Farmer's market up and running in Superior, Alberton

The vendors for the Superior farmer's market have the majority of the lawn in front of the old school house to set up on, but on Saturday, they all tend to gather under the tree where the shade provides relief from the hot summer sun.

It's the second year for the farmer's market. The market started last year when Peggy Stewart realized people didn't have anywhere to go to buy fresh vegetables straight from the garden.

"Somebody came into my shop and I had some squash sitting on my counter that someone had given to me and a woman asked me where I had bought it," Stewart said. "She said that she was going to go buy zucchini from the store and me being me, I thought that was weird and so I decided we needed a farmer's market in town."

Stewart said that another reason she wanted to put together a farmer's market was so that those who are elderly and would like fresh vegetables from the garden can have them as she noted some people might have grown up on vegetables from the garden, but can't necessarily grow them anymore.

Stewart said she didn't do much to get the market up and running; she simply talked to a few people and hang up flyers saying that if people wanted to put it together then why not make it happen.

The first year, Cessna's volunteered their parking lot and now the market has moved to the lawn of the old school. Stewart said that there hasn't been many vendors this year thus far, it varies from week to week, but she said that there is usually only around five.

"It just varies," Stewart said. "People will bring in produce and then they sell out so they don't come back maybe until they have more."

While fresh produce is commonly found at farmer's markets throughout the United States, the market in Superior also offers an array of other items. Stewart said that some vendors bring in baby chicks, fresh eggs, soaps made from goat milk, woodwork, crochet and knitting pieces and cinnamon rolls.

"There's a variety of stuff and it comes and goes with each week. Some vendors are there every week some aren't," Stewart said.

Milton Pearce said that he did well last year at the market and has come back quite a few times this year, though he's not at the market every Saturday. Last Saturday, he had nearly sold out of produce and only had a bit left sitting on the table.

"It's a nice little market," Pearce said. "I did well last year and I'm doing good this year."

Mike and Karen Efta were at the market for the second time last Saturday. Mike noted that there were fewer vendors this year and he said that gardens have been slower this year.

"Gardens are slow this year. There's stuff I would have normally had by now that is just finally starting to come," Mike said. "Things have been selling pretty good though."

Ruth Jonson brought her knitting and her husband's woodcrafts. Johnson knits mittens, hats and socks ranging in sizes from baby to adult. Johnson said she was surprised by how many knitted goods she's sold when the weather is 90 degrees out.

"I sell more knitted goods here in the farmer's market than I did at the Christmas craft fair," Johnson said. "And it's 90 degrees out, but people think they need this. I guess there thinking cool anyway."

Stewart agreed with the vendors and said that they have had a pretty good turnout and seen lots of shoppers though the market has been small.

"It's going pretty well. Everybody seems glad that we have it," she said.

Stewart said that the market will be open until October and mentioned that's when the pumpkins and apples will also be available. She said that vendors need to bring their own setup for their items, but are welcome to come and join the fun.

"I just want to encourage people to come," Stewart said.

For cost and more information on the market in Superior call Stewart at 822-3333. Alberton also offers a weekly farmer's market as well in which those wishing to sell fresh produce can do so. And like Superior's market, those talented in other crafts often set up shop to sell their crafts and wares. Alberton's market runs weekly on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Superior's is Saturday on 9 a.m. to noon.