Jackson farmers market sees modest start

They grow it. You buy it.

It's as simple as that.

A farming family has established a weekly farmers market in Jackson, and Wednesday was the first day in business in front of Buchheit's store on Old Orchard Road near the city limits.

Much like the farmers market that has been selling produce every Thursday for many years at the Plaza Galleria parking lot in Cape Girardeau, the new Jackson farmers market provides an old-school way of buying and selling food.

There are no preservatives added, no can openers needed. All the food at the stands is grown and picked by hand, hauled by the farmers and handed directly over to the customer by the farmers.

There are no calls for "price check on aisle six," no pauses for clerks to change out receipt tape and no coupons to scan. However, if the sellers find out you're buying for a good cause -- for a tornado victim block party, for instance -- they can take a few bucks off your purchase without having to request management approval.

"The purpose of the farmers markets is to help sustain small family farms," said Octavia Scharenborg, a sixth-generation farmer from Jackson. "We want to get the community involved and let them get to know the farmers. And we want people to know they don't have to go to the grocery store to get good food. Our food is home-grown. Plus, we enjoy growing our stuff."

Wednesday, there were only two vendors. The Scharenborg family brought lots of fresh vegetables and herbs. And Kevin Johns brought baskets full of peaches, nectarines and other fruits and vegetables from his orchard near Dexter.

Based on their experience, Octavia Scharenborg and Connie, Octavia's mother, said they expect up to 15 vendors to come to Jackson in the coming weeks, once the market is established. Organizers plan to open the market at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays.

"There's only two here now, but I won't complain because the people of Jackson have been happy to see us," Connie said.

Future vendors may include Jackson's "honey guy," Grant Gillard, a minister widely known for his bee keeping hobby.

Johns said he met Scharenborg at a meeting in Poplar Bluff. Scharenborg had been talking about starting up a market in Jackson for a few years -- even got one started late in the season two years ago -- and Johns needed another location to sell his peaches.

So the Scharenborgs decided it was time for action.

Within the last month, with the help of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Octavia Scharenborg was able to find a location and get things organized.

"We don't assist in terms of dollars," said Tammy Bruckerhoff, farmers market coordinator with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. "We put on farmers market workshops around the state, provide banners and price cards, things like that. Octavia just e-mails and calls and asks for direction and how to organize. We basically just consult with them."

Even with very little advertising, the word of the farmers market made its way across town to several people.

Charles Travers, a Jackson resident and businessman, saw a flyer while visiting Grace Cafe in Cape Girardeau. He bought four ears of corn, a pint of pecans and some peaches.

"I just needed some fresh stuff, and I thought I'd stop by," he said.

Nancy Dodd heard about it through a friend. Dodd is holding a party this weekend.

"I've got to have the good stuff," she said. "And this is what summer is all about."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635