Friday, May 29, 2009
Catch the market on the web
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has posted a video of the Webb City market. View it at: http://mofarmersmarket.blogspot.com/2009/05/webb-city-celebrates-10-years.html
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Inside News
The Agees are bringing apple wood chips, cracked walnuts and sassafras to the market tomorrow.
Dalton, our youngest vendor, will be at the market Friday too with his lemonade and tea.
Dalton, our youngest vendor, will be at the market Friday too with his lemonade and tea.
Sentinel column - 5/29/09
Last year we were tickled when a couple who once sold at the market stopped by to visit. They had taken the day off for their anniversary and the market was one of their treats for the day.
So we weren’t surprised at another anniversary visit Tuesday, but we were surprised by who it was – the market manager of the Sedalia farmers market and her husband, Brenda and Mark Raetz. The Sedalia market just organized this year and we shared some of our experience and documents like rules and bylaws with them. They visited with our vendors, enjoyed lunch and music, loaded up with purchases and declared they would be back. Brenda wants to bring her whole market board to visit on a Friday (during peach season).
Sometimes we hear negative comments about new markets opening locally. Folks seem to think it might hurt our market. But we take a different approach. Our theory is the more markets there are, the more opportunity for people to make markets a regular part of their shopping. And that means more market customers, which is good for all of us. Over the winter, the Webb City market worked with new markets starting in MacDonald County, Monett, Joplin, Sedalia, Foristell, St. Louis, Battlefield and about five other Missouri communities, plus a few in Kansas.
What I hear nationwide is that markets are competing for growers, not customers. If you have good products, friendly vendors and a pleasant gathering place, customers will come. But farmers do not just appear. They have to be developed and they have to be able to make a living.
Webb City is very lucky because we have lots of growers interested in selling here. So many in fact, that we no longer accept new growers for the Friday market unless they have a product that we need. Otherwise, we’re directing new vendors to the Tuesday and Saturday markets. (The Saturday markets start in June.) We also give them a list of other area markets to try. Call me Polly Anna but I truly believe that the more successful our farmers and Missouri markets are, the more successful our own market will be.
I said we’re lucky to have a lot of growers, but it’s not really luck. We attract lots of vendors because the market appears to be successful. We’ve done a lot of grower education to help our new and experienced growers become more successful.
Speaking of success, Marilyn and I have been making farm visits this week and we’ve seen some significant improvements in agricultural practices. Our Hmong farmers are incorporating many locally appropriate techniques and our new growers are learning. A case in point is the Lone Star Farm, operated by Howard and Tracy Nutting in Anderson. They gave farming a try last year but didn’t have much production. In fact, they only made it to the market a couple of times late in the season. Over the winter, they took advantage of every learning opportunity provided by our market and the state and it really shows. They expect to be at market on Tuesday with cabbage, scallions, Yukon Gold new potatoes and maybe some beets.
The Agees from Fairview will be at the market for the first time today. Regular customers will remember them for their wonderful selection of heirloom fruits and vegetables last year.
Lunch today is barbeque beef sandwich, potato salad, 4-bean salad, cake and drink for $6. The Wild River Band plays from 11 to 1.
On Tuesday, Cooking for a Cause benefits Webb City Senior Scout troop 6438 and Rob Pommert plays from 11 to 1.
And a week from tomorrow, our Saturday markets begin from 9 to noon when you’ll find fresh local fruits and vegetables and a terrific breakfast cooked right at the market.
So we weren’t surprised at another anniversary visit Tuesday, but we were surprised by who it was – the market manager of the Sedalia farmers market and her husband, Brenda and Mark Raetz. The Sedalia market just organized this year and we shared some of our experience and documents like rules and bylaws with them. They visited with our vendors, enjoyed lunch and music, loaded up with purchases and declared they would be back. Brenda wants to bring her whole market board to visit on a Friday (during peach season).
Sometimes we hear negative comments about new markets opening locally. Folks seem to think it might hurt our market. But we take a different approach. Our theory is the more markets there are, the more opportunity for people to make markets a regular part of their shopping. And that means more market customers, which is good for all of us. Over the winter, the Webb City market worked with new markets starting in MacDonald County, Monett, Joplin, Sedalia, Foristell, St. Louis, Battlefield and about five other Missouri communities, plus a few in Kansas.
What I hear nationwide is that markets are competing for growers, not customers. If you have good products, friendly vendors and a pleasant gathering place, customers will come. But farmers do not just appear. They have to be developed and they have to be able to make a living.
