Local vendors, shoppers meet at Superior farmers market

Overcast skies with a tinge of humidity after a downpour the prior evening greeted vendors and looky-loos for the first farmers market Saturday on the lawn of the old Superior School.

Peggy Stewart is still running the show.

“Oh gosh, 14 or 15 years by now, I don’t even remember,” she laughed when trying to remember when she started the event.

Ten traders were under the trees and were selling vegetables, eggs, starter plants (flowers and vegetables), baked goods, new clothing, jewelry, craft works and products you’d hope to find at any farmers market. Stewart said she has room for more merchants on a weekly fee and can be contacted at 406-822-3333.

Cotton Candy swirled into the size of a basketball, and sno-cones are a new treat this year for the kiddos. Tina Swope, Jessie Volore, Eva Myers-Keating and Maryisa Swope just opened for their first day of business.

“We’ve had it (the equipment) at home but we’ve just used it for the kids,” Tina said.

It’s a rather large family consisting of 12 adults and 18 kids.

“I got really sick and had to quit my job at Town Pump,” she explained. “And this is the only way I can make money.”

Jessie said, “It’s the family way,” as there was plenty of help on hand for customers.

“They’re good and gluten free,” giggled Myers-Keating when asked why a person should purchase a sno-cone.

So many flavors are available that a person will easily find one that they like on Saturdays from 9 to noon.

Angie Mellen has had a growing business through her website, Mellen Patch Soaps, and she had a table with her custom-made bath soaps and salts, lotions, balms and vegan friendly soaps. Soaps made from almond, buttermilk and coconut milk. Foot care products body mousse and all-natural beard oil. She is also with Etsy, which has been an avenue that reaches gazillions of possible customers.

“Inflation has taken a bite out of my internet sales. I’ve done half the business this year that I have done the last couple of years,” she said, as she will be a regular vendor on Saturdays and also attending other trade shows.

From St. Regis, the owners of Sunleit Family Farms were in the midway section with a variety of vegetable plants ready for a new home, and farm fresh eggs. Taylor and Michelle Leitinger have been in the area for about two years.

“We primarily do pork,” Michelle said. “We raise pigs and have two sows and one boar, so we do all of our own farrowing. All of our pork is born and then raised on our farm and we have them butchered at Superior Meats.”

Taylor said they just put up a 20-foot by 50-foot greenhouse. The goal is going to be to have a combination of all of the vegetable starts and ornamental native crops.

“Everything we do is super sustainable. Half of the crops goes to feeding the pigs, but we decided to do a little more to bring to market.”

Their 75 chickens consist of a huge variety.

“We were always taught more diversity the better the product, similar to crops. So, we try to stay away from monocropping for the plants and animals,” Taylor explained.

They have neighbors with apiaries on both sides of the Clark Fork River and they have planted native flowers and they don’t spray pesticides or any chemicals. They are this cautious with their feed making sure that there is no GMO involved.

One customer, Cathy Kuhl, was shopping the smart way.

“It’s just fun going down the line. I’m seeing things I want I’ll get on my way back so I don’t have to carry them as far.”

Eggs and spaghetti squash were at Katie Bensons table, but she also had honey butter.

“For the bee products, we usually start harvesting in August so we’ll have that until it sells out,” she said.

They have five beehives but honey is becoming so popular due to its health benefits, it might be gone by early September.

“With the extra wax, I thought I’d make some candles,” which were also on display with garlic scapes that nobody else was selling. Coming soon: “We’ll have beets, radishes, corn peppers and tomatoes.”

Sublimation on glass had to be explained by Christine Wharton, “So I print the pictures on a special printer and then I have a mug-press that binds everything together so you don’t feel or see any seams. I can do all kinds of things like coasters, shot glasses, cups even T-shirts and hats,” she said. “This way a minimum quantity helps when people only want one or a few of the items rather than 25.”

If you can’t make it on a Saturday, she can explain what she does Monday thought Friday at Superior Auto Body, which she and her husband, Ben, own.

As the weather warms and the crops grow, more varieties will be available as Stewart said the Superior Farmers Market might go through September.