enjoys the fresh, farm-to-table meals, he also buys six dozen eggs to share with his neighbors—yes, they’re that good! Through his visits and generosity, he spreads the good news about the farm, supports the cause, and helps create a ripple effect of community and connection.

Visit Dallas: What do customers tend to love most - whether it’s a signature product, a standout experience, or the vibe of the space?

Bonton Farms: Honey Butter Lattes! --“hives that change lives”

Visit Dallas: In your view, what does this business add to the culture, creativity, flavor, or personality of the city?

Bonton Farms: Beyond cuisine, it contributes to the city’s culture by fostering community connections, supporting local jobs, and celebrating a model of neighborhood-driven growth. Its presence reminds the city that innovation and care can thrive together, making Dallas not just bigger, but richer in heart and story.

Visit Dallas: If someone visited for the first time, what should they absolutely not miss?

Bonton Farms: If someone is visiting Bonton Farms for the first time, they shouldn’t miss the Market/Café, where they can enjoy fresh, farm-to-table meals made with produce grown right on the farm. They should also take a stroll through the gardens while sipping a signature honey butter latte, soaking in the sights of the chickens and baby goats in action—there’s something grounding and inspiring about experiencing where the food comes from. Finally, grabbing a few pounds of farm-fresh seasonal produce or a jar of honey to take home lets visitors bring a piece of the farm’s community and care with them, and they can sign up to volunteer and support our efforts on the ground.

Visit Dallas: What’s something people would be surprised to learn about this business or the team behind it?

Bonton Farms: People would be surprised to learn that Bonton Farms runs the Seedtime & Harvest Apprenticeship Program, a workforce development initiative that gives men and women hope and resources aligned with the Seven Human Essentials to improve their lives personally and professionally. At Bonton Farms, we believe true transformation begins with relationships and grows through opportunity.

Visit Dallas: How do you and your team aim to make people feel when they walk through your doors?

Bonton Farms: We aim to make people feel welcomed, seen, and supported the moment they walk through our doors. The space is meant to be warm and inviting, where visitors can relax, connect, and feel a sense of belonging - there are no strangers here.

Visit Dallas: What’s on the horizon that you’re excited about, whether it’s a new idea, a seasonal offering, an expansion, or something simple you’re proud of?

Bonton Farms: We’re especially excited about the upcoming opening of our Bexar Street Resource Center in 2026 and the launch of a 36 unit affordable apartment complex, which will provide critical and safe housing for our community. Additionally, we’re thrilled to bring Bonton Farms to travelers with a new campus at the DFW Airport. These milestones represent more ways for us to expand access, opportunity, and connection while sharing the heart of Bonton with a broader audience.

Visit Dallas: Why do you think supporting local businesses is particularly meaningful here in Dallas?

Bonton Farms: Supporting local businesses in Dallas, like Bonton Farms, is meaningful because it keeps resources, jobs, and opportunities within the community, helping neighborhoods like Bonton thrive. Local businesses showcase the city’s diversity, creativity, and resilience while meeting real needs—whether that’s fresh food, economic opportunity, or spaces for connection. Supporting them isn’t just a purchase—it’s an investment in the growth, health, and vibrancy of Dallas communities.

Visit Dallas: What do you wish more people knew about this business?

Bonton Farms: I wish people knew that when you plant a seed with Bonton Farms, you’re not just growing yourself through giving—you’re helping close a gap, turning a food desert into a source of nourishment, and transforming an overlooked neighborhood into a place of opportunity.

Visit Dallas: If you could share one message with someone deciding whether to shop, dine, or visit here, what would you want them to know?

Bonton Farms: I wish people knew that when you plant a seed with Bonton Farms, you’re not just growing yourself through giving—you’re helping close a gap, turning a food desert into a source of nourishment, and transforming an overlooked neighborhood into a place of opportunity.