Webb City is very lucky because we have lots of growers interested in selling here. So many in fact, that we no longer accept new growers for the Friday market unless they have a product that we need. Otherwise, we’re directing new vendors to the Tuesday and Saturday markets. (The Saturday markets start in June.) We also give them a list of other area markets to try. Call me Polly Anna but I truly believe that the more successful our farmers and Missouri markets are, the more successful our own market will be.
I said we’re lucky to have a lot of growers, but it’s not really luck. We attract lots of vendors because the market appears to be successful. We’ve done a lot of grower education to help our new and experienced growers become more successful.
Speaking of success, Marilyn and I have been making farm visits this week and we’ve seen some significant improvements in agricultural practices. Our Hmong farmers are incorporating many locally appropriate techniques and our new growers are learning. A case in point is the Lone Star Farm, operated by Howard and Tracy Nutting in Anderson. They gave farming a try last year but didn’t have much production. In fact, they only made it to the market a couple of times late in the season. Over the winter, they took advantage of every learning opportunity provided by our market and the state and it really shows. They expect to be at market on Tuesday with cabbage, scallions, Yukon Gold new potatoes and maybe some beets.
The Agees from Fairview will be at the market for the first time today. Regular customers will remember them for their wonderful selection of heirloom fruits and vegetables last year.
Lunch today is barbeque beef sandwich, potato salad, 4-bean salad, cake and drink for $6. The Wild River Band plays from 11 to 1.
On Tuesday, Cooking for a Cause benefits Webb City Senior Scout troop 6438 and Rob Pommert plays from 11 to 1.
And a week from tomorrow, our Saturday markets begin from 9 to noon when you’ll find fresh local fruits and vegetables and a terrific breakfast cooked right at the market.
Farm Visits
Marilyn and I are doing farm visits this week. Eight yesterday, another 5 today. We found many gardens looking very good and a few that have been set back by the cool wet spring. Most of the farmers at the Webb City market are small scale and do much of their work by hand (above - Ying Vang Xiong who sells on the south end of the pavilion in her garden yesterday). But take my word for it, a small 2 - 4 acre farm planted in produce is a huge project. I am constantly amazed by how hard our farmers work.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday's Market
We had more new produce on Tuesday. Hector Troyer brought a load of the first zucchini and yellow squash, as well as some beautiful cabbage and broccoli. Several growers had new potatoes and the radishes were abundant in many varieties.
Wonder what Friday will bring?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Don't Forget It's TUESDAY
Tuesday's market should be full of vendors - call your friends and neighbors so it's also full of customers! Every time we have a Monday holiday, folks forget it's market day because it feels like the first day of the week.
Only one vendor that we know of is taking an extended vacation - Hazel's Bakery is taking Tuesday off. Otherwise, we should have a full house, including at least one new grower.
See you soon!
Only one vendor that we know of is taking an extended vacation - Hazel's Bakery is taking Tuesday off. Otherwise, we should have a full house, including at least one new grower.
See you soon!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Seninel column - 5/22/09
If you have a sick or damaged tree or shrub, you need to come to market today. Jon Skinner, urban forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation, will hold a clinic at the market today from 11 to 1. Bring a sample of your sick tree or shrub, or in the case of wind damage, bring a picture. Jon will diagnose the problem and suggest a course of action. You can also make an appointment with him for an on-site visit.
Trees have sure taken a beating in our area with ice storms and an inland hurricane. Take advantage of Jon’s expertise to make sure yours are healthy and strong. He’ll be located in the center pavilion. And if you’re running a little late, drop by anyway. Jon almost always stays beyond his scheduled time.
I have a favor to ask – mark your calendar for next Tuesday to come have lunch with us. And then try to remember when Tuesday is. Each year Memorial Day throws everyone’s week off. Monday’s a holiday, so Tuesday feels like the first day of the week – but it’s not. Tuesday will be the first time the Webb City High School Choir Boosters work Cooking for a Cause. If enough of us keep our days of the week straight and come to market to eat with them, it will be a good first experience.
The Kids Community Garden is underway. Kids and adult mentors planted the first tomatoes, peppers and eggplants yesterday. The garden is open to children in 5th grade or higher. For more information, call the garden supervisor, Rochelle DeLucia, at 629-7360.
We think there’s going to be lots of interest in food preservation this year and we’re planning two new programs to match that interest.
First, we are maintaining a list of folks who would like to be notified when a farmer has an abundance of product and is willing to sell in bulk for food preservation. If you would like to be on that list, stop by the information table.
Second, we are sponsoring, with University of Missouri Extension, two classes on food preservation. Both classes will be held at Central United Methodist Church at Broadway and Pennsylvania in Webb City. Tammy Roberts, a nutrition and health education specialist with Extension will teach the classes.
