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LANDRUM – When you mention the Landrum Farmers Market, located at 221 E. Rutherford St., many recognize it as the home of the “Eggroll Lady,” Chia Scott, whose family has been one of the market’s longest-attending vendors over the last 21 years. 

Scott’s story highlights more than her business; it pays tribute to her beloved parents, Wa Khay and Koua, who instilled in her the value of family, resilience, and cultural heritage.

Scott’s parents were passionate gardeners, dedicating their free time to cultivating a variety of vegetables, Asian long beans, spinach, and patty pan squash, that mirrored their roots and brought a taste of their culture to the Carolina soil. 

“Gardening was never work to them; it was their joy,” Scott said. “For me, though, it’s a different story. Let’s just say gardening skipped a generation. I kill rosemary.”

In the summer of 2004, her parents decided it was time to share their homegrown bounty with the community. After Scott found the Landrum Farmers Market, they drove there for the first time, only to discover that there were just four vendors. 

“I thought we must be in the wrong place. It’s way too small,” she recalled. 

However, a warm greeting from the market manager at the time, the late Joe Cunningham, immediately engaged them, introducing them to fellow vendors and making them feel at home.

Throughout their time at the market, Scott’s parents communicated through their produce, forming connections with customers without needing words. As demand grew, they introduced flowers and began crafting beautiful bouquets, ultimately bringing their delicious, homemade egg rolls to market.

“People were not just buying food, they were connecting with us and our story,” Scott said.

Life’s challenges struck hard when Scott’s father passed away in 2020, followed by her mother in 2023. 

“I struggled with continuing this legacy,” she admitted. “I’m not a gardener, but I am their daughter. I can keep their spirit alive through the eggrolls.”

With encouragement from loyal customers, the name “The Eggroll Lady” found its way to Scott. 

“People would see us at grocery stores or festivals and ask, ‘Aren’t you the Eggroll Lady from the Landrum market?’ It was simple, real, and it stuck,” she explained.

The Eggroll Lady encompasses three generations. Scott sees her parents’ legacy living on through her children, Cua, Michael, Mac, and Mathai, and her grandbabies, Mulani, Omari, Luna, and their angel Noella, who is honored through “Mumu’s Lemonade.” The warmth and support from the Landrum community have played a pivotal role in their family journey. 

“Without the love from our Landrum family and surrounding communities, we wouldn’t still be here. They welcomed us and made us feel like we belonged,” Scott added.

As she continues to carry on her family’s legacy, Scott envisions her parents and Joe together in a heavenly garden, cultivating love and vegetables. “That’s how it always was,” she said.

The Eggroll Lady serves its offerings at the Landrum Farmers Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.