We get compliments all the time at the market which we love, but when a fellow market groupie complements us, that’s high praise indeed. A lady, who like us collects markets where ever she goes, told us today that the Webb City market is the friendliest, warmest (in a good way), cleanest and best market she’d ever been to.
Yesterday, we were at the State Fair where the Governor opened the Ag Building by recognizing the Webb City Farmers Market as the state’s 2009 market of the year. He and Mrs. Nixon are big fans of local foods and know that supporting local food is also supporting local economies, plus it tastes really good!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Black Diamond Watermelon
Shoal Creek Greenhouse and Gardens are bringing Black Diamond watermelons to market on Friday and Saturday!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Webb City Sentinel column - 8/14/09
Resa Amos and I drove about 250 miles on Wednesday making this season’s second visit to our northern farms. Farm inspections are challenging from a time perspective. It’s hard to come up with the five full days needed to visit every grower, but it has its perks (in addition to the very necessary purpose of verifying that all our farmers are selling only what they grow).
For example, Frank Runyon’s place west of Sheldon is always a pleasure to visit. It’s located on a small lake surrounded by beautifully manicured lawns, as well as his fields of melons, garden produce, blackberries and young fruit trees. It’s lovely enough to be a resort.
Jeff Koehn welcomed us to Countryside View Greenhouse in Walker which is northeast of Nevada. He has 900 hardy mums well underway for fall, in addition to many perennials and fruit trees. In fact, Resa’s eye was caught by a Red Haven peach tree which she bought and we hauled back in my little car. When we went in to make the purchase (I bought some cinnamon candies) Resa remarked that it looked just like a little Mennonite country store. Jeff replied that was understandable since he’s Mennonite.
Hospitality is the key word at Fairhaven Berry and Vegetable Farm. Carrole has been under the weather for the past few weeks and we’ve really missed her at the market. Sitting a spell on their front porch is always part of the ritual of our visits there, but this visit was extra special because of the time we were able to spend with Carrole.
And it’s always so satifying to walk the farm with Joe. He and Carrole, like many of our vendors, are committed to making the market the best it can be. That’s why Joe still has six plantings of sweet corn that should ripen all the way to the end of September. That’s why they’ve ordered an additional 1,000 strawberry plants and a load of raspberry brambles. That’s why they planted three times the number of sweet potatoes this year as they did last year. They put in the extra effort so the market can be well stocked with local produce through the whole season, and in the case of sweet potatoes into the winter market. Speaking of sweet potatoes, the first harvest will be at the market on Friday and Saturday.
Our next stop was Pate’s Orchard where the China Pearls are ready for harvest. The China Pearl is a white peach with a taste and scent that, to be redundant, is fruity – but fruity in an almost tropical way. It’s delicious and I’d recommend you give it a try if they’re not sold out by the time you get to market.
At Broken Wire Ranch, south of Stockton, we were in for a treat. Tom Lewis specializes in peppers – hot and sweet – and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many peppers in my life. Row after row, each 450 feet long, just loaded with bright yellow, orange and red peppers of every shape and size. Tom is definitely the pepper king of the market, made more so by his pepper roaster. You can pick out the peppers of your choice and he’ll fire them up right at the market.
Sunny Lane Farms was our next stop. We got to meet their market herd of one and two year old herefords. The pastured poultry were out in the field in their new huge cages. The cages are new because in the last wind storm the old cages blew into the pond, though not before owner Nancy got all the chickens out. We also met Nancy’s new flock of sheep which later in the year will enable her to add lamb to the choices at her market stand. She’s taking pre-orders now.
Our last stop was the Vang Farm. We hadn’t planned to stop there but a road detour took us within a hundred feet of their farm, so I called and asked if they’d mind a spur of the moment visit. Geena Vang and her mother – who is the chief farmer – took us through their very extensive plantings. They have an amazing quantity of green beans. They’re also loaded with okra, egg plant, potatoes, onions, Thai peppers and lots of other vegetables. It is impressive that Mrs. Vang, with the help of her husband, manage such large plantings, mainly with hand labor. She’s sure not afraid of hard work.
