Farmers' markets connect community with locally-grown products
Two West County farmers' markets now are open for business and hope to bring the community together. Both venues – one in Ellisville and the other in Wildwood - offer a variety of fresh and handmade items as well as entertainment for all ages.
The Ellisville market is open from 4 to 7 p.m. every Thursday and is located on the south parking lot of Straub's Grocers at Fountain Plaza, near the corner of Clarkson and Clayton Roads. The market launched on May 28 and will run through Sept. 24. Straub's sponsors this market as well as the one hosted in Clayton. A ribbon-cutting dedication was held June 18, along with partnering officials from the city of Ellisville.
Trip Straub, vice president and third-generation owner of Straub's, said the market turnout has been phenomenal, the vendors are great and the overall flow of people has been really strong.
"Our goal is to keep everyone happy and for our farmers to sell what they hoped to sell," Straub said.
He said he believes the market experience is an opportunity for shoppers to build relationships with farmers while developing a better understanding about from where food comes. traub said the mission of the market is to promote fresh-farmed goods from local producers to endorse regionally-branded products that appeal to dedicated marketgoers, to support local farmers and to educate consumers about preparing seasonal foods.
He said Ellisville city leaders have been supportive throughout the process of designing and implementing the farmers' market.
"We're excited to see what all happens this year," Straub said.
Lori Kelling, president of the West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce, said she has received positive feedback and great comments about the market. Ellisville City Councilmember Linda Reel (Dist. 2) said she has been looking forward to having a local farmers' market ever since she moved from Texas to Ellisville nine years ago.
"People have called to say how wonderful they think the market is and what a community asset they believe it will become," Reel said.
Chesterfield resident and shopper Jennifer Porto said the Ellisville market is "terrific" and that she is so happy that a farmers' market "came West." She said she purposefully waited to come to the market to buy cucumbers and snap peas.
The Farmers' Market of Wildwood is located in the open public plaza area near Wildwood Town Center, just off of Manchester and Taylor Roads. It is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday. The market began on May 9 and will run through Oct. 31, except for Sept. 26. To date, market sponsors include the city of Wildwood and National City Bank.
Mike Russell, Wildwood farmers' market manager, said the goal is to be "a family-friendly place to do one-stop shopping for homegrown or homemade products." He emphasized that all items sold at the market originate from a 50- to 150-mile radius around Wildwood.
Since opening the market, he said the most frequent and consistent questions arise about when the major produce, such as tomatoes, corn and peaches, will be available.
"We encourage everyone to hang tight until nature makes a lot more produce available in July and August," Russell said.
Because of the walking trails that lead to the Wildwood market area, many shoppers bring their dogs with them. In fact, one vendor at the Wildwood market caters to providing treats, bowls and other items for dogs.
One Wildwood couple established a new Saturday morning routine based on the market. Glenn and Cindy Kraft's daughter, Amanda, works at the Starbucks in Wildwood. Glenn Kraft runs 4 miles from their home to meet his wife at Starbucks to grab a beverage from their daughter and then head over to the market. Cindy brings the car so they have a way to take home what they purchase.
Russell said they hope the market becomes a strong community meeting place.
In fact, a Rockwood School District "Back to School Kickoff" is slated for Aug. 15. A new "shrimp and corn boil" event will be held Aug. 29 to benefit BackStoppers Inc., a non-profit group that establishes relief funds and support for families of local police officers, fire fighters, paramedics and emergency crews who lose their lives in the line of duty.
"There is no better farmers' market than Wildwood in the entire St. Louis region when it comes to cleanliness and accessible parking for shoppers," Russell said. "We've simply got the perfect set-up."
However, Russell admits that every week is a learning experience with this being the first year for this farmers' market and said he believed adjustments will continue to be explored, such as hours of operation and how best to deal with weather issues.
"We've been telling people to come early because if the vendors are sold out before the afternoon, we will break down the market," Russell said.
Russell also said the Wildwood market is doing "just fine" and that ending the recent West County Walk to benefit the Komen St. Louis Race for a Cure at the market's location raised awareness of its existence among a large group of people.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, the Ellisville and Wildwood farmers' markets have vendors who offer prepared food items, beverages, snacks, baked goods, plants, healthy supplements, meat, cheese and eggs. Depending on the date, shoppers also can find ceramic art, crafts and jewelry for sale. Both markets have cooking demonstrations scheduled. Local performers, musicians, vocalists, artists and school groups are also providing special events and entertainment.
Produce left over from the two markets has been donated to Operation Food Search Inc. Sunny Schaefer, executive director for the organization, said the group does not normally get fresh produce so that has been "quite a treat."
Schaefer said the plan is to connect each week with farmers' markets representatives and deliver donations to local area food pantries.
"As harvests increase and more variety of foods are available, we hope to have same-day or next-day delivery to those needing it," Schaefer said.
RELATED STORY
Children’s market educates youngsters about food
After exploring the desire to establish a community garden across from Bluebird Park for the past several years so that community residents could be closer to their food source, one Ballwin resident did the next best thing. René Sackett developed a new Children's Farmers' Market held in conjunction with the Ellisville Farmers' Market every Thursday evening.
The point of hosting an educational marketplace just for children, she said, is so they can take their time seeing and tasting foods from the vendors and learning how to use what is in season to create tasty treats, such as lettuce wraps and homemade ranch dressing.
"I grew up in the Stovall Grove area off Hwy. 100 where we made our own salsa, jellies, pizza dough and the like," Sackett said. "With kids so entrenched in cyber products these days, I felt they were losing their passion for knowing where our food supply and other vital things come from."
So Sackett put her volunteerism for the West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce into action and decided to plan weekly activities for this new children's area. She incorporates lessons learned from being a former chef, caterer and event manager. She cooks from scratch quite a bit and currently works as a biomassage therapist, even making organic body and face products.
Sackett has many different children activities arranged, ranging from meeting farmers, food-related scavenger hunts, throwing clay, and learning about bees and honey-making to circus juggling, cooking demonstrations, aquaculture education and creating container gardens. She hopes to host some storytelling sessions and performers from local school groups.
"The children's area is a nice, safe spot for kids to be while parents are actually shopping," Sackett said. "Kids are occupied and learning while still being in the site of their parents."
Most weeks, Sackett has had what she calls a "snacktivity," which gives children a hands-on method for creating or interacting with some type of food.
She said she could use volunteers and business donations of soil, big pots and gardening items to complete more robust plans for the children, such as gardening and building flower boxes or bird houses.
"This is all about community and getting kids interested in their roots," Sackett said. "The more we can get back to the basics of food, the more informed and educated decisions our children can make with food choices."
