The Local Peach is a community-driven, environmentally conscious market where inclusion is valued, working diversity is fostered, and success is shared.
Brand Story
Lo•cal - belonging or relating to a particular area or neighborhood, typically exclusively so It is with great pride that we remove exclusivity from the definition of local. Like many, the pandemic springboarded us into now-or-never mode. As business as we knew it buckled at its knees, we revisited a longtime dream of fostering working diversity in a way that promoted community support, waste reduction, and the amplification of valuable voices that often go unheard. Most of all, we hoped to spearhead initiatives that serve to remedy the food desert status of Norcross, Georgia - the place we now call home. Pretty lofty endeavor, right? Yep! The heart of The Local Peach is to dream big and reach far to make sure home feels like home for everyone.
We definitely are not your average Southern eatery. The Local Peach does serve up deliciousness with a smile but that’s not all. Our market exists as a hub for civic engagement, the exchange of locally sourced goods, and soul-stirring conversations
Here is where food, love, and education join forces to combat our community’s most pressing what ifs:
What if the disenfranchised had the chance to succeed?
What if diversity was lived out rather than just talked about?
What if we built a business so inclusive that fear of failure was eliminated?
We approach these questions with the socially conscious belief that success should be far from an exclusive experience. We seek to nurture a culture of compassion and acceptance through authenticity, pride, originality, and collaboration. Our shelves are stocked with products from local minority and women-owned businesses because when everyone has a seat at the table, every person eats. The Local Peach is that table.
From meal kits to virtual cooking classes, trusted artisan products, hot meals on-the-go, and partnerships to combat food insecurity, everything we do is for the good of all. It’s not enough to simply talk about change.
The Local Peach is committed to being the change we want to see and connecting with like-minded individuals, families, and organizations who share in our passion.
We strive daily to develop lasting relationships that open hearts to a broadened sense of community and commitment to collective success.
Meet The Souls Behind The Local Peach
Nona D. Johnson
Chef Nona D. Johnson is a fusion of resilience, life-shifting experiences, and culinary brilliance. Make no mistake about it, this graduate of The Culinary School of Fort Worth is just as familiar with the bright lights of Hollywood as she is with “hey y’all!” From Louisiana to Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, and Los Angeles to finally calling Norcross, Georgia home, Chef Nona has lived and learned what matters most to her. From winning Season 8 of Hell’s Kitchen to flourishing as a community-minded restaurateur, Chef Nona is a wellspring of stories wrapped in tenacity.
What is a life if not seasoned with the wild determination to see yourself and others win big? Chef Nona desires to inspire girls and women of every age and demographic to bravely stand in their skin. She heralds women to take up space and persevere, because now is their time to live without apology or regret. Never one to not practice what she preaches, Chef Nona and her wife, Chef Briana Murray, bulldoze limiting boxes and challenge beliefs that benefit some while marginalizing others. For those who thought their life’s work was solely plating food, think again!Â
Chefs Nona and Briana serve up more than Southern cuisine with a twist. They are the owners of a premier luxury catering service called Sizzling Peach and The Local Peach - a community-driven, environmentally conscious market. At The Local Peach, inclusion is valued, working diversity is fostered, and success is shared. Together, the couple strives to remove exclusivity from prosperity by making sure that everyone eats. Simply put, as a Political Science major turned chef, Nona Johnson encompasses the attributes of those she most admires: the glass ceiling-shattering determination of Julia Childs, the energy of Justin Wilson, and the humanitarian heart of Paul Prudhomme.
Briana Murray
Love is always the secret ingredient in Chef Briana Murray’s kitchen. Oh, but wait! Don’t think for a minute that this food-lovin’ extroverted introvert shies away breaking out of boxes and demolishing barriers! With a heart of compassion and a zeal for change, Chef Bri dreams big and fights hard to see the disenfranchised esteemed and abundance shared. She seeks to be a civic voice that inspires others to find joy in our differences while embracing the unknown. And what better way to champion unity than through the commonality of food? After all, everyone eats! Briana and her wife, Chef Nona, join forces as the owners of Sizzling Peach and The Local Peach to offer their patrons an overload of Southern hospitality that extends beyond their menus’ delicacies.Â
Chef Briana is no novice to the food industry. More than 20 years of experience and a degree in cultural anthropology provides her unique approach to culinary cuisine. Throw in having lived in 10 states from coast to coast before settling in Norcross, Georgia, and you can guarantee her creations are inspired by more than their palatable ingredients. Sure enough, Chef Bri’s passions cannot be confined to a plate. She loves presenting meals that send customers into a dreamlike state, but there is more. While those factors are indeed important, Briana also strives to create spaces where everyone eats - literally and metaphorically - and every voice adds value to the room. Love is spread and minds are opened as people come to understand that there is beauty in variety. Differences do not have to be divisive.
At the heart of everything Briana Murray does is serving humanity for the greater good of all. Chef Bri shows up to spread love and laughter no matter her trials or responsibilities. Through edible excellence and community involvement, she empowers others in their pursuit of life, love, and happiness.