During the next two weeks, we’ll be heading south, west and east finishing the inspections. We take our grower-only rule very seriously, so much so that a violation results in eviction from the market. That’s the one rule violation that we do not forgive. Intrigity is too important to the market’s success to allow any one vendor to tarnish it – which, of course, doesn’t make it any easier for me to tell farmers they have been banned. That is, for sure, my least favorite job as manager. But the up side is that, thanks to the market’s success, some 30 family businesses continue to thrive at the market. That’s one of our reasons for being and, like bread upon the water, it has spread as other communities, seeing Webb City’s success, have begun their own markets, providing venues for success for many more growers. So here’s to local markets supporting local growers, while boosting the local economy and providing local fresh food to local communities.
Lunch today is Chicken Perlu', mixed vegetables, rolls, fruit cup & drink for $6. Lee Ann & Jack Sours play from 11 to 1.
There’s lots happening on Saturday. Cub Scout Pack 29 hosts a bake sale and serves breakfast. The Granny Chicks perform. It’s also be our monthly Art Market. And, finally, it’s our Market Roots Celebration. Bring the kids to see where their food originated, see where the families of our vendors and volunteers can from and place a pin where your own roots were planted on the Historical Society’s map.
For example, Frank Runyon’s place west of Sheldon is always a pleasure to visit. It’s located on a small lake surrounded by beautifully manicured lawns, as well as his fields of melons, garden produce, blackberries and young fruit trees. It’s lovely enough to be a resort.
Jeff Koehn welcomed us to Countryside View Greenhouse in Walker which is northeast of Nevada. He has 900 hardy mums well underway for fall, in addition to many perennials and fruit trees. In fact, Resa’s eye was caught by a Red Haven peach tree which she bought and we hauled back in my little car. When we went in to make the purchase (I bought some cinnamon candies) Resa remarked that it looked just like a little Mennonite country store. Jeff replied that was understandable since he’s Mennonite.Hospitality is the key word at Fairhaven Berry and Vegetable Farm. Carrole has been under the weather for the past few weeks and we’ve really missed her at the market. Sitting a spell on their front porch is always part of the ritual of our visits there, but this visit was extra special because of the time we were able to spend with Carrole.
And it’s always so satifying to walk the farm with Joe. He and Carrole, like many of our vendors, are committed to making the market the best it can be. That’s why Joe still has six plantings of sweet corn that should ripen all the way to the end of September. That’s why they’ve ordered an additional 1,000 strawberry plants and a load of raspberry brambles. That’s why they planted three times the number of sweet potatoes this year as they did last year. They put in the extra effort so the market can be well stocked with local produce through the whole season, and in the case of sweet potatoes into the winter market. Speaking of sweet potatoes, the first harvest will be at the market on Friday and Saturday.
Our next stop was Pate’s Orchard where the China Pearls are ready for harvest. The China Pearl is a white peach with a taste and scent that, to be redundant, is fruity – but fruity in an almost tropical way. It’s delicious and I’d recommend you give it a try if they’re not sold out by the time you get to market.
At Broken Wire Ranch, south of Stockton, we were in for a treat. Tom Lewis specializes in peppers – hot and sweet – and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many peppers in my life. Row after row, each 450 feet long, just loaded with bright yellow, orange and red peppers of every shape and size. Tom is definitely the pepper king of the market, made more so by his pepper roaster. You can pick out the peppers of your choice and he’ll fire them up right at the market.Sunny Lane Farms was our next stop. We got to meet their market herd of one and two year old herefords. The pastured poultry were out in the field in their new huge cages. The cages are new because in the last wind storm the old cages blew into the pond, though not before owner Nancy got all the chickens out. We also met Nancy’s new flock of sheep which later in the year will enable her to add lamb to the choices at her market stand. She’s taking pre-orders now.
Our last stop was the Vang Farm. We hadn’t planned to stop there but a road detour took us within a hundred feet of their farm, so I called and asked if they’d mind a spur of the moment visit. Geena Vang and her mother – who is the chief farmer – took us through their very extensive plantings. They have an amazing quantity of green beans. They’re also loaded with okra, egg plant, potatoes, onions, Thai peppers and lots of other vegetables. It is impressive that Mrs. Vang, with the help of her husband, manage such large plantings, mainly with hand labor. She’s sure not afraid of hard work.
