Friendly Faces, Fresh Food Define Ellisville Farmers Market

It’s hard to believe that a new season for The Ellisville Farmers Market has begun! The weather May 24, opening day, was a bit unusual, even by Missouri standards. Imagine blustery winds reminiscent of late fall set against a temperature of 90 degrees and you have a picture of conditions at the Ellisville Farmers Market last Thursday.

Thankfully the great atmosphere created by Market Master Rene Waterhouse-Sackett and the many vendors and shoppers negated any effects from the weather. Vendors coped with wind gusts, adapting with smiles and grace.  Overcast skies diminished the effects of the 90 degree temperature. Customers strolled through the market, enjoying conversations with old friends and fresh produce, locally prepared foods and handcrafted gifts.

As usual, great music was offered by a live band and beer, wine and soft drinks were available.  Shoppers were rewarded with asparagus, kale, sugar snap peas, turnips, radishes, leaf lettuce, organic olive oil and olives, freshly baked empanadas, gluten and sugar free bread, cupcakes, BBQ, teas, spices and luscious berries, feather earrings, Bosnian willow baskets, baby bibs, hand knitted Shetland wool items and a sheep shearing. And I’m sure I left out something!  Several new faces joined the group of returning vendors.

One aspect of the market is the element of change. There are usually a few suppliers offering a specific crop that will be replaced by a new crop when its season has past. Our parents and grandparents understood this natural cycle which has been forgotten by most of us.  Instead, we have grown accustomed to produce that is picked and stored to ripen at a later date or shipped from another, more temperate country, enabling us to have strawberries in January.  Do any of you remember when we only had oranges at Christmas? When I was elementary school age, the customary Santa gift at the school Christmas party was a red net stocking containing an orange, a few nuts and a peppermint stick.  That was a real treat!

I had a great conversation with Charlie Hopper, Marketing Specialist for Agri Missouri.  I spotted his car when I arrived.  It sports a great paint job advertising AgriMissouri.  He mentioned the Farmers Market Report which contains a weekly update on what to expect at Missouri Farmers Markets. He is working towards his goal to visit all the farmers markets in the state this year.

Hopper pointed out that many of the vendors he visits will grow their businesses and ultimately serve markets beyond their locale. He sees these small businesses as important sources for the creation of new jobs. We talked about the changes in agriculture over the past 25 years. He noted that in 1985, 90 percent of produce consumed in the US was grown in the US.  Now we import 45 percent and the remaining 55 percent comes almost exclusively from 6 states. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, in 2001, Missouri had 108,000 farmers, with an average farm size of 277 acres. I learned about Missouri’s lease program which allows farming families to maintain ownership of family lands which might have otherwise been sold in lean years. Sounds like a great program to me.

I was excited to visit the market and reconnect with market vendors and volunteers I met at last year’s market.  I also saw several other friends and acquaintances shopping, enjoying the music and being outdoors. The market is a great place to unwind after a busy day at work. You can pick up dinner, shop, visit and just relax. If you’re a long time resident of Ellisville, you may take for granted that you’ll recognize someone in a crowd when you’re out shopping or running errands. However, for folks like me who moved here from out of state just a few years ago, it means a lot to recognize someone and greet them by name.  The community connection is hard to find in our modern culture and one I believe is worth nurturing.

I have found a lot of satisfaction in connecting with the farmers’ market community.  There are so many interesting people with unique stories who share my dream of living a more sustainable lifestyle and eating healthy fresh foods.  My only problem is having as much time as I’d like to visit with everyone.

Thanks to volunteer Laurel and her creative imagination and planning, there was an exciting activity at the Children’s tent. Each child planted a seed to take home, water and monitor its growth. I hope they experience the amazement I feel each time I see a plant push its leaves through the soil. I can’t help but feel awestruck when leaves appear from a seed buried in soil. For a simple discussion of plant growth, read more at Missouri Botanical Gardens Introduction to Plants web page.  For a more detailed, scientific explanation, visit the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Garden site. 

If you missed the opening day, hope to see you at the market Thursday afternoon, 4 to 7 p.m. at . In another week, you’ll be able to linger after the market for the free summer concert series which begin June 7, 7 – 9 pm, with performances every Thursday night through July.