The Market at Ag Heritage Park, operated by the College of Agriculture, is back for the summer.
Beginning May 25, vendors will set up at Ag Heritage Park with fresh local produce and other farm-made products every Thursday from 3-6 p.m.
Zac Jones, research associate in the department of horticulture, is overseeing this year’s market. In his research associate role, Jones facilitates research in the commercial vegetable crop industry. This expertise will be beneficial to producers and consumers at The Market.
“I am excited to work with the vendors as I have been a part of the market for the past few years and love to work alongside growers who are the backbone of our industry and on the receiving end of the research we carry out,” said Jones.
Many of the beloved vendors from previous years will be returning for the 2023 market season.
“There are a number of confirmed vendors,” said Jones. “They might not all be at the first market because the weather this next month will determine if they have produce ready to bring early on.”
Some of the confirmed vendors are Hook’s Produce, Nellie’s Fried Pies, Well’s Produce, Flowers to Bless, Gigi’s Catering, Jimmy Dykes (The Corn Man), Dempsey Farms (Strawberries), Shana’s Place, Tiff’s Pickles, and Hale Farms (Strawberries and Peaches).
“At the beginning of the market, we will be at the tail end of the strawberry season so we should see those, maybe some Irish potatoes, and any early crops that were planted in high tunnels,” said Jones. “There’s a possibility of some early sweet corn and peaches. As we go into June you will began to slowly see more and more of your normal produce like tomatoes, squash, cucumber, sweet corn, and watermelon.”
With continued rising input costs these crops have become harder than ever to grow economically.
“Giving these local growers an avenue to sell their products in a larger scale than some might be used to will help support them and allow them to be able to continue doing what they love,” Jones said.
There are many benefits to supporting producers who grow products locally. Purchasing directly from producers often means better prices and personalized quantities for consumers.
“When I purchase from a local producer, I am supplying my family with high quality produce, but I am also supporting a local small business and allowing that grower to support his or her family,” said Jones. “The produce grown by these vendors is some of the best produce I have seen.”