The class from 6 to 9 pm on Monday, June 22, will cover the basics of home food preservation. It will be hands on training in pressuring canning vegetables from fresh-picked to sealed in jars. Participants will learn the difference between boiling water canning and pressure canning and which foods are appropriate for each. The class will also cover freezing.
On Monday, June 29, from 6 to 8:30 pm, participants will learn the art of jelly and pickle making. The drying method of food preservation will also be covered.
The cost for one class is $10 per person and for both classes is $15. Registration forms are available at the market’s information table or by calling the Extension office at 417 358-2158.
Lunch today is meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, green beans, cake & drink for $6. Jack & Lee Ann Sours play during lunch from 11 to 1.
By the way, the Sours will be playing for a Contra dance in Neosho on Saturday. It’s always great fun. If you’d like to join in the dance, see below or talk to the Sours today.
Trees have sure taken a beating in our area with ice storms and an inland hurricane. Take advantage of Jon’s expertise to make sure yours are healthy and strong. He’ll be located in the center pavilion. And if you’re running a little late, drop by anyway. Jon almost always stays beyond his scheduled time.
I have a favor to ask – mark your calendar for next Tuesday to come have lunch with us. And then try to remember when Tuesday is. Each year Memorial Day throws everyone’s week off. Monday’s a holiday, so Tuesday feels like the first day of the week – but it’s not. Tuesday will be the first time the Webb City High School Choir Boosters work Cooking for a Cause. If enough of us keep our days of the week straight and come to market to eat with them, it will be a good first experience.
The Kids Community Garden is underway. Kids and adult mentors planted the first tomatoes, peppers and eggplants yesterday. The garden is open to children in 5th grade or higher. For more information, call the garden supervisor, Rochelle DeLucia, at 629-7360.
We think there’s going to be lots of interest in food preservation this year and we’re planning two new programs to match that interest.
First, we are maintaining a list of folks who would like to be notified when a farmer has an abundance of product and is willing to sell in bulk for food preservation. If you would like to be on that list, stop by the information table.
Second, we are sponsoring, with University of Missouri Extension, two classes on food preservation. Both classes will be held at Central United Methodist Church at Broadway and Pennsylvania in Webb City. Tammy Roberts, a nutrition and health education specialist with Extension will teach the classes.
The class from 6 to 9 pm on Monday, June 22, will cover the basics of home food preservation. It will be hands on training in pressuring canning vegetables from fresh-picked to sealed in jars. Participants will learn the difference between boiling water canning and pressure canning and which foods are appropriate for each. The class will also cover freezing.
On Monday, June 29, from 6 to 8:30 pm, participants will learn the art of jelly and pickle making. The drying method of food preservation will also be covered.
The cost for one class is $10 per person and for both classes is $15. Registration forms are available at the market’s information table or by calling the Extension office at 417 358-2158.
Lunch today is meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, green beans, cake & drink for $6. Jack & Lee Ann Sours play during lunch from 11 to 1.
By the way, the Sours will be playing for a Contra dance in Neosho on Saturday. It’s always great fun. If you’d like to join in the dance, see below or talk to the Sours today.
Contra Dance - Home-grown fun
Contradance - Saturday, May 23 from 7 to 10 pm at Crowder College in Neosho, MO in the Longwell Museum of the Elsie Plaster Bldg.
Caller - Gloria Johnson. Live music by the market's own Baled Green and Wired Tight
Dances are held on the 4th Saturday of each month so mark your calendars! $5 donations requested to cover expenses. No prior experience necessary.
Caller - Gloria Johnson. Live music by the market's own Baled Green and Wired Tight
Dances are held on the 4th Saturday of each month so mark your calendars! $5 donations requested to cover expenses. No prior experience necessary.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Kids Community Garden
The Kids Community Garden is underway. Below: Rochelle DeLucia, garden supervisor, and Tim Green, market mentor, load up plants grown by Tim for the garden.
Planting will take place this Thursday from 3 to 5 pm at the garden located on Aylor Street just west of Madge T. James Kindergarten. The garden is open to any child in 5th grade or older.
Planting will take place this Thursday from 3 to 5 pm at the garden located on Aylor Street just west of Madge T. James Kindergarten. The garden is open to any child in 5th grade or older.
Red Hat Ladies
We were pleased to have a local chapter of Red Hat Ladies grace the market today. They enjoyed lunch served up by the Carl Junction chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as music by Rob Pommert.If you have a group that would like to have lunch at the market, let us know and we'll save you a table.
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