When married duo Maggie and Gary Balch moved to Englewood 32 years ago, Maggie snagged a job at a local farmstand. When that went belly up, she set up a roadside booth in Port Charlotte where she was approached by a local fisherman who asked if she’d consider selling some of his shrimp. “We got rid of our produce and started selling shrimp roadside,” says Gary. “We sold it from Bradenton to Bonita Beach. We still had full-time jobs, but it was a fun side gig for us.”

Eventually, someone from the Sarasota Farmers Market reached out to them and invited them to sell their shrimp downtown, and from there they continued to grow—adding lobster tails and frozen fish and then replacing the frozen items with fresh catches.

Today, the Balches sell 500 pounds of seafood at both the Sarasota and Venice farmers markets. For Maggie’s Seafood devotees, the pair send a newsletter at the beginning of the week alerting loyal customers to what will be available and allowing them to preorder.

Gary claims that he and Maggie don’t have a favorite fish, but he does say he loves selling grouper and snapper, both of which he receives from a commercial fisherman based out of Stock Island, Florida. He says he gets most excited when the fisherman presents him with lesser-known bycatch like fireback grouper.

Florida’s seafood availability is changing every year, so the Balches have to maintain flexibility. Gary says the once wildly popular stone crab is less of a draw because prices have skyrocketed, and the shrimp industry near Fort Myers was devastated by the multiple major storms that have hit the area over the past decade. Nevertheless, the Balches’ stand is now an institution—an easy source for local seafood that will improve whatever dish you’re making next.

Maggie’s Seafood, (866) 908-0002, maggiesseafood.com