Farmers markets allow local growers, customers to connect

It might seem like summer is fading fast, but area farmers markets remain in full swing as long as the gardens continue to grow.

Shoppers crowd the makeshift stands at farmers markets looking for the ripest tomatoes, zucchini and beans at the best bargain. Whether you're searching for produce or fresh-baked breads, you're likely to find it at an outdoor market in the area.

"You name it and you can buy it at a market," said Tammy Bruckerhoff, a horticulturalist and agriculture team leader with the state agriculture department.

There are three markets in Cape Girardeau. A Wednesday morning market offers fewer stands but more variety of goods; the Thursday afternoon market is the largest with produce, honey, canned and baked goods; and a Saturday morning market is small but growing.

In Missouri, there are at least 102 farmers markets that have registered with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The markets sell everything from fresh produce to flower arrangements, meats, breads and cheeses, plants and hand-crafted items.

With such a variety for sale, "there's not just one reason why the markets are popular," Bruckerhoff said.

And in every community it's different. Some markets are organized by local farmers looking for a place to sell their produce, others are organized by business people who see the good a market can bring.

The Saturday farmers market at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park falls into that latter category. Joyce Hunter, director of marketing at the mall, said the market is a good outreach for the community and is good for customers and mall employees who don't have the opportunity to visit a market during the week. Many of the vendors also sell at the Wednesday and Thursday markets in the city.

"It helps fill a niche," she said. And its calendar has been extended through October. Most area markets will continue to sell fresh produce, baked goods, home-canned foods and other Missouri-made products through early October as well.

As long as customers are interested, the stands go up.

Brothers Hoyt and Monte Kyle started their H&M Produce stand as a way to recoup some of the costs associated with their large garden planted near Morley, Mo. The pair jointly worked the garden for years, giving away their excess produce to friends and neighbors.

Now they pick the beans, corn and tomatoes with the intention of selling them at the market. Besides planting gardens and rows of crops to have vegetables available all summer, vendors have to know what quantities to bring for sale at the market.

"We're already making notes on when to start and how much to plant for next year," Hoyt Kyle said.

Knowing what to take to market is always a little bit of a guess for the vendors who sell everything from goat's milk cheese and soaps to just-picked peaches at their stands.

Business started slow for Christo and Terry Chriss, who sell baked items at the Arena Park market on Wednesday mornings.

"It's built quickly and now we have a lot of regular customers," said Christo Chriss.

The Wednesday market started in April with just two vendors and now has 15. "Our customer base is growing," said organizer Octavia Scharenborg.

Everything sold at the market is locally grown or raised by the vendors.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

WANT TO GO SHOPPING?

There are several farmers' markets to choose from:

Arena Park, Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This market is fairly small and also has vendors who sell baked goods, plants, hand-crafted items and goat's milk soap.

Plaza Galleria, Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.

This is probably the oldest and largest of the area's markets. Vendors from Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois showcase fresh produce, home-baked goods, canned foods and relishes, and honey.

Westfield Shoppingtown West Park, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vendors from other area markets also show their wares at this parking lot market.

Outside the area, markets include one at Marble Hill and another at Perryville.