Farmers market starts in Superior

Mineral County vendors set up tables by the Old School in Superior Saturday morning and kicked off the third year of the Superior Farmers Market. A total of six vendors sold locally made goods from 9 a.m. to noon.

Tucked under the trees along River Street, vendors sold crocheted hats, plants, produce and other miscellaneous items.

Superior Farmers Market organizer Peggy Stewart said she thought it was important for Superior to have a farmers market. Before Stewart started the market, locals had to go to outside towns like Missoula. Stewart said the market helps the Mineral County community combine together in one area.

“I know so many people that live out of town,” Stewart said. “I thought we needed to start a farmers market.”

When Steward started on her idea three years ago, she began to hand out fliers around the community. The first year Stewart organized the Farmers Market in a parking lot across the Memorial Bridge. By the second year, Stewart asked Liz Gupton, a community organizer, if the Old School could be used. Gupton said yes and the Old School became the new location. Stewart said in just the past three years she is impressed with the turn out of vendors.

“It’s been real successful,” Steward said.

Stewart has each vender pay $5 for a space and also sign a waver. Compared to other farmers markets in the area, Stewart said the low price and location work perfect for the vendors.

“It just works,” Stewart said. “I’m not in it for the money.”

St. Regis resident Milton Pearce set up a table with baskets of vibrantly colored flowers and some produce. Pearce, who runs the Potting Shed in St. Regis, said this early in the season the only produce he is ready to sell is lettuce. Throughout the summer, Pearce is careful about the amount of produce he brings to the market.

“That’s the problem with produce,” Pearce said holding dried lettuce. “It doesn’t keep long.”

Later in the summer season, Pearce said he would have more of a variety of produce including beats, spinach and squash. “Time is a commodity,” Pearce said.

Pearce, a native of Pennsylvania, he has spent most his life growing flowers and produce. Like every other year, Pearce is excited for another season to sell his goods.

"For the first farmers market, we are doing okay,” Pearce said. “We’ve done it all our lives.”

At the corner of the Farmers Market, Superior resident Ruby Meeter sat by her crocheted hats and hot pads that hung from her table. Each crocheted item came in various designs and colors.

Meeter said the Farmers Market gave her the perfect opportunity to start selling her work, which began to overflow in her home.

Set up in the middle of the Farmers Market, Superior resident Patty Woodland stood behind her table of Happy Goat Soap. Woodland, who is the wife of Superior Fire Chief John Woodland, uses goats’ milk to make the all-natural soap. The soaps came in a variety of scents and carved shapes. Towards the end of the market, John came by to give Patty a break and he took over the table.

The Superior Farmers Market will continue every Saturday this summer from 9 a.m. to noon. If people want to stay longer, Stewart she nobody is stopping them. Stewart is just happy her impact on the community is making a difference.

“I’m always thankful,” Stewart said.