Farmers market coming to downtown Cape in April

When the Cape Alternative Farmers Market moves to the downtown area next month, Old Town Cape executive director Tim Arbeiter says it will provide a tasty -- but sorely missing -- ingredient to the historic riverfront district.

"Farmers markets are always good for downtown areas," Arbeiter said. "They bring people downtown to shop at the market. We're really excited to have it. When the people come to the market, we hope they'll continue patronizing the other businesses downtown."

The Cape Alternative Farmers Market will start its spring season on April 26, from 8 a.m. until noon in the parking lot next to the Red House on Aquamsi Street. It will be open there each Wednesday until Oct. 25.

The market, which had operated at Arena Park, will continue to feature Missouri-grown strawberries; farm-raised and pastured chicken, eggs and pork; gourmet lettuce and fresh-cut herbs; breads, cakes and pies; gourmet canned items; goat milk soap; plants; and fruits and vegetables.

Market manager Octavia Scharenborg said the market was wanting to move to a more prominent location that had higher visibility. Moving to the historic downtown area -- where Cape Girardeau's roots lie -- made sense to them, she said.

There are usually 18 to 20 vendors from all across Southeast Missouri, she said. They also sell watermelons, squash, sweet corn, peppers, lettuce and herbs. They also have all-natural pork and beef, she said.

Another advantage, she said, was that farmers who sell at the market farm organically and naturally.

"It gives the consumer an alternative to buying mass-produced commodities like they get at the grocery store," she said.

Being downtown will also allow the market to be better marketed, she said. Old Town Cape, which promotes the downtown, is helping them put up a sign as well as listing the market on various city Web sites, she said. Moving will also save the market from paying rent like it had to for Arena Park's shelters. Arbeiter did say the farmers market would have to pay a nominal fee to reserve the space and to cover costs like electricity.

Typically, the farmers market will draw between 150 and 200 people, but Scharenborg hopes that number will grow to as many as 2,000 or more.

"We want all we can handle," she said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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