During the next two weeks, we’ll be heading south, west and east finishing the inspections. We take our grower-only rule very seriously, so much so that a violation results in eviction from the market. That’s the one rule violation that we do not forgive. Intrigity is too important to the market’s success to allow any one vendor to tarnish it – which, of course, doesn’t make it any easier for me to tell farmers they have been banned. That is, for sure, my least favorite job as manager. But the up side is that, thanks to the market’s success, some 30 family businesses continue to thrive at the market. That’s one of our reasons for being and, like bread upon the water, it has spread as other communities, seeing Webb City’s success, have begun their own markets, providing venues for success for many more growers. So here’s to local markets supporting local growers, while boosting the local economy and providing local fresh food to local communities.
Lunch today is Chicken Perlu', mixed vegetables, rolls, fruit cup & drink for $6. Lee Ann & Jack Sours play from 11 to 1.
There’s lots happening on Saturday. Cub Scout Pack 29 hosts a bake sale and serves breakfast. The Granny Chicks perform. It’s also be our monthly Art Market. And, finally, it’s our Market Roots Celebration. Bring the kids to see where their food originated, see where the families of our vendors and volunteers can from and place a pin where your own roots were planted on the Historical Society’s map.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Let's Plant a Garden Day - the rest of the story
Every Spring the market gives a free tomato plant and planting instructions to all the children at the market that day. This week we heard from one of our little gardeners - Makayla. Here's a photo of her and her plant. We hope all our other little growers did as well.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Lost & Found
If you're missing keys, glasses, sun shades, a perscription, or something else - check by the information table. We may have your missing item.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Heirloom Tomatoes
They're hard to grow, they have a short season, they're delicious & we'll have 100s of pounds of them on Friday and Saturday at the market. Fredrickson Farms has a bountiful harvest of heirloom tomatoes (those are old fashioned tomatoes known by their multitude of colors, shapes and sizes - the only thing they realy have in common is their amazing taste). These are not your uniform easy-to-ship factory tomatoes. They're sometimes quirky looking, always colorful and packed with flavor. Get them while they're at the market.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Sentinel column - 8-7-09
We’ve hit high season at the market with the arrival in abundance of melons. Several of our farms grow melons, but Frank Runyan of Sheldon definitely grows the most. Frank made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday with his pickup loaded with Odyssey cantaloupes and Crimson Sweet watermelons. Frank plans to be at the market every Tuesday and Friday until he’s picked his fields clean. On Saturdays, you can find melons at Circle E and Organic Way, among other vendors.
We also have plenty of sweet corn – yellow at Fairhaven and Circle E, peaches and cream bi-color at Broken Wire and the McLaughlin Farm.
And we have lots of tomatoes, too, including canners. Hector Troyer said Tuesday that he had sold large orders of canning tomatoes to four different folks. With our food preservation classes and our sign up sheets, we’ve been able to connect growers having an over supply of produce with folks wanting to do food preservation, making everyone happy.
We should have a good supply of peaches today (Friday). John Pate plans to bring the big truck. He’ll still probably sell out by 2:00, so I wouldn’t wait too late in the day, but there shouldn’t be a need to stand in a long line. John says some of the peaches are huge this year. You’ll find the biggest ones in the $4 boxes.
Speaking of the peach line, what a cheerful group of people they are. It took a few markets before the line began forming up smoothly, but I believe we’ve got the system down now. The first one in line takes the closest seat on the bench by Pate’s Orchard and the line forms as people sit in order on the benches and then stand behind. Sometimes we can have 50 people in line when the bell rings, but then it moves quickly. Usually all 50 have their peaches in less than 20 minutes.
I often serve as the line monitor, primarily to let folks new to the market know where the end of the line is. People are amazingly kind in cooperating which is a big help to me.
