Webb City Sentinel market column - Wednesday, July 22, 2020

I love being with my family in Denver but I have to admit it sure feels good to be back in Webb City, plowing through all the work and life that piled up while I was gone for almost four months. And it was lovely to go back to the market Saturday and find it thriving despite the trials of COVID and a late start for corn and melons. It was especially nice to hear that sales were up from the same Saturday last year, even with those shortages. My heartfelt thanks to our vendors who have stepped up and our customers who have continued to support the market. And to the market staff and volunteers who have managed under difficult circumstances and Webb City public works who created a safe space south of the pavilion in which to expand. Thanks to the efforts and support of many, the market has expanded its protected sales area by 50% over last year, giving us the space these times require and allowing the market to continue to be one of the heartbeats of our community when so many of our other gathering places must be closed or limited.

Expansion on the south - the new Perry Foundation extension and the canopies.

The on-line store has expanded too. The Lee Family Farm has joined the store with sweet peppers – banana and bells - and hot peppers – habanero and GHOST, yes that’s about as hot as it gets. Plus they had fingerling eggplants on offer last week. The Garrett Family Farm has added meat bundles, giving us four meat vendors online now, including Misty Morning Farms’ grass fed 90/10 ground beef. The market is also putting its Market Fresh Salads on-line so look for cantaloupe this week and watermelon the following week as they come into good supply. A 32 oz. container of cut cantaloupe or watermelon costs just $4. I saw the same product, except not fresh and local, in a grocery store in Denver last week for twice that so it’s a deal. In all there are 13 market vendors selling over a hundred products on line.

 

The online store hours are changing. Starting this Thursday at noon, the store will be open 24/7 so you can place your orders anytime. Pickup will still be on Tuesdays at the market between 5 and 7 pm and must be placed by noon on Sunday to be picked up the following Tuesday. That’s because the farmers and bakers need a couple of days to harvest and/or bake to bring you fresh and local on Tuesday. Delivery is available within 10 miles of the market. Just hope on once the store closes at https://www.localline.ca/webb-city-farmers-market. 

The free kids meals this week are served in the tent north of the pavilion:

Tomorrow – lunch is from 11 to 1 – hamburgers with lettuce and tomatoes, berries, chips, and milk.

Saturday breakfast is served hot to go along with a brown bag meal for lunch – blackberry and oat yogurt parfait and milk AND ham & cheese sandwich, sliced cucumber and cherry tomatoes with ranch dip, and milk.

Meals are free to any child, age 1 through 18, regardless of residency or income. Sorry, next Tuesday’s menu isn’t available yet but will be served from 4 to 6 in the tent.

On Saturday, Cooking for a Cause benefits Ronald McDonald House. Justin Cauble plays.

On Tuesday, Ghetto Taco will serve street tacos and Drew Pommert performs.

Lots of folks are stepping up by wearing masks at the market. The market is doing its part by offering a free market mask to anyone who doesn’t already have one. They are in fabric with fruit and veggie themes and made by our friends at Harmony Hill. You’ll find them at the information table. For folks who already have a mask but just want another, they can buy a mask at Harmony Hill’s table.

I’ll leave you with an insider’s tip. Teng Yang at Nature Valley insisted I try his ice box melon when I  was at the Tuesday market. It’s a small watermelon, about the size of a cantaloupe. As market was closing he still had a number on his table. I expect folks thought they were unripe because they were so small. Well, having just taken my first bite I can assure you, hmmm hmmm, it is delicious!