Summer gardens provide fresh produce at local stands

Fresh fruits and vegetables are in no short supply throughout Cape Girardeau.

Not to mention honey, vinegar and handmade crafts.

Farmers markets have popped up all over town as gardens have begun overflowing with summer produce.

Wilma Seyer of Chaffee, Mo., and her sister Barbara Trankler of Cape Girardeau were headed to J.C. Penney at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park when they stopped for green beans and tomatoes at the city's newest market.

Bryan Truempert of Farrar Out Farms in Frohna, Mo., sells his produce at the three-week-old market, as well as stands at the Plaza Galleria parking lot on Thursdays and another Saturday morning market in Perryville, Mo. The Westfield gig begins at 10 a.m.

Among the stands on this Saturday were fresh produce, herb vinegar, preserves, eggs and chicken, all free of herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones and synthetic chemicals.

Donna Strup of Cape Girar-deau said she prefers fresh produce from the stands to store bought.

Just returning from a trip, she said she's "still drooling over the farmers market in Europe."

Knowing the fruits and vegetables have been picked within the last few days is an important feature for many shoppers, including Morn and Janet Robert of Cape Girar-deau. They said they purchase a little of everything available at the Westfield location, and also frequent the Galleria and Arena Park markets.