Today, lunch is a Philly cheese steak sandwich, oriental cole slaw, chips, brownie & drink for $6. Bailed Green & Wired Tight play from 11 - 1.
Tomorrow, the Saturday market runs from 9 to noon. The Carl Junction chapter of the Order of Eastern Star will be serving a breakfast of biscuits, gravy, sausage and drink for $3. This is a new fundraiser for us and looks like it will net between $100 and $200 each Saturday for participating non-profits. Next Saturday, Cub Scout pack 25 will run the breakfast. They’ll also have a bake sale next week.
The ever-popular Ninth Hour Quartet will perform tomorrow and Nancy Carlson will run the children’s craft table which will be coloring pages of fruits and veggies.
We have a new business opportunity for the right baker. Hazel’s Bakery hopes to go to Fridays only as soon as we can find a replacement for them on Tuesdays. We are accepting applications from folks who would like to sell pies, cakes, cookies and fruit breads, as well as other baked goods, on Tuesdays at the market. The market requires that baked goods come from a kitchen inspected by the health department, however that can be a church kitchen or a borrowed restaurant kitchen if the baker doesn’t own one. Applications are available at the information table or through our blog or web site by email.
If you haven’t visited our blog lately, please do. It has all sorts of inside news, photos and tips, as well as a link to vote for your favorite market in the country – hint, hint. The blog site is webbcityfarmersmarket.blogspot.com. There’s a box on the site where you can sign up for blog alerts. You receive a short email whenever a new blog is posted – an easy way to keep up with market news. For example, that’s where you’d find out that Amos Apiaries is bringing in the fall honey harvest which should be at the market today, that Hazel’s Bakery will be away from the market next Tuesday so you’ll want to stock up on pies and cakes today and that Reddings Mill bakery will be back at the market on August 11. You can also see a picture of the Kids Community Garden and of our youngest vendor.
Next Saturday is our Market Roots Celebration. It’s a great way to explore your own roots and learn about where our neighbors and our food hailed from back in the mists of time. The celebration is a Webb City original, but we have shared it across the country. In fact, just yesterday we received a request for details from Green Market in New York City which wants to start its own Market Roots Celebration. We’re happy to help what, according to their web site, is the largest and most successful open-air farmers markets program in the country, connecting local farmers with city residents by delivering fresh healthy produce to all five boroughs through 46 markets.
Superintendent Ron Lankford often says that Webb City schools prepares its students to succeed anywhere. Apparently, at least in the case of Market Roots, the market is following the school’s lead.
We also have plenty of sweet corn – yellow at Fairhaven and Circle E, peaches and cream bi-color at Broken Wire and the McLaughlin Farm.
And we have lots of tomatoes, too, including canners. Hector Troyer said Tuesday that he had sold large orders of canning tomatoes to four different folks. With our food preservation classes and our sign up sheets, we’ve been able to connect growers having an over supply of produce with folks wanting to do food preservation, making everyone happy.
We should have a good supply of peaches today (Friday). John Pate plans to bring the big truck. He’ll still probably sell out by 2:00, so I wouldn’t wait too late in the day, but there shouldn’t be a need to stand in a long line. John says some of the peaches are huge this year. You’ll find the biggest ones in the $4 boxes.
Speaking of the peach line, what a cheerful group of people they are. It took a few markets before the line began forming up smoothly, but I believe we’ve got the system down now. The first one in line takes the closest seat on the bench by Pate’s Orchard and the line forms as people sit in order on the benches and then stand behind. Sometimes we can have 50 people in line when the bell rings, but then it moves quickly. Usually all 50 have their peaches in less than 20 minutes.
I often serve as the line monitor, primarily to let folks new to the market know where the end of the line is. People are amazingly kind in cooperating which is a big help to me.
Today, lunch is a Philly cheese steak sandwich, oriental cole slaw, chips, brownie & drink for $6. Bailed Green & Wired Tight play from 11 - 1.
Tomorrow, the Saturday market runs from 9 to noon. The Carl Junction chapter of the Order of Eastern Star will be serving a breakfast of biscuits, gravy, sausage and drink for $3. This is a new fundraiser for us and looks like it will net between $100 and $200 each Saturday for participating non-profits. Next Saturday, Cub Scout pack 25 will run the breakfast. They’ll also have a bake sale next week.
