The Unique at a Farmers' Market

[digitS']

Farmers' markets are filled with people who are marketing gardeners. Often, they have offerings that reflect a scheduled production from a fairly small piece of ground.

As non-marketing gardeners, we may especially appreciate the Springtime assortments of plants available. Unique varieties show up that we can take home and grow.

As with any consumers, we appreciate consistency. We want a jar of honey when the one at home is nearly finished. Now, where's that beekeeper!? Bakers are also often found at "farmers'" markets. That has always made sense to me .

The appreciation and knowledge of seasonality is important for those of us who relish fresh, local fruits and vegetables. Certainly, those fruits and vegetables are a prime, if not THE prime reason to visit these markets.

The unique offerings in each booth can be something special about these markets and some vendors are standouts in this regard. Perhaps, it's an individual behind the table with good advice on choices and recipes. These experiences along with the offerings set these shopping experiences apart from other venues. As customers, what are your special reasons and pleasures for visiting?

Steve

 

[SPedigrees]

I've heard there are farmers markets where vendors sell what they have personally grown, sewn, baked, or otherwise created, and then there are farmers markets where vendors buy wares and then sell them at a mark-up price. The one I frequent is the first variety, and I love it. This market requires vendors to only sell what they have grown or made themselves, and most of these people are fairly close neighbors to me. They have nice homegrown music there each week too from a variety of local entertainers. A lot of their customer base are tourists, but I'm a local there. I feel refreshed (if exhausted) after a visit there. These are *my people* for sure.

I buy a substantial amount of my groceries at the farmers market (grass fed meats, raw milk, home baked and home canned goods, hand sewn items, and homemade jewelry that I'd buy if I didn't already have more than I ever have opportunity to wear). I'm looking at the last market of the year next week; then it will be grocery store eggs, milk, and bread until next summer. I average about 2 visits a month to stock up on supplies.

 

[digitS']

The downtown farmers' market in a nearby city made a short move in 2023. The downtown business association decided that the local shops should be able to set up booths with the vendors. Of course, the products from these businesses are from the "supply chain."

The vendors chose to move to a new development which includes private residences, apartment buildings and small shops.

The neighborhood, including the shops, welcomed the market. A sense of community and a draw for tourists and others coming from outside the neighborhood was seen as a benefit to the shop owners. And, the farmers are not competing with a nextdoor booth selling exactly the same products being sold at any supermarket.

 

[flowerbug]

... As customers, what are your special reasons and pleasures for visiting?

i would probably enjoy it if i lived within walking distance but for some reasons like not wanting to drive into town and always feeling like i have plenty to do here i've not yet been to one and they've been running it weekly at least three years if not longer.

i was asked years ago to get involved too and with all of Mom's restrictions and my own desires to grow a lot of beans i don't really have market vegetables often enough to supply a steady stream. other issues around microclimate and soil qualities make it a very hard thing to contemplate along with taking a day a week off. i'd pretty much need another person and i don't have that - in recent years i'm losing more than gaining on gardening time (having to deal with more issues around here that are not gardening and also more family stuff being scheduled which is ok, but it's just a fact of life).