Mark Dussel opened Dussel’s Farm Market and Greenhouse full of hope and excitement about what he could bring to Cassopolis.

After 20 years, Dussel still holds that excitement with him.

Dussel’s Farm Market and Greenhouse, located at 21765 M-60, Cassopolis, will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Saturday. To commemorate the event, the store will have wine and craft beer tastings, as well as local food and produce samplings.

Dussel opened the market in 1997. The market sells produce out of its store and plants out of its greenhouse. It also does landscaping.

“We have fresh, quality produce and good quality plants. We try to provide the best we can. If it’s not good, we don’t carry it,” Dussel said. “That’s why people come here.”

Opening the market was an extension of what he had been doing for more than a decade prior at his farm on Dutch Settlement Road, where he offered many fruit and vegetable stands.

Now, he sells the produce from his farm, as well as several other local farms, at his store front.

“We started out doing the Dowagiac farmer’s market. Then we went to Chicago for a couple years,” Dussel said. “That’s when we decided that we wanted to progress into retail.”

Born and raised in Cassopolis, Dussel believes that the location of his market has contributed to its success and longevity.

Because the village of Cassopolis is nestled in southwest Michigan, it gives Dussel’s market access to high quality produce that Dussel believes is hard to find elsewhere.

“We have some of the best produce in the world here,” he said. “When you see a sign that says ‘Michigan produce,’ that means something.”

Because of all that Cassopolis has done for him and his business, Dussel feels that the market gives back the community by way of the economy.

“When you shop here, the money that is spent here, stays here,” he said.

In addition to location, the level of service Dussel’s Farm Market and Greenhouse provides is what keeps the store running and customers coming back, Dussel said.

He serves customers by listening to what customers want and need and keeping his prices as low as he can.

“We live in a small town. We can’t have the mentality of, ‘If they don’t like it they don’t have to come back,’” he said. “We aren’t Walmart. We are here for everybody.”

More so than just being a way to keep customers, the service aspect of running the market is Dussel’s favorite part of the job.

“In the last 20 years, I’ve been introduced to a lot of very good people,” he said. “They really make the job enjoyable. You gotta be there for your customers.”

No matter why the store has lasted as long as it has, Dussel is grateful that it made it to its 20th anniversary.

“We’re happy to be here,” Dussel said. “We’re hoping to be around for another 20 years.”