The ever-popular Ninth Hour Quartet will perform tomorrow and Nancy Carlson will run the children’s craft table which will be coloring pages of fruits and veggies.
We have a new business opportunity for the right baker. Hazel’s Bakery hopes to go to Fridays only as soon as we can find a replacement for them on Tuesdays. We are accepting applications from folks who would like to sell pies, cakes, cookies and fruit breads, as well as other baked goods, on Tuesdays at the market. The market requires that baked goods come from a kitchen inspected by the health department, however that can be a church kitchen or a borrowed restaurant kitchen if the baker doesn’t own one. Applications are available at the information table or through our blog or web site by email.
If you haven’t visited our blog lately, please do. It has all sorts of inside news, photos and tips, as well as a link to vote for your favorite market in the country – hint, hint. The blog site is webbcityfarmersmarket.blogspot.com. There’s a box on the site where you can sign up for blog alerts. You receive a short email whenever a new blog is posted – an easy way to keep up with market news. For example, that’s where you’d find out that Amos Apiaries is bringing in the fall honey harvest which should be at the market today, that Hazel’s Bakery will be away from the market next Tuesday so you’ll want to stock up on pies and cakes today and that Reddings Mill bakery will be back at the market on August 11. You can also see a picture of the Kids Community Garden and of our youngest vendor.
Next Saturday is our Market Roots Celebration. It’s a great way to explore your own roots and learn about where our neighbors and our food hailed from back in the mists of time. The celebration is a Webb City original, but we have shared it across the country. In fact, just yesterday we received a request for details from Green Market in New York City which wants to start its own Market Roots Celebration. We’re happy to help what, according to their web site, is the largest and most successful open-air farmers markets program in the country, connecting local farmers with city residents by delivering fresh healthy produce to all five boroughs through 46 markets.
Superintendent Ron Lankford often says that Webb City schools prepares its students to succeed anywhere. Apparently, at least in the case of Market Roots, the market is following the school’s lead.
It's National Farmers Market Week
& we're celebrating our youngest growers on Saturday. The market sponsors, with the school, a Kids Community Garden just west of Madge T. James Kindergarten. (How appropriate is that - a kids garden by a children's garden - that's what kindergarten means in German).
The Open House will be this Saturday from 9 to 11. The young gardeners will be serving lemonade and giving tours. Their mentors, the master gardeners, will be on hand with gardening information.
The garden is ringed this year by marigolds planted by 400 kindergarten through second graders during summer school, so many little hands have planted the garden this year.
Please plan to stop by and encourage our youngest gardeners Saturday morning.
The Open House will be this Saturday from 9 to 11. The young gardeners will be serving lemonade and giving tours. Their mentors, the master gardeners, will be on hand with gardening information.
The garden is ringed this year by marigolds planted by 400 kindergarten through second graders during summer school, so many little hands have planted the garden this year.
Please plan to stop by and encourage our youngest gardeners Saturday morning.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Inside News
Resa Amos called to say the fall honey harvest is underway and she should be at the market full time starting this Friday through this month.
Kay McLaughlin advises that she will not be at the market next Tuesday, so stock up this Friday.
Finally, in addition to Frank Runyon with his melons, we had another new vendor and product at the market today. Katey Fredrickson set up her own table with the first of her mini pumpkins (all 5 of them) and some other goodies from her little garden at Fredrickson Farms.
Kay McLaughlin advises that she will not be at the market next Tuesday, so stock up this Friday.
Finally, in addition to Frank Runyon with his melons, we had another new vendor and product at the market today. Katey Fredrickson set up her own table with the first of her mini pumpkins (all 5 of them) and some other goodies from her little garden at Fredrickson Farms.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Inside News - Melons
Frank Runyon will be at the market on Tuesday (August 4) with watermelon & canteloupe!! Fredrickson Farms says they'll have 300 pounds of heirloom tomatoes on Friday and Saturday. It's harvest time!!!
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