THAT TIME OF THE YEAR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!

FARMERS MARKETS

The weather has been rather mild this winter, so many are starting their gardens early this year. If this weather continues, it could be an early crop producer for many. Now we can only hope that a heavy frost,downpours, or heat does not wipe them out.

Farmers Markets usually open up the first week of May in this area. The market in downtown Kansas City is open year round - but most of their items are trucked in from out of state. I was just told that Riverside’s farmers market opens next weekend.

I am a huge supporter of farmers markets that only allow locally grown produce rather than trucked in produce, and I will drive that extra mile to make sure the produce I am buying is locally grown. I feel that it is important to know where the produce comes from and how the
farmers/vendors grow it. By that I mean is it hot house grown or preferably grown naturally in the ground, what it is fertilized with, and any insecticides that are used on the plants. That is very important information to me. I want to know what I am feeding my family.

In our road trips on weekends, we also look for and support local farmers old fashioned roadside stands. This is where the farmer sets up a stand on his property and sells his excess produce. I love these and often get some fantastic buys! I also enjoy getting to know local farmers! There is
nothing like a good old farmer’s tale!!!

Organically grown produce is becoming more and more available to consumers at the markets. This is a good thing for the consumer!Watch your markets this year for vendors who provide this produce.

I am already receiving emails, newsletters and postings on Facebook from vendors that we buy from, and I am getting very excited for them to open!

I am looking forward to a great year for local farmers! And for the consumers!

Happy shopping!
Marilyn

FARMER'S MARKETS SOON TO BE IN SEASON

TIS THE SEASON – FARMERS MARKETS GEARING UP TO OPEN

Here we are once again, the start of the local farmers markets! Local farmers selling their crops of fantastic FRESH produce!!!!! Or let’s hope that they are selling THEIR fresh produce and not produce trucked in from other areas that they did not raise.

History tells us that farmers have sold their produce at farmers markets, roadside stands and local festivals for centuries. It was their way of earning a little extra income and dispensing of their abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested on their farms.

There is nothing as frustrating as going to a market that is advertised as ALL PRODUCE LOCALLY GROWN BY VENDORS, only to find tomatoes grown in hot houses in Arkansas and watermelons (out of season locally) grown in Texas and Mexico., then trucked up here to be sold. Why go to a farmers market when you can find this type of produce in your local supermarkets?

I travel around the area on farmer’s market days seeing just how many are truly locally grown by local vendors markets. Sad reality is that most are not. I will not buy produce at a farmers market that has been brought in from somewhere else – not local. The reason is that the produce is not “fresh”. Most has been picked to early, and not ready for consumption (not ripe).

Many farmers markets attempt to give the consumer more choices by filling their booth spaces with who ever will pay the fees. I am not really one that looks for arts and crafts at markets either; they have their time and place.

The nuts and bolts of a good farmer’s market are the varieties of in season local produce. Markets need to be directed by a person knowledgeable and experienced in locally grown produce, not someone just off the street, or not educated in farmer’s markets. Add variety to it of organic produce, and you have a good market. By experience I mean someone who has been there and done that….a local producer. Knowledge in the field of agriculture is a plus.

Happy farmer’s market ventures to all!